Posted on 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 by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #337: Bold

This week, Sofia is asking us to think BOLD. COLOR! That’s what I think of when I hear bold. I am attracted to bright, deep and bold colors. I’m also attracted to angles when I see them, especially when they are straight, angular and bold. This rooftop fits that bill.

Now let’s get to my favorite subject of color. Here are two samples of what I like.

Next are bold designs.

When it comes to flowers, sometimes less color can bring out the bold, especially in a single floral photograph. This flower just fills the frame with its bold burst.

I love signs, especially when they are meaningful, funny or just eye catching.

I’ll end with colorful wall and window designs at our local Crocker Art Museum.

Thank you Sofia, for brightening my morning. I love this challenge. When you respond to Sofia’s challenge, please link your to her original post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Last week Ann-Christine challenged us to post just one meaningful image. I enjoyed seeing and reading your responses. Next up is John to challenge us, so be sure to look for his post.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

If you want to know more about participating in the Lens-Artists, please click here.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 51 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #295: Rock Your World

It’s no wonder rocks rock our world. They are everywhere. So Donna’s challenge this week should be easy, but there are so much to choose from. I limited myself to two years and began searching. Here’s what I found in 2015 and 2016.

I found that rocks and water make wonderful effects like waterfalls and water sprays.

Locally, we have a town named Rocklin. Can you guess why? If you thought it was the sight of quarries you’re right. The site of Griffith Quarry is now a park.

Rocks are also abundant along rivers. The following pictures were taken along the South Fork of the Yuba River.

South of Sacramento in Gold Country is Sonora. We visited our friends who live there during the wildflower season.

I do have a much larger rock to show you. This was taken near the town of Bridgeport on the way to the ghost town Bodie.

I’ll close with an image taken on the shore of local Folsom Lake.

There are many more opportunities for finding rocks and mountains in Northern California.

When you respond to this challenge, please remember to link it to Donna’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we all learned more about ways to edit our photos in John’s “Before and After” challenge. I totally enjoyed reading all of your editing methods. Next week Ritva is challenging us so be sure to look for her post.

Until then, be happy and stay safe!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 41 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #291: Cityscapes

Cityscapes? Patti wants to see our citiscapes either from our home town or travels. My town is more like suburban-scapes! I’m probably not giving Sacramento its due. It has grown a great deal since I moved here in 2001. We don’t live in Sacramento proper, but in one of the small surrounding cities in Sacramento County, Citrus Heights. You can drive about 5 miles and still see country homesteads.

But when we talk about the city, we talk about the City of Sacramento about 20 minutes from Citrus Heights. I don’t go there often because of the one-way streets. It would help if the grid was consistent, but it’s not. Yes, one time I did turn the wrong way. I heard loud yells and was able to turn around quickly!

We don’t have skyscrapers, but our newer buildings are glass that reflect other buildings. So I’m going to show you those today. I do love reflections.

I also love murals. These two show murals. The Johnny Cash mural takes up the entire building side. I liked the way the artist incorporated the window in the train design.

To entice people to live downtown, residential apartments are being built above stores. Window terraces help bring in the outside.

I just liked this stairwell.

And here are some reflective buildings.

Give Sacramento another 10 years and it will be more cosmopolitan and grown up. It is the capital city of California. If you haven’t posted your cityscape yet, please remember to link to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

I truly enjoyed seeing your amazing replies to Ann-Christine’s Circular Wonders challenge last week. Some were truly creative. Next week, Tina will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post. Take care everyone!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #278: Unique

What is unique to some, may not be unique to others. It all depends on your life experiences. This week, Amy is asking us to post pictures of places and things unique to us. Since I began photography as a hobby 10 years ago, I have been to places that were surprisingly different/amazing to me.

Let’s start with the Coachella Valley Preserve in Thousand Palms, California. I had never seen an oasis before, and here was one in the California desert. You can see a large cluster of palm trees in the middle of a desert. As we walked through the preserve, we saw pools of water that fed the thirsty trees.

Have you ever tried light painting? Yes, painting with light and captured with your camera. You can’t do it alone because someone needs to hold the light source. And, of course, it has to be dark. One of my camera groups hosted this unique experience.

I remember seeing a giant sequoia for the first time. That definitely was a WOW experience. The sequoias occur naturally only in groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. They can grow up to 279 tall and have a diameter of 20 to 26 feet. This is one tree you just can’t hug!

Redding California is home to the Sun Dial Bridge. It’s a steel, glass, and granite bridge that crosses the Sacramento River and is simply beautiful, especially at night. This bridge is one of the largest sundials in the world. Its shadow traces an arc that is so big it can record time for only four hours a day, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. When visible, the shadow moves about one foot per minute.

The Folsom Powerhouse is “an example of the tremendous advance in the commercial application of electricity. H.P. Livermore realized that the water of the American River could turn generators for electricity in Sacramento, 22 miles downstream. With his partners, Livermore built the powerhouse, which still looks much as it did in 1895.” During a docent led tour, of the small facility we learned how amazing this was. And it was certainly unique in that time.

Yes, my camera has shown me many unique places. I’m sure there will be more to come.

Please remember to link to Amy’s post when you respond to this challenge and use the Lens-Artist tag in the reader. Last week, thanks to Patti, we enjoyed seeing many empty spaces and variations on the theme. I appreciated your imagination and photography. Next week Ann-Christine will be leading the challenge so be sure to look for her post. Until then, stay safe this holiday season.