Posted on by Anne Sandler · 32 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #378: Last Chance

When I look back at my photographic experiences in 2025, I can’t get too excited. Except for my Panama Canal Cruise (which I haven’t been able to process yet), it was a repeat of places we had been before. So, I just picked a few that I liked. I’m sure I posted pictures of the outings from which these were taken, but these were not edited or posted.

Let’s start with the one image I processed of the Panama Canal. This is of the lock just before entering the lake.

Next are pictures of birds. It’s difficult for me to get pictures of Sandhill Cranes because I don’t have a super long lens. I got lucky with this one being closer to the road. The next image is my first of a pheasant. Too bad it was a super foggy day.

You know I enjoy photographing flowers.

I love trees. They are so expressive.

My back is telling me to end this post, and I must listen. Thank you Beth for encouraging us to spread our wings last week. Have a wonderful holiday and happy New Year. I’ll see you in 2026! In the meantime stay safe and live in gratitude.

I’m plagiarizing Patti because she said it so well:

Who are the Lens-Artists? Subscribe to our blogs to get our latest challenges.

1. Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com 2. Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com 3. Ann-Christine of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com 4. John of https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com 5. Sofia of https://photographias.wordpress.com 6. Anne of https://annegeephoto.com 7. Egidio of https://egidio.photography/ 8. Ritva of https://sillarit.com/ 9. Beth of https://wanderingdawgs.com/ To find out more about the Lens-Artists Challenges, click here.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #376: Wings

I’m flying! At least it feels like I have wings–I’m able to sit at a chair for a while. A month ago I fell and hurt my back and have been going from the couch to the bed. Each day I tried more standing up movement. So here I am ready to do a short post on Beth’s wonderful challenge of wings.

Most of my wings are of birds in flight.

Hawk ready for flight.

In flight at the annual Sacramento Chalk it Up.

Crop dusters in rural Yolo County.

Even the Sacramento Zoo had flights in fantasy for a while.

That’s it for my short post today. Next week Ann-Christine will lead us into the Holiday season. I’ve been enjoying all your posts for the last month, especially how all of you expressed mysterious. I’d better not push it. Thank heavens for laptops and a couch that reclines. See you next week. In the meantime stay safe (I need to listen to my own words.) and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 55 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #358: Live and Learn

Living is learning! I started learning to be something else other than a mom when pouring a glass of water for a friend during dinner. By rote, I poured him a half glass. He then asked if he promised not to spill, could he have a full glass! That’s when I decided I needed to do something just for me.

I enrolled in a non-fiction writing class at Pierce College, Woodland Hills. This led to writing for the L. A. Daily News as a community columnist and taking my own photos for the articles. When retirement hit, I decided I was done with writing and got my first SLR.

Then the learning began. I learn by doing. I went out on photo outings and asked a lot of questions of other photographers. Later, I joined a photo club where my photos would be critiqued. Then I found LAPC, and here we are!

That was a long way to introduce my response to Tina’s challenge. Through my photographic progression I’ve learned many things like:

Have the eyes in focus!

Use the sun correctly.

Have your picture tell a story.

Be ready. Sometimes you just have to take the shot.

More lessons learned are in the captions.

Fill the Frame
Get Down Low to Accent the Foreground
Find Leading Lines

Oh, there are many more lessons I’ve learned. The biggest lesson is just have fun! I’m still in the photo club and enjoy having my photos critiqued. My photo/friend group has aged, but we still go out once a week. Photography keeps your mind sharp and body exercised.

Thanks Tina for this mental exercise, showing us why we are photographing as we do, and why we should keep doing it.

Last week we went into the woods prompted by Egidio’s fantastic challenge. I enjoyed all your responses. When you respond to Tina’s post remember to link to her original challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag. Next week John will be leading the challenge, so look for his post. Until then stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 34 Comments

Annual Visit: The Nesting Tree

It’s a sure thing. Every April Great Egrets and Blue Herons come to nearby Lincoln in Placer County to nest in a particular tree. And every year my photo buddies and I go to photograph the activity. This year was no exception.

I’m still limited by a total reach of a 300mm lens and the tree is far away. These were edited in Lightroom and Topaz Sharpener. Take a look!

We’ve started bringing chairs. Yes, comfort, plus the arm rest acts as a makeshift tripod!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Beauties and Cuties

When I want to get my swan fix, yes I think they are beautiful and graceful, I go to Mather Lake Regional Park. It’s only about a half hour from my home. This lake is also a popular fishing place. Here are some pictures from a recent visit.

Now for the cuties. One month ago a female giraffe was born at the Sacramento Zoo. Right now they are taking votes to name her. Your vote will cost you a minimum of $5. (I think). On my last visit, I got there when the zoo opened and our un-named baby was out. She stayed by her mom except for a few runs around the enclosure. I was amazed at how the other adult females watched out for her. Here she is!

I have more images of other animals that I’ll show you next time. Baby giraffe will probably have a name by then. Isn’t she cute!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 53 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #342: It’s a Wild Life

Oh, no doubt about it, it is a wild life in more ways than one! But this week Egidio has us concentrating on nature which constantly surprises me. Egidio encourages us to show our wild side, asking us to post no more than eight images. Paring down was the real challenge, so here goes.

Effie Yeaw. This unspoiled nature center is about 15 minutes from my home and along the American River. The deer, birds, coyotes, rabbits, etc. are left to fend for themselves. We typically see deer and small animals here.

Each year, Laura and I go to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge which is a couple of hours away. It’s a great place to photograph birds. Armed with my 300 mm max lens and a great deal of hope, I usually come home with a few good pictures. Thank goodness for cropping images!

An occasional trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, again with my friend Laura (who is a great nature/wildlife photographer) usually provides a day of fun and photography. There is an elk preserve there.

And elephant seals sleep on the shore.

My go to place for swans is Mather Lake, maybe 30 minutes from my home.

And, this is my eighth and last image. Each year birds nest in trees in Lincoln. It’s not exactly in the wild, but these wild egrets and herons have found a safe nesting place.

This may be my photographic wild side, but right now the wind is gusting, reminding me of nature’s other wild side. This one, I don’t like so much!

Thanks Egidio for encouraging us to walk on the wild side. Please be sure to link your response to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week was another difficult challenge when Tina asked us to pick our favorites. What an array of photos we shared. It was so much fun. Next week Ann-Christine challenges us, so look for her post. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Behind Again #1

What happens when you go on weekly photo outings and then get busy with other things? You forget to post your pictures! Yes, I have a few from the later part of 2024 to show you. These were taken at Chalk It Up, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Rollins Lake, The American River and the Yolo Countryside.

There’s more to come. I’ll post those next week–I hope!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #308: Perfect Pairs

In a perfect world–wait! There’s no perfect world! Given our imperfections, guest host, Elizabeth of Albatz Travels challenges us to find perfect pairs. This is an exciting task since we interpret what we see so differently.

My first pairing is of two regulars at Mather Lake, a fishing spot and swans’ home. This pair is so different, but can usually be found at the lake at the same time.

Next there are insects and plants helping each other and us. My example are sunflowers and bees. Sunflowers provide the pollen bees need to pollenate and we love the bees honey.

The sun creates shadows and those shadows can change the object they are shadowing. This ship sculpture is at the Sacramento River Walk.

Distance can play tricks. What looks like a giant fork is actually a sculpture made from regular sized forks. Taken at the The Culinary Institute of America at Copia.

Our local Effie Yeaw Nature Center is home to many wild animals, especially deer. They don’t fear us humans, but are wary of coyotes and other animals. We have bucks and does.

Who remembers hood ornaments? I barely do. But our local California State Automobile Museum brings us back in time when cars were adorned with beauties like these. They aren’t at all alike but serve the same purpose.

You know, if you ask me, these are perfect pairings! Thanks Elizabeth for this fun challenge. When you respond, please remember to link to her original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week we traveled to many tourist attractions through a challenge given by Leanne Cole. Your responses took us around the world. Thank you all for participating. Next week  PR of Flights of the Soul will present Balconies. Be sure to look for her post. 

In the meantime, enjoy and stay healthy!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 58 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #306: Habitat

My disclaimer: I’m really not a wildlife photographer because I don’t have a lens with extraordinary reach, and I’m not fast to react. But, isn’t there always a “but,” I do enjoy going out to our local wildlife areas a couple times a year. Usually, I get lucky and come home with a few good pictures.

So for Tina’s Habitat challenge, I’m sharing some pictures taken at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and Gray Lodge Wildlife areas. I usually tag along with my friend Laura who is a true and great wildlife photographer.

You never know what you’re going to see when you visit these wildlife areas. And, it’s hit or miss. I enjoy these outings and their challenges anyway.

So enjoy these pictures which are mostly from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

There is a funny story behind the eagle image: To photograph this eagle, I had to climb through Laura’s sunroof (waist high). Now you know why the eagle is looking a me with a surprised stare!

Thanks Tina for prompting this wonderful journey back in time. When you respond, please remember to link to Tina’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag in the reader. And thank you Egidio for another educational challenge. Now I’m seeing rectangles everywhere!

While the Lens-Artists team takes some time off during July, we have amazing guest hosts to lead our challenge:

July 13: Leanne of Leanne Cole explores TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

July 20: Elizabeth of Albatz Travel Adventures leads us with PAIRS

July 27: PR of Flights of the Soul presents BALCONIES

Patti will be back to lead our challenge on August 3rd. Until then stay safe and healthy.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #304: Behind

Composition can make or break a photograph’s impact for the viewer. I always take the time to compose an image in the camera, but never really concentrated on why. In this week’s challenge Ritva explains why the background is an important component of composition. She explains that the background sets the mood and context of the image.

If you follow my posts, you know I love to create macros. In doing a macro, I’m setting the background to be soft and blurred, helping my subject (usually a flower) stand out. Sometimes the foreground can also be softened like in the tulip below. There’s no doubt as to the images’ subjects.

But sometimes a simple soft focus will be enough to spotlight a subject. In the images below, there is just a slight bokeh on the background–just enough to have the viewer’s eye go to the ladybugs on the leaf and the mushrooms attached to the tree. In these instances, I thought it was important that you understand the environment as well as having the subjects stand out.

Ritva also suggested that a black background and complimentary colors can help the subject stand out. The neutral colors of the lizard against the black along with the blurred flower help it be noticeable. The cat’s patchy orange face and coat are a stand out against the dark background and white midrange fence. And his yellow eyes are sure sending a message! I’m not going near that garbage can.

Negative space also sets the stage for viewer interpretation. These cormorants, one posed on a branch and the other in flight, attract attention on even a dull day because they make up most of the image with no background to interfere.

My next example needs the fore, mid and background in focus to tell its story of beauty, nature and serenity. What do you think?

Light is my last example. This is of the Sun Dial Bridge in Redding, CA. When it’s lit up at night it is spectacular. At the end, it is an actual sundial. During the day, it’s not as beautiful. If you are ever visiting northern California, near Redding, you have to visit it. It’s a walking bridge made of glass.

Now, thanks to Ritva, I’m aware of why I compose the way I do. And I’ll be more inclined to think of backgrounds as I am composing. When you respond to this challenge be sure to link to Ritva’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week Donna had us concentrating on connections. It was a great exercise and I enjoyed seeing all your contributions. We connect on so many different levels. Next week, Egidio challenges us. I wonder what he has in store for us. Be sure to look for his post.

Have a wonderful photo week and stay safe!