abstract photography – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on August 30, 2025August 30, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 77 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #363: Virtual Scavenger Hunt

How many of you venture out for our weekly photo challenges? Or do you hunt through your archives? Me, I usually rummage through my archives. I will admit, it’s fun, bringing back great memories. And having a reason to do that search is even better. So, this week, I challenge you to a virtual scavenger hunt!

Listed below are 20 options. Do a deep dive into your archives, going back as far as you want to find the items. Some examples are:

Something with wavy lines:

Something with a camera:

Something with a wheel:

Something with a cool shadow:

Something with a smooth texture:

Below are more suggestions. You can choose from those or from what I’ve posted. Please find at least five images but no more than 10, and just one image from each suggestion. This would give you a maximum of 10 images in your post. Part of this challenge is choosing which to post!

Zig zag lines

Something with green eyes

Some cool jewelry

Something circular

Something rectangular

Something with a design

Something with a pattern

Something with a bumpy texture

Something with a soft texture

Something with water in it

A set of keys

Something glass

A zipper

Shoelaces

Art supplies

Now, if you have a deep desire to look for these outside, please do so. You can also mix it up between inside and outside. Just don’t post a picture that doesn’t relate to any of these items. Be creative and bold. Most of all, have fun! Please be sure to link back to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I want to check out each and every post to see what you scavenged.

Thanks, Beth, for getting us in a sports mood last week. Next week Ritva will be back so be sure to look for her post. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on January 25, 2025January 25, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #333: Complementary Colors

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!

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 37 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #332: Shoot From Above

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.

Posted on October 19, 2024October 17, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 95 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #321: Intentional Camera Movement

Come along with me on my journey to discover Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). I’ve never really attempted to do this except for the occasional image. So we’re going down that rabbit hole together! Yes, again. You’ve got to love that rabbit. The rabbit hole was found at Bushnell Gardens and Nursery in Granite Bay. Photo buddy Richard came along.

The first tip came from my friend Laura when I photographed my only other ICM. Move your body and not your camera. That way your lines are straight. This was a gate outside the nursery. I bowed before it.

I think for this one, I just wiggled my body. Laura would be proud that I didn’t move the camera. Richard liked my dance. I like the burst of color surrounded by soft greens. I’ve found it’s important to have color in ICM. I think the bright floral color help this image.

Next are four images showing what the plant really was and three more showing various degrees of ICM. The last one being a horizontal move on my part. These pictures were hardly edited. I just cropped and saturated colors. The fun was taking them.

When I stood under a lattice and saw a sum burst, I just had to try ICM. The sunburst came out at as a super white stripe that dominated the image, so I tried to tone it down. Maybe I did too much cover with the brush. But you can see ICM can be done on more than just foliage.

I also wanted to try to do a swirl. So I chose a long shutter speed and bent my body to one side until the shutter closed. I’m happy with the way these turned out. The longer the shutter is open the more swirl and softness you get.

Of course, I had to zoom a bit, moving the lens and not the camera. I forgot to take a good picture, but you can tell what this plant looked like before the zoom.

For my last set, I chose to photograph two trees. One had leaves turning and the other was green. I enjoyed this experiment. I liked how the colors and light added vibrance to the images.

For all these images, I didn’t go lower than a shutter speed of 6. I found that the image lost definition. I also learned that the more light you have, the more difficult it is to photograph ICM. Next time, I’ll bring along a neutral density filter and/or choose a different time of day.

I had a lot of fun preparing for this post, and I hope you do too. Maybe you’ve been out already learning and picking up tips. And maybe you’re a pro at ICM. Whatever the case, please share your thoughts and images. I’m in the learning stage also, and every bit helps.

We all had fun picking images from the past as Sofia had us looking back last week. I enjoyed experiencing all your wonderful memories. When you share your post for this challenge, please link back to mine and use the Lens-Artist tag. In the meantime have fun learning and experimenting with ICM.

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 44 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #296: Abstract

I had a lot of fun with this challenge. Thank you Ritva! The fun came when I experimented with Photoshop filters and saw how I could change images. I also realized how I just compose photos for abstracts. Most of the images below are ones I put my lens close in or used a macro lens. So, let’s get started with my show and tell!

First, I have so much fun with intentional camera (lens) movement. Here are two taken at two different carnivals.

Now for some Photoshop filter fun. Can you see the two flowers in the first (left) photo? How about the bridge going over the stream in the center photo? The one on the right is easier–reflection of trees in the water.

Now for the images I took naturally with close ups.

As I said, I enjoyed experimenting and discovering more about how I take photos. Once again, thanks Ritva. When you reply to her post with your abstracts, please remember to link to Ritva’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

We did some rock climbing, walking and just admiring last week in response to Donna’s challenge. I enjoyed your responses. Next week Egidio is challenging us, so be sure to look for his post.

Until then stay safe!

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 46 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #228: Diagonals

This is a great morning here in the Sacramento California area. It’s raining and it’s a steady rain. And, I’m also excited about Patti’s challenge on diagonals this morning. She compared diagonals to leading lines that lead to the focal point of a photograph.

Here are some of my images showing leading lines.

I also enjoy photographing objects on a diagonal just for the fun of it, and was recently to the California Museum where I found great diagonals.

Sometimes shooting a picture on a diagonal adds interest. This clown’s face is more interesting on the diagonal rather than straight on.

And when we compose a picture, we may end up with a visual diagonal, leaving some negative space.

Here’s my last fun photograph on a diagonal.

Patti, I hope I didn’t take your great challenge too far from your original intent. This was fun and thank you for brightening up a wonderful rainy morning. Please remember to link your reply post to Patti’s and use the Lens Artists tag. It’s supposed to rain off and on through Monday. Yay!!

We enjoyed all your responses to last week’s challenge. I got to see many places I’ll never be able to get to. Next week is Ann-Christine’s turn to lead this challenge. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.

Posted on May 25, 2022May 25, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 10 Comments

Street Photography?: The Fountains

I love street photography, but I’m finding out that I lack patience and I’m too timid to take some candid shots. If you ask them if you can take their picture, then they pose. Marlene and I went to The Fountains, an outdoor shopping center in Roseville, recently to do street photography. One, the stores were just opening and there weren’t many people. Two, At its best, this center is a leisurely shopping center–not bustling.

Any way, I was able to get some window cleaners on the job.

**Watch out the elk is coming for you!**

This is the fountain in the middle of the shopping center. At a peak shopping time, people usually sit around with their children or cell phones! At prime time, It’s jets propel water synchronized to music. Of course we were too early for that.

I did have some fun with chairs. First are the chairs as the were and second are the chairs with a Photoshop twirl filter. Which do you like better?

I took some other fun photos.

I tried to photograph this guy through a fire enclosure, but he saw me and offered to have me take his picture. Marlene and I talked with him and found out that he has terminal cancer. Marlene offered to take his picture with his cell phone, and he allowed it.

So this was my try at street photography. Not that successful, but I had a good time. Next time we’ll have to go into Sacramento City, on a Sunday so we can park, later in the day, find a busy area and wait for people to walk by. Oh, yes, I’ll find some patience too.

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Anne Sandler · 6 Comments

A slow start to 2019: January

If I thought 2019 would start off with a BANG, I was wrong. I didn’t hold a camera in my hand for the first two weeks. After that there were five photo opportunities, but few great photos. A lot had to do with the rainy weather, which we’re still having, and also with my not feeling well.

So here we are in February and the rain is still coming down. I’m not complaining because California needs the rain. We have a great snow pack now that will hopefully see us through the dry summer. What does that mean for photography? If you can’t make it up to the snow, you’re shooting inside! I’m amazed at how many businesses welcome photographers. This year we’ve been to the Antique Trove in Roseville twice, most recently today. You’ll see those pictures in my next post.

So, here are some picks from January!

These were from an experiment with oil and water. It’s more difficult than the tutorial made it seem!

These are from an outing to Old Folsom Historic District. It’s a section of Folsom where you can walk, shop and eat. Best of all, the parking is free!

This next outing was to Old Sacramento. I’ve shown you images from there before. It’s always a challenge to find something new.

So, there you have some highlights from January!

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

When it rains: Emigh’s Hardware

It’s great that stores allow photographers to come in out of the rain to shoot inside. On a recent rainy day, my Tuesday group invaded Emigh’s Hardware store–with permission! While our new house is being painted and floors are being put down, I have time to shoot. Even with the rain, it was good to get away from packing for a few hours.

And, we did shoot for a few hours. Emigh’s, located in Sacramento, is much more than a hardware store. They have a small nursery, an enormous selection of outdoor fun stuff, outdoor furniture and of course hardware. When you walk into the store, you are greeted and asked if you need help finding something. While walking through the store, I was asked several more times.

I totally enjoyed taking pictures in their outdoor decorations area. Really it was more of a separate room. I also ventured out to the nursery while the rain had slowed down to a mist.

It was a much needed fun morning. Moving is like riding a roller coaster. Our buyer fell out of contract, but our fabulous realtor resold the house in one day–for more money! But, that was a tough 24 hours for me.

I’m looking forward to Tuesday when no rain is predicted and I still can refrain from packing. We just have to figure out where we’ll go. That’s next on my list!

What is this fish trying to say?

This was the centerpiece of a windchime.

This was a sun wall decoration.

I also tried to create abstracts from windchimes.

All that glitters.

These were shells that I tried to do something artistic with. Not sure I made it.

A crystal in a decoration.

Here’s looking at you!

An indoor plant.

A butterfly wing on a windchime.

I forgot what this was, but it works well as an abstract.

Beautiful in pink.

This one welcomed the water.

Flower out in the nursery.

Posted on December 23, 2017December 23, 2017 by Anne Sandler · 4 Comments

Merry Christmas: Sacramento Capitol Building

Somehow I’m procrastinating and haven’t gone out to shoot Christmas Lights. It’s been cold here and that’s why I haven’t propelled my body out of the house. But, we did got to the California State Capitol building to shoot the Christmas tree, and since it was during Chanukah, the Menorah on the Capitol steps by Chabad. I was a bit disappointed that the Menorah wasn’t lit that night.

We got there early enough to go inside the Capitol and take indoor photos. I’ll show you some. The rotunda is beautiful. Next we went outside to set up. Here’s where I learned another lesson! Don’t go on an outing with a preconceived idea of what you’re going to shoot, and just shoot that. Look around, there may be something behind you!

When I finally looked around, I was able to grab a shot of Capitol Ave leading to the Tower Bridge with light trails. Most of my group walked a ways down that street.

My friend Jean will be getting her new camera a couple of days after Christmas, and the houses will still be colorful. No more procrastinating! Merry Christmas everyone.