event photography – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 49 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #365: Longing

After reading Egidio’s post and his challenge this week, I thought heavily on what I’m longing for. Health, wealth, increased life expectancy. Yes, really deep subjects. Then I got real. What am I truly longing for. I had the ride in the small 2-seater airplane, but I didn’t take to the sky in a balloon. That’s it. I want to ride in a hot air balloon!

It almost happened at a balloon festival back in 2012. I had just bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D3100 and was anxious to use it. We went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Windsor, California. This was a great introduction for me since it was relatively small.

We pulled in with our trailer the night before. I was woken at 4 a.m. the next morning to grab my camera and take pictures of the dawn patrol. In the dark, the only setting I could see on my camera was a green “A.” I knew that would put me on “auto.” That’s the way the following images were captured.

Later that morning, with my camera set to “manual,” I photographed these:

I was signed up for a balloon ride the next morning, but they cancelled all rides because of wind. I’ve not had a second chance yet. However, maybe next year I’ll have another opportunity for a ride with two neighbors who also have the same longing.

Meanwhile, In 2017, my friend and I attended the balloon festival in Reno, Nevada. This was a much bigger festival and the availability for taking pictures was less. But once the balloons got in the air, it was a magnificent sight.

I’m still longing for that ride and hope that 2026 will be the year it happens!

Thanks Egidio, for helping me isolate another activity from my bucket list. When you reply to his post, please link to it and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we saw a great deal of quiet — the places you go to for solitude and relaxation. They put me in a very mellow mood. Next week Tina will return and challenge us. Stay tuned!

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Out for a stroll at the Car Show

It was a cool Saturday morning; a great time for my husband and I to drive to the car show at Denio’s. Denio’s is a large farmer’s market and swap meet in Roseville. Occasionally they host members of car clubs who enjoy showing off their old, rare and souped up autos.

I sort of knew what to expect; you know, having cars parked next to each other. So while my husband talked to the owners, I photographed the cars–mostly close up! It was fun and challenging for me. Here’s what my camera found.

I liked the care the owners gave their cars. They were all polished and clean. Well, except for my first photo. But there was a certain pride of ownership in that truck also. Maybe the next time I visit, it will be painted and shiny too!

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 41 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #362: Sports, Sporting Events and Fun Games

Another confession, which I seem to do often with LAPC, I’m not good at sports and never have been. Pro sports has become a business. Players are traded back and forth. Teams move. Fans have to pay big bucks to attend games. Have you guessed that I don’t enjoy pro sports. Beth wants us to dig into our archives for sporting events. So let’s look at everyday sports that us common folk enjoy.

Take ice skating for instance. I don’t skate (Remember I’m not good at sports!) but I do enjoy watching families on a skating rink. Young skaters have barrels to help them balance. The first two photos were taken at the Charles Schulz Museum and the third at the Folsom Ice Rink that they put up each winter.

How about a community kite flying event? I totally enjoyed watching children and their parents fly their kites at the Natomas Kite Festival.

Have you ever been on a horse? I got up on one once and got off quickly. They are big animals! We have several local parks where riders can ride on paths. I was getting fancy with the second image taken as a rider was riding around a ring.

I see a lot of people fishing at our neighboring lakes and at our rivers. These were taken at Mather Lake. Father is giving son some instruction.

Bowling is a sport I used to do about 48 years ago. I bowled on the PTA league. My average was low and handicap high. When I bowled a great game, that handicap put us over. Here we have a birthday celebration. Did you know breakdancing is a sport, making it into the Olympics in 2020! Maybe this dancer should try out.

Let’s end with a rodeo. This was my first rodeo. I wondered why the riders would do this to their bodies. I hope there was a chiropractor handy.

I think photography is a sport since it gets me moving, gets me thinking, and gets me preparing these posts for LAPC! What do you think? Thanks Beth for helping me realize that watching sports is an important part of my photography experience. When you post your response, be sure to link to Beth’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week, thanks to Sofia’s challenge, we saw all sorts of doors from rustic to fancy. We also saw unique door knockers and knobs. I’ll be presenting the challenge next week so get ready for something different! Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on August 10, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 46 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #360: Found at the Fair/Market

I’m reluctant to start this post with a negative; but I really don’t like crowds. However when it comes to festivals and fairs, my camera insists on taking me to them. And, I go willing. Such is the power of photography!

This week Ann-Christine is asking us to show some of the celebrations we’ve enjoyed.

I loved the Sacramento Music Festival, in Old Sacramento, each year. We used to work the youth gig. I was always amazed at the talent of our youth. Of course, we had our adult favorites too. Each festival started with a parade down Front Street. Unfortunately we no longer have this festival, but I do have pictures and memories.

And there’s always something to photograph at small town county fairs.

One year my friend Linda found us a Pirate Festival to explore. These pirates played the part!

A nighttime carnival is something I really enjoy. We have an old shopping center that used to host a small carnival once a year. Now that they’ve decided to tear it down, we’ve lost that fun opportunity. You know how I enjoy slowing down my shutter!

Ann-Christine also mentioned markets. Not only do farmers’ markets have delicious produce, but they provide excellent photo opportunities.

Actually, I do have fun at these festivals. With camera in hand, the crowds don’t seem to bother me. Sometimes people will move when they see me taking a picture. I guess crowds aren’t all that bad.

Thanks Ann-Christine, I enjoyed reliving these fun times. Please remember to link your post to Ann-Christine’s and use the lens-artists tag. I also enjoyed seeing everyone’s lines and patterns posted for John’s challenge last week. Sofia will be challenging us next week so look for her post.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 23 Comments

My First Rodeo, part 2

We are back at the rodeo. This time we are roping cows and tying their legs. We are also riding horses that don’t want to be ridden.

When you’re sitting in the stands, watching the action you are in awe. You are amazed at the skill of the riders, you don’t think about the possible injuries they sustain while riding. You also don’t think about the animals. There’s a reason they don’t want to be ridden.

I’m not sure whether I’ll be back to another rodeo. I also don’t like boxing. I think it’s not right to have two men or women get in a ring just to hit each other.

Okay, off my soap box and on to the action. Here are pictures of one cowboy’s effort to lasso a cow, get it to the ground and tie its feet. I think it’s amazing that he can pick up the cow and get it on its side.

Here’s the bucking bronco event. This is one cowboy’s rough ride.

I’m glad I went to experience a rodeo. Another experience I want is to ride in a hot air balloon. You can be sure if I do, you’ll see a post about it!

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

First Time Rodeo

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to attend a rodeo, and I got my chance. We recently visited our friends in Tuolumne and went to the 66^th Annual Mother Lode Round Up Rodeo. Held at the Sonora County Fairgrounds, in the country, it was as I expected.

Attendees dressed as cowgirls and cowboys–even the children! Food and souvenir venders selling overpriced goods. We had $5.00 snow cones, which I thought were reasonable. Others found seats carrying fried potatoes that we thought were fried in a basket and dumped on a paper plate, retaining their shape.

But we were there to see the action–and we saw plenty of it. I’m hoping the cowboys ran to their chiropractors right after the rodeo ended. I can’t believe how tossed around their bodies were and the pounding they took. I came home with more than 800 pictures. I’m still going through them, but here are some pictures of the bull riders. All I can say is wow!

I’ll be showing you more as I get them edited–slowly but surely!

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 56 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #348: Serenity

Serenity can be found in a crowd with yelling people, horses and riders. Yes, this weekend we went to a rodeo while visiting friends. I had fun experiencing a rodeo for the first time and trying to capture the events with my camera. With my attention captured, I was calm and serene. But, that’s not the only way to capture serenity. This week Egidio suggests that we show where we go to be serene.

I like landscapes with beautiful skies; and, I like to see people enjoying the same scene I do. The next two images show people enjoying flowers, one at the ocean and the other in the forest. Both are calming and wonderful.

Skies can help a landscape become serene. Whether at the ocean or in the country, a good sky can create a calming atmosphere. Water is always calming. Whether I’m at a lake or ocean I’m entranced by water. Our country outings always have a calming effect especially when the scene is simple and beautiful.

We can also find serenity viewing public art. Our yearly Chalk It Up and many murals about downtown Sacramento leave me in awe and serene. A mural of a mother and child embracing sends me to a calm quiet place–not that raising kids is always calm! A mural of a swan and heart reminds me of how graceful swans are as they glide through the water.

Last, there’s nothing more serene than a beautiful sunset. I sometimes sit and wonder how nature can paint these beautiful pictures.

After seeing these images, you’re probably wondering how I can find serenity at a rodeo. I just got immersed in the activity. Mind and body relaxed. Isn’t that what serenity is all about? Thanks Egidio for sending us to serene places this week. I’ll catch up with all your posts and look for more. When you do post, please link to Egidio’s original post and tag Lens-Artists. Next week Tina is challenging us.

If you’re wondering about my Rodeo pictures, they are still in the camera. You’ll see them someday. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 58 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #274: Asymmetry

It’s amazing how we can learn about the way we photograph as we take on our weekly challenges. Last week Sofia had us think about how we use symmetry in our photos, and this week Donna has us digging through our files for asymmetrical images. What a learning experience. I realize that while I truly don’t think about it when I compose a picture, I lean towards taking asymmetrical images.

I guess I just like things not so obviously balanced unless I see symmetry demanding to be photographed. For example, when I compose a nature image, it’s usually asymmetrical but somehow balanced. I really don’t compose it thinking about whether it’s symmetrical or asymmetrical.

With event photography, it’s the same. Now I’m wondering why! I guess carnivals are always asymmetrical.

I tend to do the same with environmental portraits. These pictures were taken at the Empire Mine State Historical Park. I offset the man and his dog and the blacksmith. I even offset the close up of the blacksmith.

And did you notice I also posted an odd number of pictures for each segment? What does that say about me? All kidding aside, I truly don’t think too much about how I compose a photo. I just work the camera and lens until I get what I like.

Thank you, Donna, for showing us the other side of symmetry. As you can see from this post, I’ve learned a lot about my photography techniques. And to Sofia for starting us off with symmetry. I enjoyed seeing all your symmetrical images, and they were very creative.

I’ll be leading the challenge next week, so look for my post.

Posted on November 1, 2023November 1, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 21 Comments

Playing with lens and camera movement!

I enjoy doing things differently, especially when it comes to my camera and lens. Last week a small carnival occupied some of the Sunrise Mall parking lot in Citrus Heights. Perfect! I had to go and two photo buddies met me there.

When I say small, I mean not too many rides that are great for slow shutter speed photography. That coupled with my injuries from the August auto accident (They tell me it will be a long time recovery for my neck and shoulders.), helped me decide to leave my tripod in the car. You’ll see that in some cases I needed it.

Here are the pictures–handheld.

Some of these may not be perfect, but I had an hour’s worth of fun. Next year the tripod!

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 57 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #259: Unbound

Thank you Dan who encourages us, this week, to “capture moments that break the boundaries of your routine.” Other than my recent trip to Australia, I’m pretty much a stick by home gal. I do count on my photo adventures to get me to break the bounds of home and routine. And I have been to many areas within two hours from my home that I would not have seen had I not had a camera in my hand and great friends to see them with.

But, there is another way to interpret Dan’s challenge and that is to see the work of someone who has truly broken artistic boundaries. One such artist is Philip Gloshoff who creates metal sculptures that can be seen at the Glashoff Sculpture Ranch in Fairfield.

Ranch visits are by appointment only. Marlene made an appointment for our photo group to experience these amazing sculptures. We met Philip Gloshoff and talked with him while at the ranch. His clothes were those of a guy who worked with metal, creating works of art.

Now for his art. There are a lot of photos in this gallery, but I’ve left more in my computer. I could go back and still see new sculptures.

I liked the way he made statements through his creativity and his liking for everything camera. He is truly out of the normal bounds.

Thank you Dan for giving me the opportunity to introduce this artist. Please remember to link to Dan’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag when you respond. We saw all sorts of fantastic fences last week through Dawn’s challenge last week. Next week Janet of This, That and The Other Thing will complete July’s guest host challenges. Look for her post.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.