urban photography – Page 3 – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

A photo a day keeps Anne busy: images here and there!

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.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau at the Sacramento Music Festival

Macro shot of water drops on a flower petal

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Practice fun in Folsom: Folsom Museum in Old Folsom and the American River

I’ve decided that anytime I shoot, it’s practice! I just returned from a trip to the ghost town in Bodie, California, and it will take several more days before all the images are processed. That’s even practice. The more I shoot and practice, the more I learn. In May Greg, Marlene and I went to Folsom for some practice with our Neutral Density filters.

However, Greg, our guide and chauffeur, took us on a wonderful detour to the Old Folsom Historic District’s museum. Small and easily accessible, it was fun to walk through. After lunch, we went to the American River to practice with our filters.

I’m finding that nothing is easy and takes time to learn; but when you do, the results are amazing. I haven’t practiced with my filter since that day. I’ve posted several outings since then, but I’m now realizing that photo shoots like this one are important. They are helping me become a photographer rather than someone who just points and shoots.

And the 365 challenge also propels me forward. Yes, every time I press down the shutter, I’m practicing.

The Blacksmith docent was busy in the shop.

Glad we don’t wash clothes this way any more.

Well, you can guess what this building is.

Working to get smooth water. I was somewhat successful.

There was a breeze and the water was moving.

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Shooting in the dark: Fireworks and light trails

I love it when I learn, and I did learn when we went to shoot fireworks. I had good luck when using my old point and shoot by putting it on a special setting. It did all the thinking. When I tried to shoot fireworks with my D3100 it was a mess. I just didn’t know how to set the camera and I didn’t have a tripod.

Fast forward a year and a half, Shoot Or Go Home Meetup group is going the shoot fireworks–A chance to learn. Our local minor league baseball team, the River Cats, have fireworks after their home games. We used the Tower Bridge to set the stage and waited. During that time, Mary, the group’s organizer, gave us a lesson on how to get the best images.

And then they started. We were all anxiously pressing down the shutter button. The show was short and we did our best. I was happy with what I got. What I was not happy with was my camera’s processing length. With a short show, every second of processing time seemed like minutes.

Afterwards, we went to capture some light trails. Since I’ve done that before, I was able to help two other women succeed. So the student became the teacher!

I do love both teaching and learning.

I love sunbursts. Shot this one as the sun was setting on the Sacramento River.

I like this building and never miss a chance to shoot it. The sky was also beautiful.

I could have shot more if my camera didn’t have such a lag time.

The Tower Bridge connects Sacramento to West Sacramento.

The show’s theme must have been “red, white and blue.”

The last captured image. The show is over.

We turned to face the State Capitol building.

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Combining passions: Return to Midtown Sacramento

My combining passions has nothing to do with returning to Midtown, but everything to do with my love for photography and Toastmasters. I’m currently much better at the latter (being a DTM), and gaining skills daily on the former! I took the bold step of starting a photography club within Toastmasters about six months ago.

That was a big step because of the time dedication it needs. We now have nine members and hope to get to 10 soon. We call ourselves, “All About Photography,” and follow the Toastmaster format. Since we are an advanced club, you have to be in a basic club to join. It has been fun for me and the other members as we learn from each other. Our skill set ranges from beginner to professional. I’ll tell you more about the club and show you some of the members’ images too in a future post; but, now–back to Midtown.

Our guide, Greg Morris, loves this area and will take us down alleys, along the railroad tracks and some places that I wouldn’t go if we weren’t together. I’ve shown you some of the murals painted on walls and garage doors in a prior post and I want to show you some more.

So, here’s at least an example of one passion!

This mural was along side a cloting store specializing in gently used articles.

Part of the mural was painted onto the concrete parking lot.

From the same mural. I don’t know why their heads were in animal’s mouths!

There are many old victorians in Sacramento. This is one of them.

Another victorian. When they are well kept they are beautiful.

This is Sandra Dee’s, a soul food restaurant. You can see the mural painted down the brick wall of the eatery.

I loved the mural and shot some single images.

I’m thinking they may be of musicians who played there.

Whoever painted these did an amazing job.

I need to go back there an taste the soul food. I hear it’s good, but greasy.

This small mural in in their parking lot.

Greg befriended a homeless man named Timothy.

Timothy was carrying a book he was reading and told Greg all about it.

From what I heard, they got on other topics too.

I liked the fencing on this home. Someone told me it was a harlequin pattern.

This is a view of an apartment building in an alley.

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

Operating on slow shutter speed: Sunrise Mall, Citrus Heights and Old Roseville

Slow Shutter Speed, that’s the name of this blog. Why? When I began this passion, I was overwhelmed with all of it. I had a feeling that this was going to be a long journey and thought that name was fitting. Of course now, it has another meaning for me: using slow shutter speed to blur objects, create abstracts and to shoot at night.

I love shooting lights at night, playing with the zoom and blurring the motion of whatever I’m shooting. So, when I heard there was a small carnival at a local mall, I took my camera and tripod down there. I had a blast, especially when people stopped and asked me whether I was from a newspaper or magazine! I’m not ready for that, but it was nice to be asked that question.

Then, a couple of nights later, I went to Old Roseville to shoot the two theaters on Vernon Street. Again, I wanted to capture the marquee and play with the zoom effect.

I’m still learning on “slow shudder speed,” but I feel like I’m not taking snapshots any longer.

The carousel at slow shudder speed. You can still see the horses and the mechanism that runs the carousel.

Same carousel but an even slower shudder speed. Where did the horses go?

A zoom on a slow shudder speed creates an abstract.

This looks like a giant top when shot at slow shudder.

This ferris wheel had lights out in one section. You can see the effect.

Slow the shudder speed down more and you get this.

Even slower and the entire wheel is covered in lights.

Here the lights look even more uniform–slower shudder speed.

I needed to use slow shudder speed to get this night shot crisp.

Here’s what happened when I played with the zoom.

Posted on March 14, 2015March 14, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Discovering Northern California: Downieville, the town

Wow, I’ve been busy in the present time! I was testing and bought a used macro lens, and I’m looking forward to learning more about macro shooting. However, this post is about Downieville, a historic town. at the confluence of the Downie River and North Fork of the Yuba River. In my last post, I showed you images of the trip up and back, saving the town for today.

Downieville was founded in late 1849 and named after Major William Downie who founded the town. The town soon became a bustling gold rush town and is the county seat of Sierra County. Today it attracts summer tourists with fishing, mountain biking, back country off-road adventures, motorcycling, kayaking, and gold panning.

Of course, we were not there in the “season,” and no restaurant was open! But, the hardware, beauty shop and a few other stores were open. Enjoy the town. Maybe in the future I’ll have some macro images to show you!

The North Fork of the Yuba River is right behind this Inn.

This person sat on this bench the entire time we were in Downieville.

We were hoping to find food here, but it was closed.

This bell tower was outside the grocery store in a parking lot.

This old cash register was outside the steakhouse.

I can’t remember which building this was attached to, but it had cute signs.

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

The 365: Old Sacramento with Sharon

I had the pleasure of spending most of the day with my friend Sharon from Los Angeles before she went on to San Francisco last week. I picked her up at the airport after my Toastmasters meeting, we went to lunch and then headed to Old Sacramento. Now I would never had pulled out a camera before the 365 day challenge, but I did. After feeding the parking meter, I explained the 365 challenge to her. Not only was she okay with it, she was pointing out interesting things to me.

Old Sacramento is an area, located on the Sacramento River, containing quaint shops, old architecture, a train station, a few museums (most notably the Railroad Museum).

I enjoyed that day with Sharon, not only catching up with her, but realizing that I will probably pull my camera out from now on–365 challenge or not.

This challenge is amazing. I’m learning more than I thought I would and also found the support of a long-time friend.

Horse carriages are normal in Old Sacramento.

You can shop, walk and relax at Old Sacramento.

A view of the Tower Bridge and West Sacramento.

The paddle wheel on the Delta King, a hotel and restaurant ship.

A small visitor scurries under the rope after I almost stepped on it.

Someone left these old boots on the wood walk way.

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Wandering: Grass Valley and Nevada City, California

I’m on the move this year, shooting whenever and wherever I can. So, when photo buddy Greg Morris offered to take me up to the foothills and visit the sister cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City, I couldn’t refuse. I had been there and toured the Empire Mine State Park, but when you go with someone who knows the area, it’s a whole new experience.

As a former resident, Greg knows all the stores, buildings, neat homes and the area’s history. Greg shoots mainly on a tripod and takes a good deal of HDR shots. And the results are amazing. I’m going to have to ask him to give me a lesson in Photomatix.

It was fun listening to his stories. I hope you enjoy the images.

The main street in Grass Valley is colorful and quaint.

I loved the design and colors of this building above the stores.

The Nevada City Winery at The Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center.

I think this was called a stamping machine.

The chandeliers that light up the Great Room.

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Anne Sandler

Free museum day, part 3: The Museum of Medical History

Be happy–that you are able to get the medical care we have today. Of the three museums we visited, this was the scariest. When you look at what the doctors of years gone by had to work with, thankfulness and fear comes to the surface. The progress we have made is amazing.

Photographing some of the old tools was difficult because of the small quarters, glare and glass cases. Again, I shot tight. As you look at some of the images, be thankful!

This is an iron lung used when a patient had polio.

This was an instrument for medical research only!

This was a diathermy machine, 1920, that electrically produced heat.

Who remembers asprin packaged like this?

Early baby bottles and a picture of the Gerber baby.

A blood transfusion kit. They would transfer blood directly from one person to another.

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Anne Sandler

A wet weekend, what’s a photographer to do? Free museum day: The Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park

You make plans and then need to change them. But, this was a welcome change. It’s raining here in dry California. Although this is a warm storm and will do nothing to help the snow pack, it will help put some water back into the lakes and rivers.

We, photo buddy Marlene and I, had planned on visiting museums for about 2 hours on Saturday, but changed it to a day of shooting when we knew we couldn’t go to Crockett on Sunday. The three we visited were the Leland Stanford Mansion State Park, the California Automobile Museum and the Museum of Medical History.

It was a full day of walking, bending and kneeling. Great exercise! In today’s post I’ll show you images from the Stanford Mansion. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t allow us to shoot inside the mansion. It was beautiful, with some of the restored, original furniture like a side board that looked like a locomotive. Leland Stanford was President of the Central Pacific Railroad of California.

Build in 1857, the Stanfords purchased the home in 1861. Over the years the home grew from its original 4,000 sq ft to 19,000 sq ft. After their son’s death 1884, Lealand and Jane endowed the Leland Stanford, Jr. University in 1885. Today that college is a part of the University of California system. It was amazing to go back in time, yet be surrounded by today. The home is tucked in the midst of office buildings.

Enjoy the outside of the Stanford Mansion.