In retirement, Anne is pursuing digital photography--her new hobby. She found, when taking photos to accompany her feature articles, that photography was fun. Of course, those were in the film days! Now she's accepted the challenge of learning shooting the digital way. This blog is called Slow Shutter Speed because that's how she feels her photographic journey is proceeding.
It’s been a wet winter. Well, wet by California standards. While we want rain, having rain for weeks is something we are not used to. If I had my choice, it would rain every night and the days would be sunny! But I don’t have my choice do I.
So, on a sunny day Marlene, Ray and I decided to head off for the countryside and the small towns of Plymouth and Sutter Creek.
We stopped to photograph a barn along the roadside. We do pull over for photo opportunities.
We haven’t been to Plymouth in a few years. It’s still the same few blocks that it’s always been. It’s nice to know that some things don’t change.
I did find a unique sign that might be new in Plymouth. Here’s the sign and the object it’s talking about.
Now to see the rest of Plymouth.
Sutter Creek is a slightly larger town, and its main street caters to tourists. I’ve seen stores come and go. We like it best for lunch! Here are some new photos.
The highlight of the outing was meeting this gentleman and his cockatoo. They’ve been friends for more than 20 years.
So that was our sunny get away! More rain is coming!
You check the weather forecast to find out whether the weather is good for a photo outing! Yes, it’s rabbit hole time again!
According to Grammarly.com weather can be a noun as in when we make a weather forecast, or a verb as If the team can weather the injuries it has faced this year.
When used as a conjunction, whether is the correct spelling. And did you know that a Wether is a ram or goat that is castrated at a young age. Honestly, I didn’t dig this rabbit hole! It just happened. And these words are homophones–words that have the same sound but different meanings.
This challenge is about the various types of weather conditions in which we photographers find ourselves pursuing our hobby or vocation.
We all look for nice weather. Sunny, nice puffy clouds, or sometimes even a cloudless sky will do. The direction from which the sun hits an object can intensify its color or cast a shadow.
Sometimes those big puffy clouds turn dark and gray. That’s a sign that a storm is coming. Better hurry and take those pictures!
Did you hurry and duck inside or under a shelter. Or, maybe, you just like to photograph in the rain. Just make sure your camera is covered.
After the rain, we are left with puddle reflections that entice children to jump into. Right now, we have a one-day break in rainstorms here in sunny California. That’s okay, it’s better than being in drought.
If its very cold, rain turns to snow that covers the ground with a beautiful white blanket. Just try to keep your children away!
My favorite weather is fog. I love to photograph in the fog. There’s something mysterious and calming about fog.
So, we’ve talked about the weather and now it’s your turn. Do you enjoy taking your camera out in all types of weather? Whether or not you do, I’m sure you have some enjoyable images taken on outings or vacations. And if you have some pictures of Wethers, let’s see those cute little animals too. Okay, I’m done! I promise!! Well, one more thing. When you respond to this challenge, please link to it and use the Lens-Artists tag. That way I can see whether you responded with weather images and stories. I guess I wasn’t quite done!
This week Egidio asked us to show how warm colors can affect our images and the feelings they leave behind. I enjoyed seeing all your amazing responses. Take care everyone and enjoy your weather!
Next week Donna will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
It’s been raining in California since late December. At first it was welcomed in this normally dry state, but now in February, with two atmospheric rivers passing through, we need a break. We photographers need some sunshine or at least a cloudy day!
Here’s a photo taken this week of the little creek in my neighborhood. It just about crested after one of the storms. Don’t worry it flows into the American River. But this happened overnight! The next day it was at normal flow.
Needing to take our cameras for a walk, we visited our indoor favorite, the Antique Trove in Roseville. There’s always something new to photograph. This time I decided to give myself a macro lens challenge. I photographed everything up close. I did have fun.
Here’s a sample.
We had a respite yesterday with just clouds. That was great. Sun would be even better!
Up first are zoo animals. the giraffe and orangutan are my favorites. They are so expressive. The orangutans are playful, and the giraffes make such funny faces.
My next image is of a squawking cormorant with his yellow beak wide open. I wonder what he’s saying!
I enjoy photographing covered bridges. This one was recently redone. Its shingles are warm colored, blending in with the natural surroundings.
Cool in temperature, but warm in color are the Luray Caverns in Virginia.
You never know what you’ll find when you’re driving down a country road! But you know in October you’ll find pumpkins.
Finally, who says warm colors can’t be photographed at night. This image taken in Old Sacramento has warm written all over it.
Thank you Egidio for challenging us with warm colors during Sacramento’s damp, overcast and rainy weather. When you post your response to this challenge, please remember to link your post to Egidio’s and use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing your days and nights last week, especially the comparisons. Next week I will be challenging you, so stay tuned.
Do you look forward to night photography? It is more challenging, but there are rewards. But daytime gives us more variations of light with which to work. I’ll photograph whenever I can. This week Sofia asks us to show off our day and night photography. So here goes.
We start at the beginning with frozen toes in Yosemite Valley capturing the first light at Yosemite Falls. This was 9 years ago and I was very new at photography. It was a good thing my friend Laura got me out there in the bitter cold. It was worth it!
Pretty soon the sun becomes more intense and we run for shade. It’s nice how the direct sun highlights form and colors. Of course that intense sun can also warm our backs and cast our shadows.
When the sun is low in the sky, it backlights objects, like this giraffe, with a warm glow.
We all love to capture sunsets with their beautiful colors.
During a full moon, like the sun, the moon casts its own light as seen on this lake.
In total darkness we can capture ambient light and also have some creative fun.
As I said, although I prefer the golden and blue hours, I’ll take my camera out any time and have fun. Thank you Sofia for this wonderful challenge. When you respond, please remember to link to Sofia’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
I enjoyed reading your poems and seeing your related images last week prompted by Ann-Christine. Some of you had creative and enjoyable responses. Next week Egidio leads his first challenge so be sure to look for his blog.
“I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation—a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something. I saw this look and heard this yearning everywhere in every state I visited. Nearly every American hungers to move.” ― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley in Search of America
You never know where a new path will lead you. You never know where an LAPC prompt will lead you. When I saw Ann-Christines challenge for us to illustrate a quote or poem, my mind veered and went a different direction. I immediately went to “Travels with Charley in Search of America,” A book I recently re-read.
I first read this book about 40 years ago and didn’t realize until now that it created the need for me to go across the country in our fifth wheel trailer. I wanted to experience all of my country. It was a glorious three months and I wish it could have been longer. After my re-read, I realized America was certainly different when we went across versus Steinbeck’s crossing, and I’m sure it’s changed in the last 11 years.
Steinbeck traveled across America in a truck and camper with his aging poodle Charley. The book is a great essay on America. In my re-read I could immediately associate with some of the places and people he met.
I’ve posted sights from this wonderful trip in my blog before, but I also had the good fortune to visit family again–some for the last time. It was a wonderful and emotional trip, getting to know cousins again and meeting their families.
It’s those connections that meant so much to me and still do.
Now it’s on to meeting the family. Here are cousins from my Dad’s side. I’m the youngest Horowitz, and the only on the West coast, so I was glad I got to see them again. Ed and Judy live in Florida, but we didn’t go that far south.
Paul and Ruth in TexasMorty and Mary in Long Island
Now for my Mom’s side. Meet the Seidels.
Herb and ElaineBottom : Irene and Neil Top: Anne and RichardRight Karen and Alan Left their children who now have children!
I’d better quit while I’m just one picture over! Yes, there are more cousins who live on the West Coast, and I treasure them dearly.
Thank you Ann-Christine for sending me on this journey even though I went off the path a bit. When you post your response to this challenge, please remember to link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. We saw a lot of drama last week. What wonderful responses. Next week Sofia will be posting our challenge. Be sure to look for her post.
What makes a photo dramatic? Is it the scene? The subject? The color or lack of it? In this week’s challenge, Patti asked us to show what we consider dramatic and her wonderful images gave us examples. I believe it is the feeling that an image invokes in us. So here are some examples of what I consider dramatic.
Black and White: I love black and white because it helps create drama with certain subjects. My two examples are of Lake Waterton, Waterton NP, Canada and a lotus. In both these examples, it was the editing that brought out the drama for me. The lake brought me serenity. The lotus was a striking monochrome of a flower of colorful beauty that brought me excitement.
Wildlife: The American Bald Eagle reigns supreme over the wetlands, sending smaller birds into flight. They even look regal as they sit on branches. Even his gaze demands respect. To catch a hawk in flight is difficult, especially when your maximum range is 300 mm. When you do capture one through your lens, it is a dramatic result. Both images got excited.
Architecture: When I visited Melbourne Australia, I was in awe of the buildings. They were dramatic in design. I was excited and eager to photograph them. My examples are close ups of two buildings showing what I thought were the unique features of each.
Skies: From sunsets to clouds, skies help us create drama in our photographs. They also accent our subjects. Peacefulness and excitement describe my feelings for the next two photographs.
An environmental act: A tree falling down certainly creates drama especially for the homeowner! What more can I say except YIKES for this. Maybe gratefulness that my property wasn’t involved!
Shadows: Shadows accent structures, especially bridges. I remember being on the other side of the Fair Oaks Bridge and walking down to see what I could photograph from this side. It was then I saw the shadows bringing the bike rider toward me. I was happy that I walked to capture this image.
These images spoke to me and brought me into the photo. That’s why I love photography!
Thank you Patti for having us go deeper into our photographs. When you respond to this challenge please link to her original post and tag Lens-Artists. I enjoyed seeing all your favorites from last year. I remembered a lot of them. Ann-Christine will be presenting next week’s challenge.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
I know there are photographers who choose to photograph in the right light and weather conditions. Me? I take what I can get. Here in sunny Northers California, we’ve been dealing with rain, fog and cold temperatures. I needed to get out with my camera and Richard was willing to drive me. I think he needed to get away too. So off we went to Rush Ranch in Suisun City located near Fairfield.
During the little more than 1 hour ride, he kept questioning me about photographing in the fog which didn’t get better as we headed west. I love fog, and, of course, clouds also add to our pictures. He’s an astronomer and fog and clouds are his enemy.
When we got to Rush Ranch, part of the Solano County Land Trust, the fog had not dissipated. I didn’t care. I had been here before, but this time they had horses, wet grass and mud. What more could you want!
Here are some of the images I took during our short visit.
I’m planning to go back with my photo buddies when the sun is out. I’m sure the ranch will have a different look and feel.
Do resolutions truly work? Which is more important, looking back or moving forward? In our Lens Artists community all three are important. With this challenge we are looking back at our favorites from 2023.
And we are looking forward to 2024 as we welcome Ritva of Ritva Sillanmaki Photography and Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes to the Lens Artists team. We know they will bring their marvelous photography, extensive travel experiences, and fresh insight to our weekly challenges. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to them. Click on the links to Ritva and Egídio’s blogs at the end of today’s post to follow them and receive all of our upcoming Lens Artists challenges.
And now for my favorites of 2023. My feelings about 2023 are all over the place. Very positive and enjoyable and then very difficult. Let’s talk about the first part of the year which was wonderful with my trip to Melbourne Australia. My friends Sandy and Peg and I were able to visit and photograph with Leanne Cole for three wonderful days in Port Campbell. Here are some favorites from that trip.
Maist Rest Rain ForestBuilding in MelbourneTwelve Apostles Web Bridge
And you know how much I love photographing macro subjects. Here are three of my flowers and some of their guests.
Here are some single favorites.
The difficult part of 2023 came in August when I was rearended and suffered a severe whiplash. I wasn’t able to do photography for a few months. And if it weren’t for my wonderful photo buddies taking me to places close and for short durations, I would have gone bonkers. You don’t know how important that camera is until you can’t use it!
January has me looking forward to more photo opportunities. I’m trying to add more time to the outings without traveling far. I don’t make resolutions, but I do pick words. This year is gratitude. Living in gratitude. And, I’m grateful for all of you in the Lens-Artists community and look forward to sharing photos with you in 2024.
Here is a list of our team. Please be sure to follow us so you don’t miss a challenge!
To say 2023 ended better than 2022 isn’t saying much. 2022 ended with fog. Laura, Marlene and I went up to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge where we found zero visibility. We thought it might lift in an hour or two, so we went out to lunch at the only place open in Willows on Christmas Day. It didn’t help!
So 2023 proved to be slightly better with overcast weather. So Laura, Ray and I went up to the refuge. Yes, it was better, but still no sunshine. This was a true test of the 18-300 mm Tamron lens. It worked well.
The birds weren’t too happy either. We didn’t see eagles, but there were lots of turkey vultures. Stay tuned for the weather in 2024!
Slow Shutter Speed 