landscape photography – Page 36

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Anne Sandler · 14 Comments

Do you know the way to San Jose? Livermore & Sunol Regional Wilderness Park

My trip to San Jose, for my yearly vision board session, with Marlene was going according to plan. We stopped in Livermore to shoot the sights and eat lunch.

While Livermore is nationally known as the home for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, it’s a small, lovely town nestled in rolling hills. We walked around Historic Downtown, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way it was designed.

Next we stopped at the Sunol Regional Wilderness Park. I always wanted to get off the freeway to see what was hidden in the hills as I would go to San Jose, but never took the time. This was the time! It’s a beautiful area and now green because of our recent rains. There are many parks, lakes, etc. for residents to enjoy. Our stop was at the Sunol Regional Wilderness. Located in Alameda County and near the town of Sunol. It was primarily ranch land, and today cattle still graze in some areas. We enjoyed shooting in this beautiful park; however, our adventure went awry when we left.

I have no idea what got into me. Maybe it was the Greg Morris influence, but I saw that Calaveras Road continued on into Milpitas. I had my trusty GPS with me. And Marlene didn’t say “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go that way!” So off we went on a joy ride that would include mostly hairpin turns on an extremely narrow road. Not knowing the road, I was going around 18 to 25 miles per hour and the drivers coming the other way were cruising at about 40 miles per hour! Worse, remember those hairpin turns? They came around so fast and had to break when they saw me. Moving over wasn’t so much of an option with a shear drop on one side and a mountain on the other. At one point, Marlene suggested that the car came with a horn to use as a warning device.

We made it. But we weren’t able to pull over and take pictures of the beautiful scenery that included the Calaveras Reservoir. So, we made mental pictures, and I can’t show them to you. You can click on the link to see someone else’s images!

Going off plan proved adventurous, somewhat nerve racking at times, but gave me something to write about.

One of two fountains that were across the street from each other.

Looking down the street.

The second fountain.

A woman relaxes at the fountain.

Marlene is taking pictures.

Ready for a bath!

A fun way to give the daily specials.

A tiled mural.

A close up of the mural.

At Sunol Regional Wilderness

The cloud cover was beautiful.

Cows grazing on hillside.

I liked the way the sun flowed over the hills.

Beautiful color drenches the hillside.

This reminds me of Yosemite’s Half Dome.

Posted on February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

What’s in a name?: Capay Valley

Well, what is in a name? Everything! As a former journalist and copywriter, I know that a name is very important. When you name a new company, it has to fit the personality and style of the group. It also has to appeal and suggest a benefit to the potential customer. So here we are with our newly formed Tuesday group, and still no name.

Now you’re thinking, why do they need a name. It’s simple, for the reasons above. After weeks of thinking, bantering and laughing –mostly because I threatened not to let them go home at the end of a long day shooting–we have a name! It is Camera Totin’ Tuesdays. I won’t go into what other choices we came up with, at least not in print. It’s amazing how silly you can get on Diet Coke, tea and water! Boy, do we know how to have fun.

And the name’s working already. We have two women wanting to journey with us when they can. Sometimes we know exactly where we’re going, and other times we just drive and see where the road takes us. We are secure with a GPS and a “Home” button.

This journey took us into Capay Valley. Karen was our guide since she knew the area. This valley is a mostly rural area northwest of Sacramento in Yolo County. Dotted with small towns, it was beautiful with rolling hills and great color. It’s amazing what a little water can do. With mostly farms, the culture is quite different from urban Sacramento and its suburbs.

I think the name Capay has something to do with American Indian culture since a few different tribes have inhabited the valley. I wish I could say for sure because names do tell tales!

We ate lunch at the Road Trip Cafe. These Paper trees were in their patio.

Also in the patio was this mural painted on the block wall–a tribute to the area’s veterans.

There were also other tributes to veterans.

When entering the town of Esparto these brightly colored paintings greet you.

Here Karen takes a picture of a silo.

Looking up the ladder of the silo.

The sun came out just to light up the old windmill.

And, do a sunburst over this old shed.

This is the Cache Creek Casino’s golf course.

It was a treat to see the clouds reflected in the water.

Have you ever seen a helicopter bus before?

Puddle reflection.

Beginnings of a sunset.

We’re getting a little more color now.

The sunset at its highest peak.

Posted on February 11, 2016February 11, 2016 by Anne Sandler

Fun day, snow day: Donner Lake, CA

Let’s see: boots, check; flannel lined leggings, check; three layers on top, check; knitted head scarf, check. I’m all ready for a fun day of shooting in the snow at Donner Lake.

Marlene, Linda and I went off early one Saturday morning to get ahead of the weekend crowds. However, to our surprise, there weren’t a bunch of people on the Donner Lake roads. It was beautiful with temperatures in the high 50’s (Fahrenheit) and sunny. What fun.

The reality is that we drove around the lake, drove to the mountain top and drove into the nearby town of Truckee. Yes, we did get out, walk around and shoot. But, we didn’t hike. Still, the thrill of stepping into a foot of snow was there. At one time, I did fall, butt down, into the fresh icy snow. When I fall, so do my two cameras hanging from a sling. I got up and wiped them down with a towel I brought along. They didn’t suffer. Neither did I.

Since this was my first time shooting in the snow, I read tutorials. Of course they contradicted each other! That’s the frustrating about learning photography, there are many ways to achieve the same end. So, I decided to bracket my shots. At least one of the three would be good, right? When I uploaded them to my computer, I decided that the original exposure shot was the correct one. They did need some processing in Lightroom to tone down the white and, sometimes, blue of the snow.

And, we met a few nice people who were more than willing to chat. I get it now Greg! What did I learn from this experience? I discovered that whatever your physical capabilities you can have fun in the snow. Just make sure you’re covered for whatever weather Mother Nature brings–boots, hat, enough clothing layers and good friends.

Donner Lake as seen from almost to the summit.

Now these people are hiking! Underneath the snow there is a trail!

Icicles hanging from a roof.

Now this small house is truly snowed in!

Icicles.

We talked to the man who’s sons made this snowman and another. What fun!

A look at some of the lake side homes.

In Truckee, a brewery has made a home of an old gas station.

In Cisco Grove (down the mountain from Donner Lake) a young boy is getting a sled ride.

These red buds were abundant in Cisco Grove.

Here’s a closer view.

Back at Donner: The stairway to…..?

I enjoyed shooting with my ultra-wide lens. A deep view of the Lake.

This gentleman in his 80’s built this home. He’s come up to do some shoveling on the stairs. He summers in Alaska!

The sun’s rays are streaming through the trees, giving a rainbow effect.

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Anne Sandler · 15 Comments

My go to spot: Dry Creek Park, Roseville, CA

We all have a go to spot. You know, a place where you feel comfortable, familiar with and pretty much know what to expect. Dry Creek Park is that place for me. In the summer it’s teaming with families enjoying the water, wading and swimming. It’s green and lush.

However, in the winter, the trees are barren, with branches strewn all over. I wonder whether they come in during the spring and clean it out before the summer crowd hits. I thought I’d see more water in the creek because of this winter’s rain, but I didn’t notice much of an increase in height.

There is a playground, tennis courts and a covered picnic area in addition the creek separated by a concrete roadway and large grass area.

Marlene and I went for a quick shoot. I wasn’t raining and we both wanted to get out. That’s the kind of place it is–a go to spot.

Looking down the creek.

It meanders with the trees forming a natural canopy.

This sandy beach is a favorite summer spot.

What’s this alligator eating?

A big beach puddle and reflection.

I love the roots of these trees.

More creek. There’s a log and debris in the center.

Natural decay.

The sun came out for a few minutes.

Someone replaced the old tire swing.

Marlene noticed this patch of fungi.

Away from the creek, the patchy grass is now green.

A family walks along the road that separates the creek from the play area.

Look back down the road.

This beautiful sky overshadows the playground.

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

Finding new in the old: Michigan Bar Road, Sacramento County

Did you ever get the idea that you’ve been some place before? I didn’t just get an idea, I know I’ve been on Michigan Bar Road before–two times. My outing with Laura made the third time.

You can always find something new to shoot: new composition, new things to find and new challenges on what you’ve already shot. Since my other two visits involved HDR, I decided not to bracket my shots. I also looked for small details to shoot. And, believe it or not, I found new things to shoot.

We did get off Michigan Bar Road and onto Latrobe Road, but not the road we know with the same name. The Latrobe Road we know is a curvy, paved highway. This road was dirt, and after a few rainy days it was full of puddles and ruts. Laura did a great job of navigating until we came to a puddle too large to navigate. Back we went. In addition to photography, adventure is part of the fun!

We did try to catch a sunset on Scott Road before heading home, but that was not very satisfying. All in all, it was a fun day of exploring and shooting even though I had the feeling that I’d been there before!

You might recognize this. I’ve shot at this ranch before.

I like the river that separates the pastures.

I didn’t notice this shed before.

Getting a close up of the door.

Some rust and texture.

Further down the road.

There are a lot of farms/ranches in this area.

Some of the dirt road we were on. This one was more or less dry.

Rocky area in the pasture.

More pasture land.

This is where we turned around!

Coming back to the first ranch.

The sun is setting on Scott Road.

The sun is now behind the hill. This is the maximum color of the sunset.

I’ve learned to turn around when shooting a sunset. I did and look at what I saw.

The golden light illuminated this tree remnant beautifully.

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

Great feedback: Back to Jackson, part 2

Wow, I am so grateful for all the feedback I received from my last post. Most of it was on Facebook. It really helped me shape the next part of my journey.

I began this blog as a way to talk about my new hobby and document my chosen paths. I chose not to take classes, but study tutorials, practice and join Meetup groups. And, it’s worked. It took about 3 years, but I am confident now and ready for the next step–learning more about processing and putting my work out there. I’m not looking to sell anything, but to get more feedback. Most of all, I’m having fun and have met new friends and wonderful, helpful people.

In the meantime, I promised you the images from Jackson and here they are. I will always be open to feedback, and I’m willing to listen and try new things.

The streets in Jackson are decorated for the Christmas holiday.

This is one way to store a bike!

I love texture and found it at a yarn store.

Marlene went in to shop.

I went in to shoot!

I liked this doorway. I’m glad I was able to lighten it up so the doors and plants were visible.

The rest of the pictures are in the National Hotel.

They were very gracious about letting us shoot in their lobby.

I used flash.

Greg and Marlene used slow shutter speeds.

I liked the reflections in this grand piano.

The fireplace.

These windows were beautiful. I caught the colors outside on the street.

Different window and view.

Santa in his sleigh.

Posted on December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Thinking: Back to Jackson, CA

I’ve been thinking about my photography. I know I’m getting better, but why am I processing more images than before? Do I have to be more discerning? Am I truly picking good images?

Today, Marlene said I was posting very good pictures. So, then how do I become more critical of my work? How do I process the best of the best? I think, right now, I’m processing what I like. This is okay, but in 2016, my focus is going to be on processing. So, this is what’s going on in my head!

Last week we did go back to Jackson. I was hoping eating hot dogs at Fat Freddy’s would cheer up Greg. He’s been ill and, as of this writing, is back in the hospital. We hope he’s back with us soon.

As usual, we stopped on the way there and home, taking advantage of beautiful scenery. In this post, I’ll show you the before and after stops.

As I follow my own path on my photographic journey, I’m feeling positive I’m taking the correct turn, but I keep thinking about how I can do it better.

The rain is helping the grass turn from golden to green.

The cows seem to prefer the green grass.

Trees on top of a hill.

I call this “Texture and Rust.”

I still like the remaining yellow/orange grasses.

This is a ranch off a side road.

We think they are going to replace the bridge you see in the background.

This horse is not only beautiful, but sweet.

He posed for us.

And, apparently gave us his best side!

This is what I mean by processing something I like. It may not be the best in the bunch of images, but I like it.

I also like the texture created by the various colors in the grass.

And, you know I love old, rusted equipment.

Some more expressive trees still holding on to some color.

Another one I liked.

What are these trees saying?

Posted on December 4, 2015December 4, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

It’s all happening at the zoo, maybe: The Folsom Zoo Sanctuary

I don’t know why I went with expectations, but I did. I heard that the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary was more of a rescue venue than a real zoo, but I had to check it out with Marlene and Greg.

Here’s what their website has to say about the zoo: “Since 1963, this small unique California zoo has been providing sanctuary to some very special animals. All are non-releasable. Many were raised, and rejected, as wild pets. Others were injured or orphaned in the wild. Most are native to North America. All have names and personalities, and their individual stories are posted at the exhibits, along with factual, up-to-date information about their species.The distinctive educational focus of the zoo promotes responsible and appropriate behavior toward all animals. The zoo teaches about common and uncommon animals, both wild and domestic, and includes those in between, like feral pigs and wolf-dog hybrids. Zoo programs stress that wild animals don’t make good pets.”

After reading this, I had expected a small zoo, limited animals, but not the inability to photograph them well. This is not a zoo for photographers. I’m not sure whether it was the way the cages were designed or the type of enclosures, but we had a difficult time focusing through the wires. So, I decided I’d shoot through the squares in the fencing and do whatever closeups I could when I couldn’t make the cage disappear.

Did I mention that it was also cold and damp. Yes, we’re getting a little rain here in California, but when I found sun, I stood in it! I remember living back east and experiencing summer sun showers. Couldn’t it happen here in winter?

Again, too many expectations!

The parrot’s eye as I shot through the small square in the cage enclosure.

Here you can see the faint markings of the cage.

A wolf/dog blend.

He looks like any other dog–NOT!

The mountain lion.

Licking good.

Just resting.

Another view.

This is the only shot I could get of one of the bears. Again, shot through an enclosure square. We couldn’t get directly on to the enclosure because outer fencing prevented it.

The deer were not in a caged enclosure.

They had their own area.

I’m sure they are content to stay there.

A baby peacock.

A picture of mom and baby.

This baby was always looking at mom.

Again, mom and baby.

Through the square at a golden eagle.

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 5 Comments

An unexpected gift: Sailor Bar, American River, Sacramento

Sometimes you just have to ask. Let me explain. Greg, Linda and I were at Sailor Bar, a popular boat launch area on the American River in Sacramento County. We arrived late afternoon to shoot and catch the sunset. Greg, who enjoys meeting and talking with people, was talking with a man who offered Greg a free monopod. Not liking monopods, Greg graciously declined.

I thought, “That’s what I get for not being outgoing and striking up conversations!” They talked some more and again the question about the monopod came up. I then decided to act upon my need for one.

I walked over and said to the gentleman, “Did I hear you offer a free monopod? I could use one.” The guy was happy to go back to his house and bring it back to me. All it needed was a ball head and it was a Manfrotto. Great, I have a Manfrotto ball head on my extra tripod. This monopod, without ball head, is worth $200. What a gift! The sunset wasn’t much, but getting that monopod was something, and all I had to do was ask!

The river scene from the boat ramp.

If the shoe fits: River Walk, West Sacramento, California

This evening about 3 hours ago, I wore a pair of tennis shoes for the first time in 10 1/2 weeks! And, just in time for the rain!! I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to wear a shoe other than Birkenstocks again. Foot surgery has certainly been a bummer and has had an effect on my photography.

First, I found a difference in my energy level. Second, I had to choose places to shoot that were flat and not rocky. And, third, squatting down was difficult. Now I’m hopeful.

With my problems and Greg’s new physical difficulties, we decided to take the River Walk path in West Sacramento. This is located directly across the Sacramento River from Old Sacramento, and I have wanted to shoot from that side for a long time. While the trail goes for a long way, the River Walk is short and easy to walk, even on the grass areas.

Our bonus for the day was Tuesday’s farmer’s market. It’s so much fun to shoot produce! We were also on hand to capture lunch time as the workers came to enjoy food from the catering truck and some of the food booths.

Next Tuesday, I’ll be wearing my shoes, but I’ll bring along Birkenstocks just in case. Hopefully the shoe will keep fitting and keep my feet in comfort.