American river – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on March 30, 2025 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 March 12, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

Almost caught up!

It’s raining–again! Fortunately not still. True, we need the rain, but it can rain at night and let the sunshine during the day. It’s just a simple request!

These pictures will almost catch me up.

First is my latest visit to the Sacramento Zoo. I’m enjoying our small zoo while I can. In 5 years, it will take at least 2 days to see all of the new Sacramento Elk Grove Zoo.

Second is the trout run at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery. There were many fishing boats on the American River that day. At the hatchery, the trout are caught, eggs are expressed, trout are released back into the river, their eggs are hatched and when ready released into the river.

Last is our hunt for apple blossoms. We found one accessible orchard, but didn’t go on the property, but stayed on the side.

We also stopped for a barn and an old building we saw along a country road.

I have just one more outing to catch me up. See you next week! Hopefully, the sun will be shining!!

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 23 Comments

Under Water: Discovery Park

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.

**Not 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.

Take care everyone! Enjoy your weather!

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 11 Comments

A Unique and Working Farm: Soil Born Farms

What are you going to do when you retire? You’ll have a lot of time on your hands. I asked myself that question when I knew I was going to close down my business. That’s when I dove into photography. George in my Toastmaster club decided to get his hands dirty at Soil Born Farms. A non-profit organization, their “mission is to create an urban agriculture and education project that empowers youth and adults to discover and participate in a local food system that encourages healthy living, nurtures the environment and grows a sustainable community.”

This non-profit is open to the public and has a store, cafe, docent walks and more. It is located near the American River in Rancho Cordova. I visited during the Halloween holiday when they had activities especially for the children.

The children were enjoying activities, wearing costumes and eating in the cafe. Some adults were in costume also. Most staff members were in costume. I didn’t have time to explore the trails, but I will go back. Here are some pictures from that morning.

I’ll be back and I’ll take the tour so I can bring back more information for you also.

Posted on August 31, 2024August 31, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 161 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #314: Shorelines

Where do you find peace and relaxation? I find mine wherever water touches land. Yes, any type of shoreline. It may be a beach, a lake, a pond, a creek; you know where I’m going. I’m heading to the shore.

Here in Sacramento, rivers are easy to find. River shorelines are muddy and rocky with some areas reserved for swim areas. This part of the river is located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. I believe it’s part of the Sacramento River. The American River is noted for riding the rapids, while the Sacramento River is used more for industry.

The Mississippi River is heavily used for transporting containers on barges moved forward by push boats. This image was taken in Arkansas along the mighty Mississippi. If you look in the mid to upper right, you’ll see a barge with containers on it waiting to be pushed to its destination. The second image shows a push boat in action. We were told that the crew stay on the boat the entire trip, moving 24/7, and only docking for supplies.

Let’s visit the beaches next. There are beautiful sand beaches where swimming is fun like this beach on Lifou Island in New Caledonia.

Then there are the rocky beaches where we sit and watch the waves hit the shore. Like the Marin Headlands in Northern California. The man in the second photo is wave watching at Pacific Grove on the California coast.

Let’s look at a creek next. We have many creeks running through the Sacramento Valley. Most popular is our local Dry Creek. There is a park nearby and the creek offers children a summer respite from the heat. During the winter, it is a beautiful place to take photos. Although this photo doesn’t show it, there are large rocks to sit on and relax.

We can’t forget about lakes. We have many around us. And when we drove across the country, we found beautiful lakes in middle America. This is Mono Lake in Northeastern California. It is a salt lake and known for the tufa towers jutting out of the water.

We found a beautiful lake in Alberta Canada while visiting Glacier National Park. Lake Waterton, Waterton National Park, Canada.

There are more types of shorelines, but I think this post is full. Please show us your shorelines from near and/or far. It’s any place where water touches the earth, and you also find peace and relaxation. When you post for this challenge, please link to my post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

I totally enjoyed seeing everyone’s cool colors last week. Thank you, John. It helped cool off our hot California summer! Next week Ritva will be challenging us. Please look for her post. Until then, enjoy, take lots of pictures and be happy.

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 35 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #279: Magical

I remember going to the Magic Castle in Los Angeles to watch the magicians perform. Wow, what a treat. But that’s magic created by humans. Ann-Christine’s challenge this week is to find magic in special people, places, things, nature, adventures, childhood memories, etc.

Mother Nature’s magic is a little different. Well, not a little. She creates weather patterns that we enjoy, giving us sunshine, rain, fog, etc. Sometimes there’s too much rain or not enough. That’s the magic of the Salmon Fall Bridge. It disappears under the Amercian River when there’s a lot of rain and reappears during a drought.

Now a State Historic Landmark, Salmon Falls is a former settlement and gold mining town in on the South Fork of the American River It was flooded by the construction, in the 1950s, of Folsom Lake. Waterfalls were nearby and that’s how the town got its name.

Salmon Falls is usually under water throughout much of the year. However, at low-water levels old foundations, roads, and the old Salmon Falls Bridge are easily accessible. That is when we hiked down to it.

In the following pictures, you can see the bridge in the distance, some of the town’s ruins, one of my photo buddies navigating the stream, and teepees that some kids had fun making.

We’re getting close now. The stone bridge is truly a beautiful structure. I liked the shadows and the reflections in the water.

We’ve crossed the bridge and walked downstream a bit where there is more water. Back upstream visitors had fun piling rocks to form cairns. Will they last through the next flood situation?

They are predicting some heavy rains for this area this winter. I’m wondering what magic Mother Nature has in store for us!

Thank you, Ann-Christine, for reminding us that there is still magic to behold. Please link to her original post when you create your magical experience and use the Lens-Artist tag. I enjoyed seeing your unique responses to Amy’s challenge last week. Tina will be presenting next week’s challenge so look for her blog post.

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 58 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #272: Billboards and Signs

I don’t know about you, but these days I feel bombarded with signage of, mostly, the advertising kind. So, it’s great to pay attention to the signs that keep us safe and bring us joy. Thank you John for this fun challenge.

I’m not into photographing signs as a photo practice, but we happened to be at Ruhstaller Farm in Dixon, a beer distillery and farm, and featured in this blog. But, I didn’t post signs when there was so much more for you to see.

I’m learning to look for nature to provide the unusual and man to provide beautiful murals along the American River.

Little did I know that Spam was so popular! There’s a Spam festival in the Sacramento Delta and Spam is popular in Kauai.

I do love neon signs, find sadness at the Old Sacramento City Cemetery and find it wonderful that one store could stay in business for more than 100 years.

And there’s nothing like signage at the Nevada County Fair to get those hunger pangs going. Spicy nachos and sweet churros!

Sometimes feelings give us signs that we have to do something. This goat is no exception. Got an itch? Scratch it!

I’ve enjoyed looking through my archives for signage. I hope you’re having fun too. Remember to link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing all your contrasty posts last week. Next week Sophia is challenging us, so look for her post.

If you’d like to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 9 Comments

Still Catching Up: Effie Yeaw

It’s nature at its closest: Effie Yeaw Nature Center. This amazing place is on the American River in Fair Oaks, about 15 minutes from my home. This Sacramento County Park has a visitors center and bathrooms near the center. Other than that, it’s up to Nature to make changes. Sometimes when we visit, there are no deer in sight and other times: WOW!

Our visit in August was one of those WOW moments. We saw many moms, their fawns and young bucks. I also got a good shot of a woodpecker and two of the American River.

The deer at Effie Yeaw are used to us humans walking by, but we are still careful not to get too close. It’s all about respect and that this is their home we are walking through.

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 13 Comments

A nice morning with the new lens: Effie Yeaw Nature Center

I’m still learning the ins and outs of the new Tamron lens. Each week, it becomes easier. We hadn’t been to our local Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael in a long time. It’s a favorite place to see deer and other small creatures. However, this time I didn’t see deer, but I did enjoy the trees and the river.

At the Center’s entrance there’s a small pond and hut.

Some trees were blown down during the big wind/rain storms in the Spring. I did see some poppies

I was also able to capture a sunburst through one of the trees and a woodpecker sitting on a stump.

The American River was full and flowing nicely. Two kayakers were taking advantage of the beautiful day.

That was our morning at Effie Yeaw. When we were at lunch, I was saying that I hadn’t seen a deer. The others said they saw one at the entrance as we were leaving. Oh well, another missed opportunity. I’m lucky that this wonderful nature center is close.

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 10 Comments

The sun commanded the sky, for a while: The Fair Oaks Bridge

Last Thursday was the one day the sun had a chance to warm us up and show us how light can be good for photography and the human soul. Marlene and I took advantage of nature’s sunshine and went to photograph our local Fair Oaks Bridge, in Fair Oaks, that spans across the American River. If you didn’t know the water level before, it’s difficult to understand how high the water level is now. As of this writing we are expecting more rain tonight.

Here are my captures of this iconic bridge and river.

Come Friday the forecast calls for partly cloudy to sunshine for about a week. That will allow the soil to dry up and storm clean up can continue. AND, maybe a chance for more photography!