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.
More from the boat ramp.
Walking along the rocky shoreline.
This goose was thirsty.
He didn’t mind being photographed.
Grasses along the shoreline.
The river as seen from the shore.
It slowly goes behind the horizon.
Not a big display of color, but interesting clouds.
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.
A view of the I Street Bridge.
This goose was willing to pose for me.
This is the paddle wheel on the Delta King boat.
I just liked the shape of this tree.
The middle of the Tower Bridge seen through
A restaurant and buildings in Sacramento.
The Tower Bridge.
This building belongs to CalSTRS (The teachers union). You can also see the vendors in the Farmer’s Market.
Close up of a chain.
A light pole.
Want to buy some dried fruit?
This weird looking thing is a citrus plant. Sorry, I can’t remember its name.
How about some lettuce? I liked the light shinning on it.
I’m not saying I’m lazy, but…I do like to keep things close, especially when I’m driving. When we were leaving McKinley Park, Marlene suggested we go to the William B. Pond Recreation Area which was close to where we were going to eat lunch.
This park is named after the first Regional Parks Director, William B. Pond and is a man-made lake. We first went down the stairs to the viewing area. From there we saw the lake, ducks, and geese. The highlight for me was the standoff between two Mallards and their mates. We then walked along the river, shooting puddles and sights.
Before we left, we walked over the bridge for another vantage point and saw to cyclists each on what would be a low profile tricycle. You’ll see the image.
I still can’t believe that I had never been to these two beautiful areas that were so close. Sacramento has a lot to offer in recreation in addition to the American and Sacramento Rivers. It was a day of fun and we didn’t have to drive a distance to get there. Again, I’m not lazy; just practical!
Down the stairs to the viewing area. Marlene is capturing some alone time.
Sacramento does have Fall Foliage.
On the bridge looking down on a fisherman.
Another beautiful capture. The clouds were awesome.
River view from the bridge.
The cyclists.
Looking at the lake from the viewing area.
Look how calm the lake is to show a mirror reflection.
In flight.
While we were walking along a path.
Here’s Marlene, her shadow and reflection.
The one on the left turned to leave. This took a few minutes. Ducks are stubborn. I’m wondering what it was all about!
Yes, someone did mention that small town near the Sacramento River, and, of course, we had to go. We had no preconception regarding Knight’s Landing. Greg did say that there was really nothing there, but he took us anyway. He was almost correct–there was an old trestle foundation left from the old railroad days, and a quirky bar and grill.
Knight’s Landing is another census-designated place in Yolo County. Founded in 1843 by William Knight a doctor from Baltimore Maryland. it’s located on the Sacramento River in the northeastern portion of the county. In its early days it was a steamboat landing and point of communication between people east and west of the river.
Knights Landing was founded in 1843, by Dr. William Knight, a practicing physician from Baltimore, Maryland. On March 25, 1890, the Knight’s Landing branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad was completed and ready for business, and later the completion of the bridge across the river added immensely to the prosperity of the town. Today empty tracks and the remnants of the railroad trestle on the river are the only reminders of this town’s glory days.
Leaving the beauty of the river behind, we went to Stingrayz Beach Boardwalk Marina. Well, it sounds fancy doesn’t it? It wasn’t, but it was fun. I understand that the joint jumps on the weekend with music and party goers. You’ll see what I mean when you look at the images.
We did stop in Woodland on our way home, but I’ll show you those in another post about the Woodland Opera House. Meanwhile visit Knights Landing through my camera lens. In my next post you can experience Stingrayz.
The trestle connecting the two river banks.
I loved the reflection that gave a mirror image.
This is also another view.
Looking the other way.
Feral kittens now on their own.
They are fed by a woman who lives nearby.
Now how cute can you get?
Many people are out fishing along the banks.
This couple was glad to catch something.
The beautiful Sacramento River.
We were told this was a pump house.
I don’t know what they were fixing or building, but they were busy.
This is over by Stingrayz.
You meet all sorts of nice people and their dogs when you’re out shooting.
Tuesdays with seniors is fun because while we have a destination in mind, with Greg as our guide, we take back roads to get there. And, with photographers, you just have to stop and take photographs as you drive along. The joke is that it takes us twice as long to get anywhere!
The trip up to Apple Hill was no exception. We detoured to visit the American River and the Sailor Bar boat launch. The American and Sacramento rivers wrap around Sacramento and outlying communities. That’s why I love this area. It was amazing that we drove, more or less, straight to Apple Hill after leaving Sailor Bar.
Apple Hill is a seasonal treat where growers have stands, activities for kids, crafting booths and more. You can’t leave the area without eating something made from apples. You can get anything apple. I enjoyed dipping my apple slices in caramel. Yum! Oh, there’s another favorite of mine–kettle corn. Richard is still enjoying his apple pie (I froze slices). And, lastly, there is wine tasting.
But the real attraction for a photographer is the countryside and nearby towns. Take a look!
The American River was glass that day.
This kayak has a mirror image. I call it a banana boat.
I loved the reflections in the water.
This fisherman gets his paddle ready.
This tree looked so wrinkled. I couldn’t resist getting up close. It’s almost like the tree has a nest and something is in it.
This knot is so expressive.
At the Larsen Apple Barn there is a museum and an outdoor area housing old vehicles and farm equipment.
I love rust and old stuff like this tractor.
I don’t know what this is called, but it has aged with character.
Now this old vehicle has a Disney character personality.
This is a working farm.
Imagine working in such beauty.
At Boa Vista you could buy pumpkins, all types of apples and more.
I’ve learned a lot this year. More than I did in my first two years of shooting. Why did it take me so long? I know the answer. I psyched myself into believing that learning was too difficult. Why did I do that?
I had just closed down my business of writing marketing text and articles, and coaching business owners who wanted to sell their business by speaking engagements. That I knew well and had expertise in. But photography?
When I bought my D3100 and read the manual (I always read manuals!), I was amazed at how complicated digital photography seemed to be. And, that’s how I started out. From there I took baby steps with urging from photographers I met on meetups. Some even challenged me. I took on Jayne’s HDR challenge and was amazed at how easy the software was to use. Why did I wait so long. Shooting RAW instead of JPEG–that took 1 1/2 years! Mary pushed me towards the manual setting. I’ve been shooting manual since January 1st. I procrastinated because of fear. It’s easy and gives you the most control.
Taking on the 365 challenge has helped propel me forward. I now help new photographers on occasion and have started a photography club within Toastmasters International, District 39. Next year, I want to tackle processing. I do minimal editing in Lightroom, and want to do more.
I love photography, and it won’t take me as long to move forward. Here are some reasons I love it so much.
Sequoia National Park
Tom Rigney and Flambeau at the Sacramento Music Festival
It took 30 years of camping before Richard and I saw a bear in the wild. And, it took our first day in Lake Tahoe for us to see one fishing! Yes, I did get pictures, but with just an 18 – 140 mm lens, I wasn’t too happy with the results. But, it was exciting.
Marlene and I were there because another photo buddy Jayne had reserved a 3-bedroom time share condo and invited members of the photography community to join her. Unfortunately, Marlene and I were the only ones who were able to take advantage of her generosity. I remember last year I couldn’t go. We were to be there three nights. However our trip was caught short a day.
The bear and Taylor Creek was our first stop during our visit. We got there late in the afternoon and walked the path to the Profile Chamber where visitors could view salmon. However, once we got there we had 5 minutes before closing and there weren’t many salmon. It was on our way back to the car that we saw the bear. It was a good thing that it was concentrating on fishing and didn’t care that a crowd of people were close and shooting pictures.
In this post, I’ll show you the bear, the rest of Taylor Creek and a cloudless sunset at Nevada Beach. It’s just amazing to me that you wait 30 years to sight a bear and within hours at Tahoe, you sight one.
On the pathway.
A calm section of the creek.
Water flows swiftly over the rocks.
Another view.
Da bear!
It’s intent of finding fish. It even went under the bridge we were all standing on.
Some small cattails.
Each bench had a carving on it.
I couldn’t resist the colors in this branch.
I love the smell of pine.
Cloudless sunset at Nevada Beach
Some color though.
This model was dunking her head in the water and then flinging her hair back.
It’s one of my favorite places to practice. I’ve learned how to shoot sunsets, sunbursts, animals, water fowl, events and buildings there. And, best of all it’s close to home! Gibson Ranch is a park where people board and care for their horses. They also train them there. It’s a place to hold large events like the Civil War Re-enactment. Most of all, it’s peaceful.
When you visit you may see children feeding the ducks and geese, or a father and son fishing. With two playgrounds, it’s also a wonderful place for a family to picnic and play.
For me, it’s a great place to practice photography. On a recent visit, that’s what Marlene and I did. We walked through the horse grounds, caught peacocks high and low with our cameras and tried to have as much patience as the egret had as it was trying to fish.
Here’s our visit to Gibson Ranch and my practice session.
I love the rustic look of the buildings.
A barn cat.
Getting up close and personal with a peacock. They don’t seem to mind people.
Inside the horse barn.
A bridle and rope.
A peacock watches the horses.
Hay in the barn.
Equipment waiting to be used.
This wheelbarrow gave me some Lightroom practice in working with exposure.
Oh, sorry to leave you right in the middle of Fiddletown, (Where we left off in my last post.) but we will leave once I tell you how it got its name.
Founded in 1849, the town mainly served as a trading camp for the many mines in the area. A popular mining technique, placer mining, was heavily dependent on water. Dry Creek, the local water source, ran dry in the summer months, meaning the miners couldn’t work. It is said that the miners would fiddle around, and the town became known as Fiddletown. Not happy with his town’s name, a local resident lobbied to have the name changed to Oleta (his daughter’s name). This name stood until his death in 1932 when the name Fiddletown was restored.
Embracing the name, residents are not idle. They have fund raisers to support renovations for historic landmark buildings, a Living History Day and a Fiddlers Jam. I’m hoping that some day they will put in a proper public restroom!
Now we will leave Fiddletown and head down to D-Agoustini Reservoir enjoy your journey!
The main action in Fiddletown. From left: The firehouse, community center and library.
The big fiddle sits on the Community Center’s roof.
A closer look at the fiddle.
A bench at the Community Center.
A building across the street.
A rusted old safe on the porch of the building.
Old wagon wheels also on the porch.
I just liked the way this tree framed the building.
Fence ornament. The fence probably hasn’t been opened in years.
An old house with rusted statues.
An old boat abandoned at D-Agoustini Reservoir
A farm house across the lake.
Remnants of trees in the lake.
Reeds and moss ad color to the water.
Looking across the lake.
Dead but still pretty and shapely.
The colors on the lake shine in the water.
Do you see the prehistoric bird eating something here?
It was Tuesday with seniors. I was still hobbling. it was the three of us me, Marlene and Greg. But, we took a different course into Plymouth and Fiddletown.
I’ve been to Plymouth, but not to photograph the sights. We used to square dance and went to a yearly festival there. And, just the name Fiddletown was attraction enough for me. So off we went, with Greg taking us down every back road he knew! I was still in the back seat with my foot up.
Plymouth is a city in Amador County, and the 2010 census shows a population of 1,005. This is a very small town with the downtown area maybe three blocks long. It looks like they are trying to create an upscale yet old look with new construction on the main street.
This is in contrast to Fiddletown where the main drag shows buildings empty and almost falling down. A census designated community in Amador County, Fiddletown’s population was 235 as of the 2010 census. It is registered as a California Historical Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. But, it has a charm to it.
Our guide, Greg, also took us to D-Agonstini Reservoir which I thought was a large pond! And we had crossed the county line into El Dorado County. I’m sure I mentioned in a previous post that you never know where you’ll end up when Greg is driving!
So that’s where our course took us last week. See for yourself in this two-part post.
The Well Fargo bank in an old but modernized building.
Some rusted locks and door handles.
An old gas pump.
A bench on main street near where we ate lunch.
I hadn’t seen one of these in ages!
The old school house in Fiddletown.
The children used an “out” pass instead of a hall pass when they needed to go to the bathroom. These are behind the old school house.
A cemetery across from the school house.
An old brick building that has a lot of rustic charm.
Another old brick building.
The Chew Kee Store (a Chinese herbal shop) established in 1850.
An animal skull on a phone pole in front of a residence.
Slow Shutter Speed 