street art – Slow Shutter Speed

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 October 20, 2021 by Anne Sandler · 7 Comments

Art, art everywhere: Wide Open Walls, part 3

One more time we ventured down to Sacramento to find more murals. We began at Sac State (California State University, Sacramento) because we heard they had mural on and around the campus. We found none! So we headed back to the city. Photographing murals requires a lot of driving and patience. Sometimes we find other gems too.

Here’s what we found this recent Sunday morning. I didn’t photograph murals I had found in previous years except for the Johnny Cash mural. It’s so impressive. So was the reflection of the mural on a building across the street.

Another building had its walls dedicated to the women of the suffragette movement.

This wall was colorful and full of dragonflies.

And what a great “Reserved Parking” sign.

Here’s some of the other things that caught my eye.

I hope you enjoyed this series.

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #170: Street Art; and Wide Open Walls, part 2

No, I’m not being lazy. Patti, through her Street Art, challenge has given me the opportunity to continue my series on Wide Open Walls and also post on her request.

As I wrote in Part 1, Wide Open Walls is a yearly activity in Sacramento sponsored by stores, companies, etc. Artists come from all over to exhibit their art on brick, stucco and other finishes all over Sacramento. This year we went out three times in search of the new murals and whatever else we could find. We go on Sundays so we don’t have to pay for parking.

I like this type of art for its bright colors, imagination and in many cases messages. I try to dodge cars and other objects. And I sometimes break the murals up in three pieces to get the entire piece in closer than what a wide angle could do. Here is what I captured on a recent outing.