I just love the Yolo Art & Ag Project. They allow us photographers and artists to visit the most amazing country places. This post is about our visit to the Rumstaller Farm in Dixon California. And this place was amazing!
This is an excerpt from their website:
We Grow Beer. Easy to say…hard to do. Just spend a morning with us! This is where our beer is born, where its soul comes to life. Dirt, sun, rain, wind…sweat. It’s an opportunity to grow the highest quality, most unique tasting beer in the world…not with engineering, or in a lab…but in the Dirt!
Yes, they brew beer, but there is much more. They grow the hops, have walnut and citrus orchards, sheep, dogs, sunsets, bonfires and concerts.
It’s all in one large area where people can relax on their old furniture, visit the bandstand, buy their beer and wine, etc. In fact, you can spend a relaxing few hours viewing the orchards and hops growing areas, or sit in a comfy couch or chair. It’s up to you. Here are some pictures.
I know these are a lot of pictures, but I do have more. This is a wonderful farm that I will visit again–and again!
If you want to see into a person’s soul, just look at their face. One of my photographic goals is to do just that. Candid images capture their story. Once you ask a person if you can take their picture, you tend to lose the story.
For John’s challenge this week, I wish I had more candid faces, but he did open the challenge to include more avenues. And I’m taking full advantage of his generosity. I went way back into my archives to find images I may not have posted before. They were taken at various places, so here goes.
The first two faces were taken at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento. They’ve been there a long time so they must be on permanent display. I picked them because they are so different. I’m assuming the one on the left is a face, and why is the guy on the right sticking his tongue out?
These two are from a Highland Games fair we went to. It was fun to see the costumes and see the participants in the actual games.
Next is a tribute to my friend Greg Morris who passed away in 2015. He was a fun guy who enjoyed taking funny selfies. The first photo is from an outing to Locke, Calif. there was a wooden form of the Mona Lisa with a hole for a face. Greg didn’t hesitate. The second was taken a year later at Bodega Bay where we held a memorial for him. Pictured are some of the photographers there to honor him.
Speaking of photo buddies, here are two taken at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, Calif. We wore those hats while on our tour. Marlene is on the left and Linda is on the right. It was an interesting tour, but we went kind of crazy tasting and buying the jelly beans afterwards. They are so yummy!
Every year, Sacramento hosts Wide Open Walls, a mural festival. There is no shortage of faces. We drive around the city each year to capture the new art.
Last, let’s go to the Sacramento Zoo. You know I love that place. Once you get to know the animals, they are fun to watch and photograph. We were fortunate to be there at the right time to catch a tutorial on birds. A keeper had brought out a parrot for us to get a close, not behind the thick bars of the cage, look. The next image is of a giraffe and her calf. I think the baby is Rocket, who at two years was sent to another zoo.
So there you have it, faces maybe not in a crowd, but tell a story just the same. When you respond to John’s post remember to link to his original challenge and to use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing all your framing responses to Amy’s challenge last week. There were a lot of different natural and man-made frames that gave me ideas to work on. Next week Sofia will be presenting the challenge next week, so be sure to look for her post.
If you’d like to participate but aren’t sure how to get started, click here.
It’s a busy day today. Tomorrow we head up to Lassen National Park where we will have no wifi, no internet or cell reception. So, I need to get this post done NOW! Nothing like a little motivation.
But Amy’s challenge of framing a photograph sent me way back (10 years ago) when I started photography. Actually, I wanted to see whether I was framing at that point. My trip back showed me that I was framing, but wasn’t shooting or editing that well. I don’t think I had Lightroom at that time. So, I ran my selections through a quick edit process.
Anyway, here they are. I saw that I used trees as a natural frame.
My next example is using a background as a frame. This is my younger grandson at Disney World. He’s now entering High School.
When does a stairwell become a frame that is leading lines? This was taken in Old Sacramento.
This colorful door is framed by neon and color. Could you resist taking a picture? This is Peggy Sue’s diner in Mesquite Nevada. The inside is just as amazing as the outside. And, oh, the food is good too.
My last picture is of the Tower Bridge in Sacramento. The bridge entrance is framed by street lights. The car light trails make this frame seem like an open box.
Thank you Amy for getting me to see just how far my photo abilities have come. I enjoyed looking back! When you post, please link back to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week, we all agreed that life is a work in progress, and I enjoyed your responses to Ann-Christine’s challenge. Next week John is presenting our challenge, so look for his post.
Now back to loading the trailer.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
Aren’t we all a work in progress? Each day brings changes and new challenges. We work through them and we progress. This week Ann Christine asks us to show works in progress through our photos.
As I progress through my own photographic ability, I’ve learned that the things we photograph are also progressing. Some works in progress repeat year after year. For instance, the salmon swim upstream in the American River to lay their eggs. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery, raises Chinook salmon and steelhead for release to the American River. The salmon run occurs in fall, with hatchery operations taking place from the beginning of November through mid-December. The steelhead trout run occurs in winter, with hatchery operations taking place from January through February. In this series of images, the salmon are being diverted into the hatchery.
In addition to man helping nature, nature can handle things on her own. For instance, the London Bridge along the Great Ocean Road in Australia was once connected. However in January 1990 the middle collapsed and left the arch separated from the rest. Nature has a way of showing us that her force is a work in progress. Now the separated arch is called the London Arch.
Next is the WPA Rock Garden. I admire the dedication of the wonderful volunteers who keep this garden beautiful so we can all enjoy the flowers and small creatures. It is definitely a work in progress.
Last is the pride of work and ownership. Valley Oak Mill California, mills wool into yarn. Customers bring in their raw products and take home yarn. I visited this business as part of the Yolo Art & Ag project a few years ago and was impressed with the owner’s pride in her work. Her business is definitely progressing.
For me, I don’t want to stop progressing and working. I look forward to learning new things and meeting new people. As Ann Christine quoted Mark Twain in her post, Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.
Thank you to all our July guest hosts, especially Janet who encouraged us to not overlook anything. You all gave such creative responses to her challenge. And thank you Ann Christine to encouraging us to think about various works in progress. Please remember to link to her original post and use the Lens-Artists tag when you respond. Next week Amy will be providing our challenge, so be sure to look for her post.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
While looking through my archives for this week’s challenge byJanet of Sustainabilitea (who wants us to post images of things others may normally overlook or something you think other people would overlook), I found images that I was lucky enough not to overlook and some that presented a surprise! So I’m twisting the challenge a bit to show you some images that I’m happy to not have overlooked. I hope you don’t mind Janet.
I didn’t even notice this bee flying into this sunflower until I processed it. I guess I overlooked it completely!
When I walk, I try to look down for small creatures, but I am delighted when I find a colorfully textured log.
I do like trees. When I looked up at this tree, the sun was in the perfect position for me to catch a sunburst.
I’m not a very patient person, but I’m glad I kept my lens out the car window just a little longer just in case this cormorant took flight.
And sometimes we just get lucky. I was watching this goat when he got an itch.
I’m so glad I looked up and saw this restaurant ceiling because a few days later it burned down and all was lost. Sometimes we are meant to be where we are.
This one was overlooked by my photo buddies. I even pointed it out to one, but he didn’t take the shot. It’s all subjective, isn’t it! Can you see the ferris wheel reflection in the restaurant window?
One picture I never overlooked or missed an opportunity to take was of Kamau the Lion at the Sacramento Zoo. He recently passed away at age 16. RIP Kamau.
Thank you Janet, this was fun even though I twisted the challenge a bit. When you post on this challenge, please remember to link to Janet’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I totally enjoyed Dan’s Unbound challenge and all your posts and interpretations. Thanks to all our July guest hosts. Next week the team returns with Ann-Christine leading the challenge.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
Thank you Dan who encourages us, this week, to “capture moments that break the boundaries of your routine.” Other than my recent trip to Australia, I’m pretty much a stick by home gal. I do count on my photo adventures to get me to break the bounds of home and routine. And I have been to many areas within two hours from my home that I would not have seen had I not had a camera in my hand and great friends to see them with.
But, there is another way to interpret Dan’s challenge and that is to see the work of someone who has truly broken artistic boundaries. One such artist is Philip Gloshoff who creates metal sculptures that can be seen at the Glashoff Sculpture Ranch in Fairfield.
Ranch visits are by appointment only. Marlene made an appointment for our photo group to experience these amazing sculptures. We met Philip Gloshoff and talked with him while at the ranch. His clothes were those of a guy who worked with metal, creating works of art.
Philip Gloshoff
Now for his art. There are a lot of photos in this gallery, but I’ve left more in my computer. I could go back and still see new sculptures.
I liked the way he made statements through his creativity and his liking for everything camera. He is truly out of the normal bounds.
Thank you Dan for giving me the opportunity to introduce this artist. Please remember to link to Dan’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag when you respond. We saw all sorts of fantastic fences last week through Dawn’s challenge last week. Next week Janet of This, That and The Other Thing will complete July’s guest host challenges. Look for her post.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
It’s been a while since we went to Placerville to take photos. The town got the name Old Hangtown because it was known as a vigilante area. Here’s a bit of history.
The history of Placerville, formerly Hangtown and Old Dry Diggins, has its roots in mining and was once known for its notorious reputation for vigilante justice carried out by hangings. Old Dry Diggins was a gold mining camp on Hangtown Creek established in 1848.
They had hung (pardon the pun) onto the old name until a few years ago when they took down the dummy hanging from a pole where the hanging tree once stood. But the past still lingers. No more hangings; just a small tourist area with old buildings and shops.
Here are photos from our recent visit.
Dog lovers have to have one of these. Found in the Hardware Store.Does anyone remember the Studebaker cars?
We had a great couple of hours walking Main Street and having lunch. And, yes, we did some shopping!
As photographers we look for things to use as leading lines that take our viewer’s eyes to our subject or through the photo. This week Dawn Miller of The Day After challenges us to show fencing as leading lines or as an element to showcase a subject.
For instance some fences are put up to keep people out, protecting whatever is inside the fence. Down near Rio Vista we have wind turbine farms. There is fencing to keep people out. And farmers use fences in orchards to keep us out, especially during an almond harvest.
Talking about keeping things safe, how about fences that keep you safe!
Then there are fences that lead us places. They are usually located along pathways.
Some fencing is old and needs repair.
How about the opportunity for leading line shadows. Don’t we photographers love that!
And then there are fences that just add to our images.
I’ll close with a metal barrier around a memorial set up for the victims of the Paradise Camp Fire in 2018. The entire town was burned. Some rebuilt and some couldn’t go back. My neighbor lived there and took a few of us photographers to document the devastation. This memorial was erected to honor that day.
Fencing keeps us safe and where we belong. It also protects private property. Thanks Dawn for fencing us in this week. When you post, please remember to link to Dawn’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. And thank you Philo for a not so simple challenge on simplicity last week. I enjoyed your responses. Next week Dan Fenner of Departing in 5 Minutes leads our challenge with UNBOUND. Be sure to look for his post.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
It’s been three years since we went searching for sunflower fields. The pandemic shut us down in 2020 and it has taken us that long to go scouting. By scouting, I mean getting in the car and heading out to the countryside of Yolo County. After getting lost on various County numbered roads, we did find two or three fields.
One had a beekeepers boxes on the side of the field. Since we were respectful of the owners private property, we did not walk into the fields. We stood on the side and used our long lenses. We also took advantage of flowers in the front of the field. Because of this, the bees didn’t bother us.
Here is a sample of our Sunny bounty. Sunflowers help me smile. They are happy flowers!
I always learn more about my photography approach when I work on these challenges. Through Philo’s challenge,our guest host this week, I’ve learned I’m not a true minimalist type of photographer. I may be simplistic, but not in a minimal sense. For me simplistic means concentrating on one subject without a busy background.
For those of you who have been following my blog, you know I love do photograph macro/close ups of flowers. I get in close and fill a frame. One flower.
Sometimes I do leave some negative space, but it’s still a tight crop.
How more simple can you get than a lone tree providing shade for cows?
Maybe a shoreline, providing a relaxing place can be a simple image.
How about an insect gathering nectar from a flower? For me these are simple images telling one story with one strong image.
A woman was showing off the find of a beautiful shell.
A shore bird walking along with it’s shadow, makes a simple statement and does show some negative space. There’s hope for me after all!
Thank you Philo for helping us realize the simplicity in our photography. Please remember to link to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I’m sure he wants to see all your great posts through the week. Next week Next week, Dawn Miller of The Day After will be leading our challenge, having us look at fences.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
Slow Shutter Speed 