It’s that time of year here in Northern California–RAIN! But this year, it started in December, giving our rivers more than an adequate water level. It started again in late January and so far in February. Discovery Park is at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, and in years of heavy rain fall, it tends to flood.
Of course I can’t miss a good opportunity to photograph a flooded area. But, we were almost too late. I remember one year the picnic tables were under water. Here are some pictures from that area.
River View from the I St. BridgeFlooded Parking LotFlooded Parking LotNot under water, but look at that burl.
After Discovery Park, we went to Old Sacramento to see what we could find.
It’s still raining, but not as hard. I’m not complaining too much because most of the rest of the year we are dry. Summer rain is not normal for us.
What seemed easy ended up being a difficult challenge. Ann-Christine asked us to post just ONE picture that is meaningful, not a favorite, to us. My first choice was an image I was proud of. But, that’s not what was asked of us.
Recently my lens has found several homeless in Sacramento. I’ve shared at least one with you recently. The homeless crises is meaningful and has been for years. Just yesterday I went to Discovery Park, with friends Ray and Richard, to photograph the flooding there. With all the rain we’ve been getting, I wasn’t disappointed. I found a flooded parking lot and a building sitting partially submerged in water.
However, on our way back to the car. I found a homeless man asleep on the sidewalk of a busy intersection. His pillow was a rock. Whatever joy I felt at finding the flooding I was looking for was instantly diminished.
We can call this photojournalism, but it is sad that he can’t rest his head on a true pillow and sleep in privacy. This isn’t just a problem in Sacramento, but I’m sure worldwide. There is no easy remedy. I just hope not to find more pictures of this kind to take.
Thanks Ann-Christine for this thought provoking challenge. I was amazed at how quickly my focus shifted. This is definitely not my favorite photo, but it is meaningful. When you post your reply, please link to Ann-Christine’s original post and use the Lens-Artist tag.
I truly enjoyed seeing all your images in black and white and/or color last week. It was an interesting exercise and did show how subjective photography is. Next week Sofia will be challenging us, so be sure to look for her post.
When I compose a photograph, I don’t think color or black and white. That time comes during processing. Since I mainly use Lightroom, if I think there’s enough contrast, I will use the black and white button in LR just to see what it would look like. If I like it, then I process the image using LR and Silver Efex.
I photographed this water lily and wondered what it would look like in B&W. I liked the drama that was created and finished processing in Silver Efex. Do you think the contrast in the leaves makes up for the loss of color?
Sometimes, an overcast day presents an almost B&W image on its own. This was taken in Bodega Bay on the California Coast. I thought the dark boat, clouds and light shining on the water created enough contrast for a B&W image. But then the color image looks right also. What do you think?
Finally, not knowing Patti was going to present this challenge, I challenged myself to a sunset in B&W. What would a beautiful, colorful sunset look like in monochrome? See for yourself.
I think the monochrome works mainly because of the reflection in the water. But is working good enough? What do you think?
This has been a great exercise Patti. Thank you! When you post your responses, please link to Patti’s original challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag. I’m anxious to see your posts. Last week, we saw a lot of dogs and cats thanks to Tina’s challenge. It was fun to see your pets and grand pets. Next week Ann-Christine will challenge us, so please look for her post.
In the meantime, be resilient and live in gratitude.
Yes, the sun was shining, the streets were dry, and we were ready to take our cameras out again. So off to Historic Folsom we went. We found that getting there before stores opened and during the week, made this small tourist area very quiet. This is when you look for small things to photograph.
Like storefront windows, their reflections and shadows.
Buildings and other structures.
Store owners were getting ready to open, vendors were delivering and consumers were waiting for stores to open.
At last, the ice rink opened and was filling up with skaters, skilled and learning.
It was a relaxing and fun morning followed by a delicious lunch. I’m wondering, do we go out because we enjoy photography or finding new places to eat at? Maybe both!
Did you have a dog when you were growing up? I didn’t! And we spent the first 7 years of our marriage without a pet. To be honest, we moved nine times in those 7 years–not conducive to having a pet. But when we bought our first house, we adopted our first dog. We’ve had one ever since. Most were adopted; two were purchased.
You’ve probably guessed that we are partial to dogs. They listen better, don’t jump on food prep counters, etc. Mostly they give back love and allegiance. Unfortunately, I didn’t start photography until we got our latest family member, Gem our Schnoodle. He’s 20 pounds of stubborn joy. Here he is as a young dog. I made the mistake of using him as a model while I was doing the 365 challenge. Now he leaves the room when I take out a camera!
He’s now 14 1/2, has a heart condition, and we are doing the best we can for him. He’s even more stubborn in his old age, wanting his daily walk and treats. I have a stroller for him when he tires.
Here are some other dogs I’ve come across during my photo outings.
And there’s always a dog at Chalk It Up!
Now on to the feline subjects of Tina’s challenge. In the past years, I’ve softened my stance on cats, but not enough to own one; or have one own me! Here are some I’ve met.
Then there are the residents of Dead Cat Alley in Woodland, Ca. Well worn ceramic statues adorn a three-blook alley.
And finally at Chalk It Up, I found one of our favorite cat characters.
We’ve come to a difficult decision to not get another dog after Gem passes. At our ages, we wouldn’t get a puppy because we don’t want to leave a dog behind and caring for another senior dog is also something we don’t look forward to. I’m hoping Gem will make it to his 15th birthday. In the meantime, it’s love, love, love!
I enjoyed all the colorful posts last week. Egidio’s challenge put us in a wonderful and complimentary world. I also look forward to seeing your dogs and cats. When you respond, please link to Tina’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
Until next week, live in gratitude and be resilient!
Color, that’s what it’s all about. It’s used to entice us to purchase items. We dress in colors that complement our complexion. And as photographers we always use color even if we process in black and white. This week, Egidio encourages to show us how we use complementary colors in our photography.
Nature gives us color every time we go out, especially complementary colors. First is green. What doesn’t complement green. On the color wheel colors shades of orange, red and purple complement green when you cast a wide net.
But we humans know how to use complementary colors also. From a seat cushion, to fireworks against a golden bridge, to an abstract and to a ship’s interior.
When you see ads, interior spaces or store fronts, think about how they use color. Thanks Egidio for this wonderful and colorful challenge. When you post your response, please link to Egidio’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
I enjoyed seeing your responses to Ritva’s post that had us looking down last week. You gave me lots of ideas! Next week Tina is presenting the challenge, so be sure to look for her post. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!
I’ve gotten behind again, so it’s catch up time. Laura and I have a tradition of going to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge on Christmas Day. You would be surprised at how many cars are visiting the refuge on Christmas Day!
The weather was perfect. The fog burned off and the sun sort of came out. At least there was enough contrast for my camera and lens (Which only extends to 300 mm.) to get birds in focus. Here’s a sampling.
I’m not a true bird photographer, but I do like my yearly jaunt with Laura. Take care everyone!
When I take my camera out for a walk, I always look for angles, shadows and other leading lines that would make an interesting photo. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to be able to photograph from high looking low. And that’s what Ritva is asking us to do in this week’s challenge: look down.
While I don’t recommend looking down while walking, I do suggest that you stop and look down. What do you see? Sometimes unique opportunities lay at your feet or over a rail. Here are some of mine.
Looking down into a puddle on an asphalt road can lead to abstract opportunities.
Looking down can give a different perspective on a wood platform showing its rough texture, on a bee showing a close up of its eyes and on a flower showing its center blossom.
How about a unique view of a fountain that flows down the stairs.
Talking about stairs. Here are some impressive stairs.
I’ll end with this shot looking down the mid-ship section of a glitzy cruise ship.
This was enjoyable Ritva. One of these photos took me back to before I had a DSLR! When you post your response, please link it to Ritva’s and use the Lens-Artists tag. We don’t want to miss your post.
And a big thank you to all who participated in my resilience challenge of last week. I enjoyed seeing and reading about your resilience. I’m actually still getting responses today. Now that’s resilience!
Egidio is challenging us next week, so be sure to look for his post. In the meantime, happy clicking and stay safe.
Help, I’m in a deep rabbit hole—again! I was trying to find a simple definition of resilience for you, but I got into an environmental and scientific discussion on the subject. The simplest definition I could find: Resilience refers to the ability to successfully adapt to stressors, maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity. It’s the ability to “bounce back” from difficult experiences.
Are you resilient? I’ve made this my intention for 2025. I think we will need it as we face a troubled world, especially here in the U. S. To me, resilience is the ability to make your way through adversity, finding happiness along the way.
How does that apply to photography. As photographers, we find resilience in nature and interpretate it in our photos.
Mountains in Lassen National Park can be 27,000 years old. More recent volcanic activity has created changes in the ecosystems in the park. Some haven’t changed in those years. They are resilient.
Another natural example are our trees. The General Sherman Sequoia tree in Sequioa National Park is 2,200–2,700 years old. It’s still growing taller and wider. Yes, resilience.
And what about those plants, given a small amount of dirt, that seem to push through rock and survive.
We can also photograph metal. I love to photograph metal when it ages and becomes rusty. Metal is strong and resilient, used in gates, trains, cars and more.
People are resilient also. Just ask any mother about resiliency!
Families show resilience through traditions carried through generations, like Christmas and Chanukah.
History teaches us about resilience. Wars, natural disasters, rising out of poverty, and more. Although horrific to some, in 1846 the Donner party showed survival resilience. Their story is told at the Donner Memorial State Park, and nearby Donner Lake is named in their honor. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503
The current fire storms in Southern California are testing people’s resilience. People have died, more are displaced and homes are gone. When the fires are out, residents will have to muster up more resilience as they rebuild their lives.
My challenge for you this week is to find how your photographs portray resilience. How do they speak to you?
We had a lot of fun in last week’s challenge, Favorite Images of 2024, and I enjoyed seeing and reading about your selections. Thank you John! As you respond to this challenge, please link to this post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I do want to see all your resilient images. Next week, Ritva will lead our third challenge of the year. Be sure to look for her post. In the meantime stay healthy and live in gratitude.
Happy New Year everyone! I’ve been looking forward to starting a new year since early on in 2024. I guess what I’m saying that 2024 wasn’t a banner year for me. I spent most of it recovering from an auto accident. But, thanks to my wonderful photo friends, I managed to get out with my camera.
It seems when I have a camera in my hands, I have energy and things have a better focus. I’m fine now, but I have learned a lot about friendship. Let’s take a look at 2024.
I do love to photograph in fog. Here’s one from our visit to Rush Ranch.
Old Sacramento and the area surrounding the Sacramento River and bridges gave me the opportunity for some street photography and interesting landscape images.
Asleep in Old Sacramento.Underneath one bridge looking at another.
I took whatever opportunity I could to use my macro lens. Thank goodness for seasonal sunflowers and bees.
Twice a year I challenge myself and my camera/lens to see how far I can get with 300 mm max. The egret was taken in April and shorebirds in December. Cropping in helps a lot!
I also enjoy photographing lines, angles and shadows, and reflections.
Manetti Shrem MuseumDowntown Sacramento
I can’t end a post about favorites without flowers. These were taken locally in Sacramento.
Last year taught me a lot about resilience, looking forward and smiling. That’s my wish for all of you this year. I have enjoyed being part of this wonderful community, and I experience more of life through your photographic expressions.
Stay tuned, next week, I’m leading the challenge. Until then stay healthy and happy. Live in gratitude.
When you post your response to this challenge, you can link to my post or all of the team’s posts. Please remember to use the Lens-Artists tag. If you would like more information about our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
Slow Shutter Speed 