close up photography – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 54 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #355: Looking Back–Creativity

Looking back in our lives helps us see how far we’ve come in the present, especially in photography. It’s exciting that the LAPC team is beginning this new exercise, and Ann-Christine is starting us off with a challenge from 2019 on creativity.

Now, I don’t think of myself as a creative soul. Maybe that’s why when I looked through 2019 for a post on the subject, I couldn’t find one. I wasn’t a team member then.

There are many types of creativity. You find it in science, architecture, art and more. Teachers and parents have to be creative to reach and teach the children. I don’t think of myself as creative. I can’t create art, but I can see it in everyday circumstances and photograph it.

Here are three places where I found creativity.

Gloshoff Sculpture Ranch in Fairfield.

This ranch is an ongoing exhibition of metal sculptures and it grows each year. You know you’re near the ranch when you see neighbors displaying Mr. Gloshoff’s art in their front yard. You need to make an appointment and he doesn’t mind photographers photographing his creations. Here are a few.

I also believe creativity is in the eye of the beholder. I guess how a photographer interprets an object is creativity. Here are some objects from IKEA as I saw them.

Nature’s shadows form creative patterns that photographers can’t resist. At least I couldn’t.

And finally, one of my favorite forms of creativity is signage.

Thanks Ann-Christine for sending me through my archives in search of creativity. I totally enjoyed your responses to my reflections challenge last week. You kept me busy and posts are still trickling in. You gave me a great week and had me smiling. Please link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag when you respond to her challenge.

We will be off next week. Wherever you are, celebrate life and capture creativity through your lens. We will be back on July 12, when, guest host, Stupidity Hole (SH) will present the challenge. I wonder what he has in store for us? In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 34 Comments

ICM at IKEA

Happy Thanksgiving for all my USA readers. My table is set and the turkey is defrosted, so I have time to prepare this blog.

Last weekend, because it was raining, we went to IKEA, each of us with different intentions. Mine was to practice intentional camera movement (ICM). I thought I could get away with it because of the store’s subdued lighting. And the designs on pillows are excellent ICM subjects. I also used pictures they had on walls.

Here are some images. I’d like some critiques if you have any.

This last one was a curtain. After processing the ICM image, I used a Photoshop distort filter.

Thanks to IKEA for letting us bring our cameras in their store. Have a wonderful day everyone and take care.

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 36 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #324: In the Details

I’ve learned another thing about the way I take photographs, and thank you Patti for this challenge that gave me the lesson. I tend to photograph wide as in landscape or close as in close up or macro. In this week’s challenge, Patti wants us to focus on details, meaning getting closer or moving around our subject. It just so happens I already did that a few weeks ago.

My friends and I were roaming around the Yolo County countryside when I saw a complex that featured a rusted wheel sculpture in front of a nondescript building. You know I like rust. Since I was driving, I pulled in and announced I was getting out to photograph the rusted wheel.

My first mistake was not taking a full wide angle picture of the wheel. I just ran over and started photographing pieces and details, missing the image of the entire wheel. It’s amazing how excited I can get about rust, and isn’t that what Patti asked for? Here’s what I photographed, but unfortunately I can’t show you what the whole wheel looked like! I think you can tell from the first image.

As a bonus, when I looked inside the wheel, this is what I found.

So while a good image may bring in the details, I will remember to take a wide angle of the whole! Lesson learned. The building was a community center, complete with pool.

When you post your detailed images, be sure to link to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Silence was truly golden last week as we all replied to Egidio’s challenge. I loved the relaxation I received when viewing your posts. Next week Tina will be challenging us, so look for her post.

In the meantime, go wide, medium and close! We are always learning.

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

When the temperature rises: Pottery World

When it’s steaming outside, we go inside to take photographs. Most stores don’t mind. One such store is Pottery World in Rocklin. We look for a store that has an array of subject to photograph, and recently we went to Pottery World.

Here are some examples of what we found.