Chanukah Menorah – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 38 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge 377: Holiday Fun

One good aspect of being housebound this year is there is no holiday stress! Yesterday, I drove for the first time in a month and I’m at my computer right now! I’m headed in the right direction!!

This week Ann-Christine is asking us to share some holiday fun. We are now a blended family, celebrating Chanamas or Christmacha! Here’s a picture from one of our Chanukah celebrations on the eighth night. I’m missing the Christmas celebration in Reno.

Each year, my photo buddies and I go out to capture the beautiful holiday lights. The first indication that it’s Holiday time are the displays in the store windows, including reflections.

Next to find a festive store display and a picture within a picture.

What would the Holiday be without tree displays. First in Old Sacramento and next in front of the Sacramento Capitol building. I had a bit of with that tree.

It’s that time of year to look for snow. Yes, I like to look but not play in it!

No matter what or how you celebrate, the holidays are a time for gathering together–friends, family or neighbors.

Last week, we spread our wings with Beth’s wonderful challenge. Your responses sure brightened my week. Next week, we’ll host our annual Last Chance Challenge, inviting you to share any photos you took in 2025 that haven’t been part of our earlier challenges! Time to take a deep dive into your archives. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on December 19, 2020December 19, 2020 by Anne Sandler · 22 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #128: And Here Comes The Holiday Season

Ann Christine’s challenge propelled me back in time and brought me back to the now. As a kid, I didn’t look forward to this time of the year. Most of my friends celebrated Christmas, and my Jewish friends celebrated Chanukah. Each received wonderful gifts. My family didn’t have money for gifts, but we had a family menorah (or Chanukkiah). I remember we’d light the candles each night, but going to school and hearing the other kids talk about presents was tough.

This is why I started collecting menorahs, and gave each of my children, their spouses and grandchildren their own Chanukkiah. At our Chanukah celebrations, we’d light them all and turn off the lights. I delighted in watching the candles burn. When I see these lights, I’m reminded neither Christmas or Chanukah originated with gifts, but with love and hope.

Now we have a blended family and I get to participate in both Chanukah and Christmas. I love to go and photograph decorated homes.

Most of all, I like to zoom the lights and rotate my camera while the shutter is open.

Although we didn’t get down there this year, my favorite place is California’s Capitol building and tree. The building is beautiful in its own right, and the tree adds a wonderful holiday feeling.

My wish for you is to have a safe and wonderful holiday season! We need patience and resilience in 2021.

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.