landscape photography – Page 2

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 48 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #356: Quiet Hours

What is a quiet hour? Is it when you are meditating? Reading a book? Taking a walk? For me it’s all these things and also when I have my camera in my hand. I can be in a noisy touristy area or out in the country; with my Fuji, I don’t hear any noise. Guest host SH wants to know how we enjoy our quiet hours. I might be twisting this challenge, but for me a quiet place is one that brings me relaxation and peace. So here we go.

I especially like visiting our Northern California beaches, especially when they are too cold to attract swimmers or have black sand. I can sit and enjoy the solitude, watching the gentle wave come ashore.

I do find trees so relaxing. With or without leaves, their branches are so expressive and inviting. They can form a canopy welcoming you down a path, or in Autumn, treat you to a colorful display of oranges, reds and browns. Your eyes act as a portal. bringing in all the beauty and silence that feeds your body with calmness and joy.

I do enjoy walking down country paths that take me from my suburban life. Fortunately I don’t have to go far to experience the quiet of country life. It’s about 45 minutes from my home. I’m even getting used to getting lost when looking for County Road 18, 16 or 19! I get so relaxed getting lost on these roads, passing farms, wineries, and orchards. I never know what photo delights I’ll find.

Ponds and creeks are in abundance here. If I need a water fix, I don’t have to drive to the ocean. Their calm movement, seasonal changes and water fowl delights my camera.

These are just some of the places I consider quiet places. Thank you SH for having me revisit places that give me relaxation. When you respond, please link to his original post and use the Lens Artists tag. Before our holiday break we enjoyed Ann-Christine having us look back. What fun! Egidio is our host next week. Until then stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 106 Comments

Lens-Artist Challenge #354: Reflections

What do you do when you’re getting ready to leave your home? You look in the mirror. We look to see the image we are reflecting. Reflections are formed when light bounces off a surface, creating a mirror image of the viewed object, in this case us!

As photographers, we look for reflections in:

Water

Buildings

Cars

Anything shiny can help create a reflection.

I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole again. I never gave too much thought about reflections or how I used them. I just liked them and used them a lot. So here are some tips I found while visiting some rabbits.

Still water: a body of water with minimal movement will give you clear reflections.

Check the angle of your camera for the clearest reflections.

Pay attention to lighting. Harsh glare can ruin a reflection while the golden hour can create a magnificent one.

Dull lighting can work also as found in puddles.

Long exposures is something I have never tried because I don’t carry around my tripod or my one ND filter. But the rabbit told me not to let you down and to ask Leanne Cole for advice.

Advice from Leanne Cole:

“You definitely need a tripod and ND filters. Timing depends on the filter you are using and the available light. You might need 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes or more. I use an aperture between f8 and f14. I tend to use the aperture to help me get the time I want. Long exposure for water is great when the water isn’t quite mirror like, but almost. An exposure of 20 or 30 seconds can get you that mirror like photos.”

Leanne’s Images!

Thank you Leanne!

Again, do as I say, not as I do. Use polarizing filters especially when photographing on glass. I’ve been lucky—and lazy! I love capturing interesting window reflections. These images were not photographed in bright sunlight. The first is a window reflection of a building across the street. The pink photograph is of a beauty salon and the trees across the street.

Now for some fun things the rabbit reminded me of. Have you ever used a crystal ball?

You photograph a subject through one and the magic happens—upside down reflections.

And how about seeing a busy shop through an antique mirror?

The rabbit finally tired of all my questions and chased me back to reality. Now it’s time for you to experiment with reflections of any kind. I’m looking forward to seeing how you and your camera reflect on various subjects. Most of all, just have fun!

When you post your fun photos, remember to link back to this post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I’m looking forward to seeing all your reflections this week. Last week Beth presented her first challenge as a team member. It was sure a stormy week. I enjoyed seeing and reading your posts. Next week Ann-Christine is challenging us, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 61 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #353 Stormy

The first storm I can remember was the 1949 category 4 hurricane that made landfall near West Palm Beach Florida. I was about 6 years at the time, but remember the tremendous and horrific winds. To this day, I don’t want to be out in the wind.

Then came the 6.6 magnitude Sylmar earthquake (while we lived in the San Fernando Valley), followed by the 1989 6.9 Bay Area quake. Things have been calm since we moved to Sacramento. While our rivers are prone to flooding, we are far enough away to be out of danger, and the area’s creeks are not allowed to overflow.

So that’s a brief stormy background of my life for Beth’s first challenge. She wants to know about various types of storms: stormy weather, stormy feelings or stormy situations.

I can tell you from experience that each leads into the other. Bad weather leads into frightful feelings which, in turn, lead into terrifying situations! Here are some bad weather situations I was able to capture with my cameras.

Let’s start with rain. While camping in Lassen National Park, it would rain every afternoon. Last month, while visiting our kids in Reno, a rain storm was heading our way. I’ve never been able to catch rain like that with my camera.

We’ve also seen some threatening clouds. These may have been taken during our Alaska cruise.

Last year, we experienced atmospheric rivers in Northern California. These are rains that drop about 4 to 6 inches of water in a short time. The American and Sacramento rivers did flood at Discovery Park (the confluence of both rivers).

Our local creek also crested during another storm. The water was channeled into the rivers.

We are too low in elevation to get snow, but California has mountains. On one trip down to Southern California, we ran into snow. This is on Highway 5.

Now for Highway 80 on a visit to Donner State Park.

Last but not least was our famous “getting snowed in” trip to my kids in Reno. A snow blower is helping to dig them out.

These are fond memories, but I’m glad they are just that. I was too young to capture pictures of the hurricane, but the snapshots of the aftermath are still alive in my memory. Fortunately, we didn’t have much damage from the earthquakes, but I do remember holding my son’s highchair down during the afterquakes.

Beth, I hope you’re having fun with the various responses you are getting. Thanks for taking me down memory lane and having me appreciate where I live–out of super storm’s reach. Please link to Beth’s post when you respond and use the Lens-Artists tag.

I’ll be challenging you next week, so stay tuned and look for my post. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 48 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #352: Mellow

We all mellow out in different ways. Many of you have posted music lyrics. Music also relaxes me. One song does come to mind–“Here Comes the Sun” by George Harrison of the Beatles. However my favorite rendition is by Richie Havens. Google it. You’ll soon be dancing around, forgetting your cares and mellowing out.

But this is a photo blog, and this week Sofia asks us to mellow out. Here are just a few places I take my camera to relax.

A High Sierra Lake. The still water is calming and I do love the forest.

Trees with their graceful branches are beautiful and welcoming. They are also beautiful when snuggled in fog and looking mysterious.

Driving on a mountain road is relaxing for me. Since I live in a valley, driving these roads, away from suburban traffic, mellows me out. The car was off the road when I took this photo!

And, how about the gracefulness of birds in flight. I sit and wonder what it must be like to soar in the air like that on your own power.

You know how much I love to photograph flowers. Just being able to capture their beauty mellows me out.

And finally, we can’t forget the relaxation brought by an amazing sunset. We have to watch carefully so we don’t miss its natural beauty because the moment is fleeting.

Thanks Sofia, you reminded us of the need to just get away and mellow out however we do. It’s a great practice for our physical and spiritual beings. When you post your response, please remember to link to Sofia’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week Ritva opened the wonder of books–another way to relax. Next week Beth is leading her first challenge, so be sure to look for her post.

In the meantime stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 50 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #351: Books

For so many years, books were my window to the world. They took me away from the Bronx tenement where I grew up to many lands and different ways of life. They were my childhood escape. As I grew up and became an adult, my tastes in books changed. Married and with children, I found amazing children’s authors. But I still relied on books to take me to foreign lands. That remained my treasured hobby–until photography and the Lens Artists community.

Now you take me away and teach me about the world. And with photography, I can express myself and show my travels outside of and within the United States.

This week Ritva challenges us with the task of showing what significance books hold for us. Here’s one for this week’s show and tell.

Last December was a choose your own book month in my book club. I chose to re-read “Travels With Charlie” by John Steinbeck. This was a journal of his cross-country trip with his dog Charlie. This re-read showed me what an impact books and certain authors can have on your life. Now I know why I wanted to travel across America in our 5th wheel trailer in 2013. By the way, this was when I began photography and got my first DSLR.

**Our 5th wheel and truck. AKA Rocky (the truck) and Bullwinkle** (the trailer)

Steinbeck’s words resonated with me even more after re-experiencing his journey. We may not have gone to the same towns or met the same people, but he found the differences in culture and ways of life as we did.

Here is a small sample of the places we stopped.

We didn’t have Charlie, but we had Gem who was 3 years at the time. What an education that trip was. I still hold those memories in my mind and heart. Just see how you can attract people in a Maine campground with California plates on your truck!

Our trip came to an end after 3 months and 16,000 miles. I could have continued for another 3 months. There was so much of the U.S. we didn’t see. But, Richard needed to have a torn meniscus repaired. And Gem was missing his big house. He wasn’t a good traveler!

Thank you Ritva for driving home how one book made a difference in my life. When you post about your favorite book(s), remember to link to Ritva’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Wow, what a week we had. I truly enjoyed your zooms and creativity. Some of you tackled zooming for the first time and others were pros at it. All your posts were great and fun to see. Thanks for participating.

Next is Sofia’s turn to challenge us. So look for her blog post. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

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 May 4, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 64 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #347: Break the Rules

When I started this hobby, I didn’t know there were rules, and it was a good thing. I probably would have walked away from any type of constraint. I just enjoyed taking pictures, composing and learning about my camera.

Ritva’s challenge this week has us finding images where we successfully broke the rules–or maybe unsuccessfully! How many of us keep the images that didn’t work? I throw them out, keeping only the best or the ones I like. Those are my excuses for not finding total rule breaking images in my archives.

I chose 2020 for my search because it was sort of midway in my photographic journey. Here’s what I found.

These poppies are totally centered. You might say I filled the frame, but only because I cropped in too tight.

It’s never a good idea to photograph wildlife from the rear, but look at the way this hawk has it’s head turned.

And should the horizon line be in the center of the frame? Maybe it’s okay when the sky is as fantastic as the ground.

Never shoot into the sun! Unless….

Is zooming breaking the rules? I don’t know. I just have fun with it.

And what about moving the camera while the shutter is open? You might get a scrambled jumble of color.

And finally, I think this was a cactus. I don’t know what I did to get this picture.

I think photographic rules are meant to be broken. I basically understand the rule of thirds and not to place the horizon line in the center of the composition; the rest is a mystery to me. I just compose the picture the way I like it.

Thanks Ritva for this soul searching topic. It really was a difficult challenge–at least for me! When you share your response, please link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week Sofia challenged us to post cinematic pictures which was an equally difficult challenge. I enjoyed seeing all your creativity. Next week Egidio will be leading the challenge, so look for his post on Saturday.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 53 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #346: Cinematic

Confession time again, I rarely go to movies. The last one I went to was “A Complete Unknown,” and before that, “A Star Is Born.” Both were great movies. Worse, I’m not artistic. So, I’m twisting again. Oh, I loved that dance. I don’t have a sense of rhythm and you can twist and get away without one–a sense of rhythm!

So Sofia’s challenge is certainly a challenging one for me! I tried to make images look as cinematic as I could, and came up with a storyline for each picture. Here goes!

While on a wonderful vacation, a young couple are witness to a murder! They are not seen. What do they do? Go to the police and maybe ruin their vacation? Go home–fast? Or continue their vacation as if nothing happened? Or were they seen by the killer???

A storm recently came through this amazing vacation spot. These were left standing. What are they? What were their significance. How severe was the storm. Will the small town recover?

It’s getting late in the day, and time for picnickers to end their fun day of??? This is your story because I can’t come up with a good plot. I’m a non-fiction writer! I do want to read your ideas!

The party’s over. Everyone has gone home, leaving this balloon arrangement all alone. What was cheered at this party? A birthday, promotion, wedding, divorce?? What do you think????

Now this is one smart store owner. They have provided a bench outside their shop for the proverbial husband whose wife is shopping and has a credit card. He trusts her not to spend too much since he’s relaxing and reading a book. Or, was that book provided by the storekeeper so his wife would spend more time in the store? What do you think?

Your special places posted last week were wonderful. John certainly got our travel juices going. When you respond to Sofia’s challenge, please link back to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Ritva will be challenging us next week, so get ready and look for her post.

In the meantime, stay healthy and live in gratitude!

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #343: Seen on my Last Outing

I’m twisting again! My last outing has to be this morning’s outing because I’ve already posted on the zoo–my real last outing. Gosh, this is getting confusing.

Anyway, it’s tulip time so I went off to Jensen Botanical Garden, in Fair Oaks, to photograph their small tulip patch. This park is close to my home, and a much easier ride than driving to Grass Valley to photograph the tulips at Ananda Village.

You never know what you’ll come across when you go to a public park–like these girls being photographed. I asked what the occasion was and was told they were just having fun.

Then I came across another group taking pictures. This time I didn’t ask what they were doing. I didn’t want to intrude because the picture taking looked formal. However, I was spotted with my camera aimed and ready, and I received a nice smile. I also stopped to photograph a mother and child. The mother saw what I was doing and gave me a smile of approval.

So that’s what I did this morning. What an amazing morning! Tulips and more!

Thanks Ann-Christine for this fun and easy challenge. Last week Egidio had us running wild. There were many ideas for WILD! I enjoyed them all. Next week, I’ll be leading the challenge, so remember to look for my post. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

Almost caught up!

It’s raining–again! Fortunately not still. True, we need the rain, but it can rain at night and let the sunshine during the day. It’s just a simple request!

These pictures will almost catch me up.

First is my latest visit to the Sacramento Zoo. I’m enjoying our small zoo while I can. In 5 years, it will take at least 2 days to see all of the new Sacramento Elk Grove Zoo.

Second is the trout run at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. There were many fishing boats on the American River that day. At the hatchery, the trout are caught, eggs are expressed, trout are released back into the river, their eggs are hatched and when ready released into the river.