Happy pre-Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! There’s a new animal at the Sacramento Zoo: meet the White Rhinoceros. That’s his keeper behind the fence. She just kept feeding him. I wonder how much he eats in a day! He’s a big guy!
An orangutan was enjoying a snack of romaine lettuce.
The alligator was patiently waiting.
This meercat was the lookout guard at the top of the small mountain.
This raven (I think) caught its meal.
One of the cheetahs posed for me.
The flamingos are back. They are being housed in the former enclosure of the chimpanzees after they were sent to different zoos that had more space for them in a jungle like enclosure. The flamingos are still kept in a glass enclosure because of the avian flu.
What was this zebra trying to tell me?
These are the changes at the zoo. They are planning a move to Elk Grove in a much better location with more space for more animals. It will take about 4 to 5 years. So stay tuned.
It’s been a rough time for this blogger. All I can say is don’t get rear ended by a large pickup and trailer. I’ve kept up with my Lens Artists posts but neglected my regular blogs. So let’s pick up where I left off in Lassen NP.
You can’t smell the sulphur aroma, but you can see the bubbles and maybe the smoke coming up. The Sulphur Works “is a vent for the last rumblings of a long-dead volcano and yet it is also reborn each day as forces of erosion and hydrothermal activity continuously alter the landscape. Although named after the chemical element of sulfur—which is a byproduct of the hydrothermal system—the area bears the British English spelling of the word assigned by a pioneer that once laid claim to what was then known as Supan’s Sulphur Works.”
On the way back to our campground near Manzanita Lake, I was able to take a few pictures showing the devastation from the fires. It’s still beautiful and sad at the same time.
I’ll finish up Lassen NP with a short tour of the Devastated Area–not connected with the recent fires, but the eruption of Lassen Peak’s 1915-1916 eruption. The short trail has voice explanations throughout and was interesting. Just push the button and learn!
This ends our visit to Lassen NP. I hope I’ll be able to get out in the trailer soon. In the meantime, there’s a lot to photograph around home.
I don’t know about you, but these days I feel bombarded with signage of, mostly, the advertising kind. So, it’s great to pay attention to the signs that keep us safe and bring us joy. Thank you John for this fun challenge.
I’m not into photographing signs as a photo practice, but we happened to be at Ruhstaller Farm in Dixon, a beer distillery and farm, and featured in this blog. But, I didn’t post signs when there was so much more for you to see.
I’m learning to look for nature to provide the unusual and man to provide beautiful murals along the American River.
Little did I know that Spam was so popular! There’s a Spam festival in the Sacramento Delta and Spam is popular in Kauai.
I do love neon signs, find sadness at the Old Sacramento City Cemetery and find it wonderful that one store could stay in business for more than 100 years.
And there’s nothing like signage at the Nevada County Fair to get those hunger pangs going. Spicy nachos and sweet churros!
Sometimes feelings give us signs that we have to do something. This goat is no exception. Got an itch? Scratch it!
I’ve enjoyed looking through my archives for signage. I hope you’re having fun too. Remember to link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing all your contrasty posts last week. Next week Sophia is challenging us, so look for her post.
If you’d like to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.
One morning, I was feeling the need to take my camera for a walk; maybe a macro walk. So I put on my macro lens and went over to my local Green Acres in Citrus Heights. I like walking through their garden and they don’t mind me taking pictures.
Here’s some of what I captured that morning.
With my macro need taken care of, I felt much better and the day seemed brighter.
Where did the time go? Wasn’t it just yesterday…….? When you’re a senior senior, (That second word was for emphasis!) time goes by so fast. And when you’ve graduated to become the matriarch of your family, you think of how fast time has flown by. Donna’s challenges typically send me on an emotional trip of some sort. Her Time challenge has me thinking of family, and most recently of my grandkids.
Wasn’t it just yesterday the younger set were:
And now they are:
Olivia and Ryan are now in middle and high schools. I remember picking Ryan up from elementary school and Olivia from preschool.
I also remember the older set of grands coming to my house before and after school. Here is Madison posing with her then boyfriend before her prom. And then at her wedding this year. Just 10 years apart.
And here is Christopher at his High School prom and at his sister’s wedding party.
Yes, time flies by. In October Richard and I will be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary. Here’s the family at our 50th anniversary.
What will October 5th bring? Our family is scattered in three different states now. It’s amazing how time changes things, especially family dynamics.
Nothing can change the dynamics of LAPC when it comes to challenge responses. I so enjoyed seeing all your amazing black and white/monochrome images last week. They were creative and well done. As you respond to Donna’s challenge, please remember to link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
Next week Egidio of Through Brazilian Eyes will be hosting our challenge. Be sure to look for his post. Until then, stay healthy and safe!
I’m certainly drawn to color. Red especially. So, it delights me that Sofiapicked this topic as her challenge this week. On Monday, I was rear ended by a large pickup truck, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. I’m okay.
Red. Let’s start off with my favorite:
Next yellow:
Blue:
I’ll end with some colorful photos:
Thanks Sofia for bringing some color into my life when I need it! Much appreciated. Please link to Sofia’s post when you publish and use the Lens-Artists tag. I totally enjoyed your responses to John’s topic of Faces in the Crowd last week. There was some great images and street photography. I’m up next, so look for my post. Until then, stay out of the way of pickup trucks especially when you’re sitting still at a stop light! Stay safe.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
Aren’t we all a work in progress? Each day brings changes and new challenges. We work through them and we progress. This week Ann Christine asks us to show works in progress through our photos.
As I progress through my own photographic ability, I’ve learned that the things we photograph are also progressing. Some works in progress repeat year after year. For instance, the salmon swim upstream in the American River to lay their eggs. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery, raises Chinook salmon and steelhead for release to the American River. The salmon run occurs in fall, with hatchery operations taking place from the beginning of November through mid-December. The steelhead trout run occurs in winter, with hatchery operations taking place from January through February. In this series of images, the salmon are being diverted into the hatchery.
In addition to man helping nature, nature can handle things on her own. For instance, the London Bridge along the Great Ocean Road in Australia was once connected. However in January 1990 the middle collapsed and left the arch separated from the rest. Nature has a way of showing us that her force is a work in progress. Now the separated arch is called the London Arch.
Next is the WPA Rock Garden. I admire the dedication of the wonderful volunteers who keep this garden beautiful so we can all enjoy the flowers and small creatures. It is definitely a work in progress.
Last is the pride of work and ownership. Valley Oak Mill California, mills wool into yarn. Customers bring in their raw products and take home yarn. I visited this business as part of the Yolo Art & Ag project a few years ago and was impressed with the owner’s pride in her work. Her business is definitely progressing.
For me, I don’t want to stop progressing and working. I look forward to learning new things and meeting new people. As Ann Christine quoted Mark Twain in her post, Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.
Thank you to all our July guest hosts, especially Janet who encouraged us to not overlook anything. You all gave such creative responses to her challenge. And thank you Ann Christine to encouraging us to think about various works in progress. Please remember to link to her original post and use the Lens-Artists tag when you respond. Next week Amy will be providing our challenge, 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 a while since we went to Placerville to take photos. The town got the name Old Hangtown because it was known as a vigilante area. Here’s a bit of history.
The history of Placerville, formerly Hangtown and Old Dry Diggins, has its roots in mining and was once known for its notorious reputation for vigilante justice carried out by hangings. Old Dry Diggins was a gold mining camp on Hangtown Creek established in 1848.
They had hung (pardon the pun) onto the old name until a few years ago when they took down the dummy hanging from a pole where the hanging tree once stood. But the past still lingers. No more hangings; just a small tourist area with old buildings and shops.
Here are photos from our recent visit.
Dog lovers have to have one of these. Found in the Hardware Store.Does anyone remember the Studebaker cars?
We had a great couple of hours walking Main Street and having lunch. And, yes, we did some shopping!
As photographers we look for things to use as leading lines that take our viewer’s eyes to our subject or through the photo. This week Dawn Miller of The Day After challenges us to show fencing as leading lines or as an element to showcase a subject.
For instance some fences are put up to keep people out, protecting whatever is inside the fence. Down near Rio Vista we have wind turbine farms. There is fencing to keep people out. And farmers use fences in orchards to keep us out, especially during an almond harvest.
Talking about keeping things safe, how about fences that keep you safe!
Then there are fences that lead us places. They are usually located along pathways.
Some fencing is old and needs repair.
How about the opportunity for leading line shadows. Don’t we photographers love that!
And then there are fences that just add to our images.
I’ll close with a metal barrier around a memorial set up for the victims of the Paradise Camp Fire in 2018. The entire town was burned. Some rebuilt and some couldn’t go back. My neighbor lived there and took a few of us photographers to document the devastation. This memorial was erected to honor that day.
Fencing keeps us safe and where we belong. It also protects private property. Thanks Dawn for fencing us in this week. When you post, please remember to link to Dawn’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. And thank you Philo for a not so simple challenge on simplicity last week. I enjoyed your responses. Next week Dan Fenner of Departing in 5 Minutes leads our challenge with UNBOUND. Be sure to look for his post.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
I’m not one to be inspired in my kitchen. When we moved to this small house, two-thirds of my cook books went to other kitchens and I seldom look at the remaining ones. In fact, I seldom follow a recipe. That doesn’t mean I’m a creative cook. It means I’m too lazy to go to the store! But somehow we eat well without eating out too often.
I think I got a little away from Ritva’s topic on finding inspiration in the kitchen. While I may not be inspired, I do find joy and that’s because I love my Mickey Mouse treasures. Yes, I’m a Mickey lover. Here are some of my kitchen treasures.
The top three were gifts and the planter was the first thing I brought into this house. It’s only be sheer determination that it has lived. I’ve been known to kill a cactus. The mug is my last Mickey mug and my husband is not allowed to use it since he broke the others. The toaster is not in use because it gets hot, but I love it anyway. The Mickey skeleton was given to me by my grandson and his girlfriend. She loves Halloween. I enjoy seeing it move when the morning sun shine on it.
Outside of my kitchen, I have photographed kitchen related items like these at Ikea.
And then there’s always the hardware stores.
Or farmer’s markets.
I photographed this at a still life class given by the Gold Rush Chapter of PSA.
I’ll end with something you’ll never see in my kitchen. Knowing I am in the paper plate time of my life, I gave my good china and silver to my daughter-in-law while I could see her enjoy it. This was taken in the Sacramento Railroad Museum’s dining car.
I think I’ve expounded enough on my kitchen philosophy. Thank you Ritva for letting me have some fun and showing you my kitchen treasures. By the way there are more Mickeys around the house!
And thanks to Patti for encouraging us to tell stories through our pictures last week. Your responses were varied and great. Next week Philo will be challenging us with simplicity. Be sure to look for his post.
By the way, the WordPress Reader tag for Lens-Artists is not working well. I hope that through all of us posting on Ritva’s challenge, more will find it. Remember to link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
Slow Shutter Speed 