Oh, sorry to leave you right in the middle of Fiddletown, (Where we left off in my last post.) but we will leave once I tell you how it got its name.
Founded in 1849, the town mainly served as a trading camp for the many mines in the area. A popular mining technique, placer mining, was heavily dependent on water. Dry Creek, the local water source, ran dry in the summer months, meaning the miners couldn’t work. It is said that the miners would fiddle around, and the town became known as Fiddletown. Not happy with his town’s name, a local resident lobbied to have the name changed to Oleta (his daughter’s name). This name stood until his death in 1932 when the name Fiddletown was restored.
Embracing the name, residents are not idle. They have fund raisers to support renovations for historic landmark buildings, a Living History Day and a Fiddlers Jam. I’m hoping that some day they will put in a proper public restroom!
Now we will leave Fiddletown and head down to D-Agoustini Reservoir enjoy your journey!
The main action in Fiddletown. From left: The firehouse, community center and library.
The big fiddle sits on the Community Center’s roof.
A closer look at the fiddle.
A bench at the Community Center.
A building across the street.
A rusted old safe on the porch of the building.
Old wagon wheels also on the porch.
I just liked the way this tree framed the building.
Fence ornament. The fence probably hasn’t been opened in years.
An old house with rusted statues.
An old boat abandoned at D-Agoustini Reservoir
A farm house across the lake.
Remnants of trees in the lake.
Reeds and moss ad color to the water.
Looking across the lake.
Dead but still pretty and shapely.
The colors on the lake shine in the water.
Do you see the prehistoric bird eating something here?
It was Tuesday with seniors. I was still hobbling. it was the three of us me, Marlene and Greg. But, we took a different course into Plymouth and Fiddletown.
I’ve been to Plymouth, but not to photograph the sights. We used to square dance and went to a yearly festival there. And, just the name Fiddletown was attraction enough for me. So off we went, with Greg taking us down every back road he knew! I was still in the back seat with my foot up.
Plymouth is a city in Amador County, and the 2010 census shows a population of 1,005. This is a very small town with the downtown area maybe three blocks long. It looks like they are trying to create an upscale yet old look with new construction on the main street.
This is in contrast to Fiddletown where the main drag shows buildings empty and almost falling down. A census designated community in Amador County, Fiddletown’s population was 235 as of the 2010 census. It is registered as a California Historical Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. But, it has a charm to it.
Our guide, Greg, also took us to D-Agonstini Reservoir which I thought was a large pond! And we had crossed the county line into El Dorado County. I’m sure I mentioned in a previous post that you never know where you’ll end up when Greg is driving!
So that’s where our course took us last week. See for yourself in this two-part post.
The Well Fargo bank in an old but modernized building.
Some rusted locks and door handles.
An old gas pump.
A bench on main street near where we ate lunch.
I hadn’t seen one of these in ages!
The old school house in Fiddletown.
The children used an “out” pass instead of a hall pass when they needed to go to the bathroom. These are behind the old school house.
A cemetery across from the school house.
An old brick building that has a lot of rustic charm.
Another old brick building.
The Chew Kee Store (a Chinese herbal shop) established in 1850.
An animal skull on a phone pole in front of a residence.
You don’t tell a type “A” wanna be “B” person that they will be walking and driving after three days. On day four after surgery on my right foot’s big toe joint, I was already frustrated. The truth was, I didn’t truly walk or drive until a week after the September 8th surgery, and I’m still having trouble doing both today–October 1st.
Both Gem and I are yearning for a nice walk. And, I’m yearning to get out and shoot. Thank heavens I have wonderful friends who understand my limitations and help feed my soul. I’m able to driving shoots. We go to towns, park, shoot, get back in the car, drive, park and shoot. Even at that, I get tired and wait in the car. I know I’m whining. But, I believe I’m entitled to!
It has affected my images also. I try to concentrate, but have a difficult time doing so. With this in mind, Marlene and I went to Woodland for a short visit. We were out about three hours, including lunch, and found enough to shoot in that small town. It’s Yolo County’s seat and has some fun stores and a beautiful old Courthouse which is now closed. We will go back, because there was more to photograph and it is close to Sacramento. Maybe by then I won’t need to whine about foot surgery. I may also have made the transformation to a type “B” person!
A gazebo in a small park. I processed this in black and white.
Here’s the same gazebo in color.
The front of the old courthouse. I’m hoping they make it into a museum. I hear the inside is beautiful.
One of the statues that are on the top over the doorway.
The new courthouse. It is beautiful also. I like the front design.
Another perspective.
And more. I used my ultra wide lens for these shots.
An old drug store.
Outside eating tables.
A small table outside another eatery.
I just liked this old carriage.
We hit photographic meca when we walked into this surfboard shop.
The colors were enticing.
I liked the reflections in these glasses.
This was shot through a window of a music store. A person was repairing some of the instruments.
We are now in an antique store. I liked this old puppet.
I shoot so many old cars and trucks. Why not toys!
We decided to escape from Sacramento. We didn’t know where we’d end up, but just wanted to get out from under the cloud cover that would prevent us from shooting the blood moon eclipse. Laura was our navigator while Linda and I gave suggestions.
We ended up at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge a little over 100 miles when you don’t take the direct route. We knew there was a viewing area that would give us a perfect view of the moon rise over the Sutter Buttes (a low mountain range). However, smoke from the recent fire was still hanging low on the horizon as if mocking us for traveling so far to shoot the moon! I was hoping to still catch some of the moon rise through the smoke haze.
While waiting I shot some pictures of the wetlands and at sundown, turned my camera around to shoot the sunset. Not a cloud visible. Then I turned my attention to the moon rise. There were five of us with cameras and tripods set to shoot, but we couldn’t find the moon! Finally as it rose slightly above the haze, one of the photographers found it and helped the rest of us hone in on the red sphere.
I went in with the realization that I was only shooting with a 300 mm and I wouldn’t get professional images. But, I was still a little disappointed with what I did get. This morning when I looked at some other photographers’ images, I saw similar quality. So maybe I didn’t do so bad. My lens did what it could. Hindsight, rent a longer lens and use your heavier tripod! But am I into it that much?–I don’t know.
Oh, we really didn’t have to travel out of Sacramento. The clouds dissipated after dark! But, we had fun! The next morning I iced my foot again! Foot surgery is a bummer.
The sun is beginning to set giving a glow to this wetland.
This refuge has all sorts of wildlife. On our way out, we met deer, skunks, jack rabbits and opossums.
Getting closer to sundown and mosquitoes. Why didn’t I wear jeans and bring bug spray?
Caught this sunset when I turned around. No clouds.
I really shouldn’t have, but I needed to. A week of being a couch princess, I needed to get off the recliner and out of the house so I took advantage of Tuesday’s with seniors. I told photo buddy Greg that I would sit in the back seat, foot up and bring a book along if I got tired and couldn’t shoot. Marlene occupied the front seat.
I packed light, got in the back seat, put my foot up on a pillow and readied for my day out. We went down to Locke so Marlene could experience the small town. As Greg says, every time he goes back, he finds something new to shoot. And we did. I found it difficult to shoot, not bend down and see the possibilities through the discomfort. Oh, if you just came into the story, I had minor foot surgery a week before this outing. I was still in the “shoe,” sitting on the recliner part of the couch and was going crazy. Right now, I’m once again on the recliner with my foot up because I was on my feet a good part of the morning.
Getting back to the Locke trip, Greg always goes down different roads. You never know where you’ll end up and what you’ll be taking pictures of. I had fun, was exhausted and, knew before I saw them, that my shooting was off and pictures weren’t super. I didn’t care.
So I did what i shouldn’t have but needed to. Enjoyed it. Here’s the results.
We re-visited the skeleton. Different lighting and lens this time. That poor guy hasn’t moved.
Next to the skeleton property stood this chicken. I don’t know, I think the colors attracted me.
This is the planter I tried to bend down to shoot. I ended up on my rear end!
I loved the form and shape in this cactus. Webs included.
We stopped at the Miner’s Leap Winery.
The railing around the patio.
Metal sculpture.
Maybe they put this up because of our drought.
They had a lot of old looking objects.
Now this is a bird house!
Hearts unbroken.
Locke is full of surprises. A toilet garden!
An old stove in an alley.
In Al The Wop’s bar. You can’t see it, but the fan is twirling and those are dollar bills on the ceiling!
The patrons.
The Wells Fargo model.
This shop isn’t open yet. Here the owner is pushing a glass of water down to a worker. Can’t see the the glass!
It was desperation that pushed me out the door on Labor Day. I knew I wouldn’t be able to shoot for at least a week after foot surgery. Laura and I visited downtown Sacramento and the Capitol building during the morning. I knew enough not to be out all day because surgery was early the next morning.
In my last post, I showed you the various statues, sculptures and street life around the Capitol. We shot outside for about two hours. But, it was getting late in the morning and tourists were walking around–a great time to go indoors and see our State Capitol. Part of the first floor is a museum, one wall gives a history of all the California counties and houses the Governor’s office. It’s a beautiful building with an amazing rotunda.
I was amazed it was open on a holiday and very glad I felt desperate enough to want to get out and shoot.
Here’s a glimpse of the California State Capitol.
The Capitol building shot from across the street.
One of the sculptures outside the rotunda.
I liked the lines in this shot.
A closer look at the capitol as the sun shines down upon it.
A bronze sculpture in one of the second floor’s door way.
The beautiful rotunda.
Another view of the rotunda.
One of the planters set into sort of a mini rotunda.
The hallway leading to offices.
Here’s a room inside the museum.
They had docents in some of the rooms.
We weren’t allowed in if there wasn’t a docent in the room. We had to get creative with shooting.
A stairway.
More from the stairway.
And, the former Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bronze bear statute.
Knowing I’d have to be house bound for a week, I wanted one last photo outing before I had foot surgery. Photo buddy Laura suggested that we go to Sacramento shoot the statues and buildings. We left at 8 a.m. (Laura can always get me out early.), and it was wonderful. The streets were empty on Labor Day, and the parking was free.
Laura works downtown and knew where to go, park and shoot. Walking the streets, we stopped and shot whatever was in interesting and ended our morning at the State Capitol building. As morning grew closer to afternoon, tourists started to come and gave us the opportunity to shoot around them. I found it fun to include them in the shot.
That was Last Monday and Tuesday I had my foot surgery. I’ve spend the last week being a couch princess, processing images, posting blogs and reading tutorials. Tomorrow I’ll be going shooting with Greg and Marlene. I told Greg that I would take his back seat, use a pillow to rest my foot on, and bring a book and read if I get tired or find it difficult to shoot.
I don’t know what or how I will shoot, but I do know that I won’t be house bound. One day out!
Here’s a peak at Sacramento. I’ll show you the State Capitol in my next post.
This is the first statue we came upon. I’ve seen this before and still don’t know what it is or what it stands for. But it is bright!
This was the second statue. I think it’s bronze in two pieces.
I took this opportunity when I saw the two sculptures in one shot.
This was the second grouping of sculptures we saw. I’m only showing you one. I’m hoping you can read the words on the base.
This is a close up of one face. I like the work on this.
Here’s the other side and another set of words.
Statues like this one are guarding the doors of the government buildings. This is just one example.
This sculpture is dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives in service to the public.
My favorite. A mother consoles her daughter as the folded American Flag sits beside them.
Here’s a closer look.
The Sacramento Convention Center.
A man carries bags of recycling material passed a bicycle rack.
Just two of the transportation modes in downtown Sacramento.
Sacramento is known as the City of Trees. Here’s why.
I told you that I learn from my mistakes, and for this outing, I remembered my Tripod. It’s a good thing I did, because it came in handy at the Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley. The park was begging to be shot in HDR which added so much depth and character to the images.
As usual on Tuesdays, our guide and driver Greg took us, me and Linda, the back way to the Park, stopping along the way to discover future shoots, do some actual photography and eat. That is how we ended up in Wheatland, the first stop on our journey. This is a very small town. I put the “very” before small because that’s how small it is–at least to our photographic eyes. The town, in Yuba County, actually has a population of 3,456 as of the 2010 census.
We were going to Rough and Ready but never made it because it was getting late and we wanted to get to the Mine. Oh yes, we made a couple more stops along the way. The Empire Mine was founded in 1850 and operated until 1956. The William Bourn family maintained control of the mine and lived there until 1929 when it was sold to Newmont Mining. In 1975 it was purchased by the State who then created the Historic Park.
We got there late afternoon, quickly going to the mine area. The grounds are separated into the mine area and living quarters consisting of a beautiful home and gardens. We shot until we were asked to leave. It seems they close the Mine at 5 p.m. When we left, the ranger reminded us that we were there almost two hours which should have been enough time to see the mine, and I had to explain that photographers take more time than most people. I don’t think she was sympathetic; she just wanted to go home!
Oh, another lesson learned! Check out the hours before we leave home! Yes, we’ll have to do that because we will be returning.
The Wheatland water tower. They were doing some work on it.
This is either a replica or an actual old school house located on a school property.
A Wheatland church.
A stop on the road, this rugged road and golden colored grass land.
Remnants of what might have been an old gate.
Fencing and Eucalyptus trees.
Old log with a lot of character.
Country farm house.
Stamp Mill Site.
This building contained the Mine Manager’s Office, Assay office and Refinery Room.
A different view of the building.
The Warehouse.
Mine Equipment Exhibit.
This image shows the blacksmith shop, the Compressor Building, Tool Sharpening Shed.,
The greenhouse.
The garage.
The mine shaft.
The stairway to and from the mine shaft.
The fountain on the grounds surrounding the living quarters.
Memories, they’re those warm, wonderful, sad and fearful feelings that emerge when you think of something from the past. Shooting with Leanne Cole, an Australian photographer, is something I looked forward to, totally enjoyed and now is a fond, beautiful memory.
You see, I met Leanne online by following her blog when I first got my D3100 three years ago. During that time I’ve seen her morph her photography business into what it has become today. She’s an amazing photographer, artist and now publisher of Dynamic Range–a magazine about and for women photographers. We’ve corresponded since meeting on the blog with her giving me encouragement and advice. Hopefully I’ve been able to do the same for her–well more encouragement, not advice! It is truly a small world.
We, Leanne, her friend Nicci and I, had a delightful day in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Monterey. The three of us fit; it was as if we had gone shooting together before. In fact, Nicci and I hit it off and will go shooting again. I’ve added an Australia visit to my bucket list, and I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get there.
In the meantime, I’ll have the memories of that fun day shooting with my new friends.
Welcome to the boardwalk and pier.
This guy is showing off for the photographers walking by. Of course I took the shot!
People having fun on the beach.
This boy is testing the water.
A dad and toddler.
The seals rest under the pier.
The end of the Santa Cruz pier.
The Boardwalk amusement area.
The lovely colors of Capitola beach.
A photographer shooting a photographer as he shoots a model.
This bird is at home in the foam.
Moving on.
Mom and kids walking past the row of colorful houses.
Under the Capitola pier.
The Capitola pier.
We weren’t the only ones enjoying the Monterey sunset.
Nicci as she shoots the sunset. I sent her this image and she put it on her blog. I’m so glad she likes it.
More sunset and a bit of water trapped in the rocky coastline.
It sits rusting, attracting graffiti artists and welcomes the occasional visitor. The Santa Fe 2925 sits just outside Old Sacramento waiting for the Sacramento Railroad Museum to find the funds to restore it and move it into the facility.
Just imagine this train when it was racing the tracks of America, pulling passengers and cargo. What a history it must have. I did try to do some research, but all I came up with were some conversations. I did try to do my best to capture its personality in pictures. HDR was out of the question since I had left my tripod at home. While Greg was shooting with his tripod, creating great images, I took some long shots of the train and concentrated on the small rusted parts.
Maybe, one day, we will get another surprise and the Sacramento Railroad Museum will receive funding to restore the 2925. In the meantime you can view my images of this once magnificent train.
The 2925.
You can see the graffiti on the engine front,
The rusted gears and wheels.
Spiders have enjoyed living on the train.
I loved the colors rust produces.
A closer look at the gear that turns the wheel.
The side of the car.
The hook up.
A box car.
Climb aboard.
I don’t know what this tank was for.
Were these boxes for luggage or tools?
Peek-a-boo, I can see through.
A metal sculpture near the train.
Another view of the sculpture.
Looking back at Sacramento from the back of the train.
Slow Shutter Speed 