enjoying photography – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on July 4, 2025July 4, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 33 Comments

Short visit to the Sacramento Zoo

It’s July 4th in the United States–Happy Independence Day to all who celebrate. This evening we will celebrate with friends and enjoy viewing some fireworks from their hilltop viewpoint. While my meatballs are cooking in the crockpot, I thought I’d share just a few pictures from the Sacramento Zoo. The zoo is remaining in Sacramento and not moving. I don’t know exactly why, probably a money issue.

Here are a few glimpses of our new giraffe. She’s growing fast, but still seeks out her mother.

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, is asking to be let back in to it’s shelter. Is it people shy?

Our new lioness is grooming herself. I believe they are keeping the new lion and lioness separated for now, only having one out at a time.

We have a new leopard, a clouded leopard. Named because the spots resemble clouds.

I started this post with our youngest giraffe, and I’ll end it with a close relative-the okapi. This is probably the second best picture I’ve gotten of one of them. They are just beautiful.

That’s it for my brief excursion to the zoo. Stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 54 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #355: Looking Back–Creativity

Looking back in our lives helps us see how far we’ve come in the present, especially in photography. It’s exciting that the LAPC team is beginning this new exercise, and Ann-Christine is starting us off with a challenge from 2019 on creativity.

Now, I don’t think of myself as a creative soul. Maybe that’s why when I looked through 2019 for a post on the subject, I couldn’t find one. I wasn’t a team member then.

There are many types of creativity. You find it in science, architecture, art and more. Teachers and parents have to be creative to reach and teach the children. I don’t think of myself as creative. I can’t create art, but I can see it in everyday circumstances and photograph it.

Here are three places where I found creativity.

Gloshoff Sculpture Ranch in Fairfield.

This ranch is an ongoing exhibition of metal sculptures and it grows each year. You know you’re near the ranch when you see neighbors displaying Mr. Gloshoff’s art in their front yard. You need to make an appointment and he doesn’t mind photographers photographing his creations. Here are a few.

I also believe creativity is in the eye of the beholder. I guess how a photographer interprets an object is creativity. Here are some objects from IKEA as I saw them.

Nature’s shadows form creative patterns that photographers can’t resist. At least I couldn’t.

And finally, one of my favorite forms of creativity is signage.

Thanks Ann-Christine for sending me through my archives in search of creativity. I totally enjoyed your responses to my reflections challenge last week. You kept me busy and posts are still trickling in. You gave me a great week and had me smiling. Please link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag when you respond to her challenge.

We will be off next week. Wherever you are, celebrate life and capture creativity through your lens. We will be back on July 12, when, guest host, Stupidity Hole (SH) will present the challenge. I wonder what he has in store for us? In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 48 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #340: Portraits

When I’m asked what type of photography do I do, I always answer “Pretty much anything except for portraits.” Then I qualify that statement by saying, “I do environmental portraits, meaning while I’m out and about I’ll take photos of people.” I don’t have the mind for or inclination to set up lights, etc.

So when Ritva set this portrait challenge–yikes! I decided to show you my photojournalism images.

I write a monthly personality profile article for my community’s newsletter. It’s fun and I get to meet people. They don’t mind being interviewed but they do mind having their picture taken. Of course it’s just a mug shot taken outdoors. That’s my expertise level!

Let me know if I’m capturing a little bit of their personality.

Next, I enjoy capturing candid environmental portraits. It’s not easy, and when I get caught, I ask if I can take their picture. Most of the time, they agree; sometimes not. These two gentlemen had no idea I was taking their pictures. But I think they tell their stories.

Now for some fun. My photo buddy Greg, who passed away, had a great sense of humor and posed for me in a Mona Lisa cut out. If anyone can tell me how I photographed three eyes in this alpaca, please let me know! When I brought it into Lightroom, this is what I found.

My last portrait is one that is special to me. It is one I took at my granddaughter’s wedding. It was the only wedding I photographed and the last. I admire all you wedding photographers out there. They were married on the Delta King paddle wheel boat. I was stymied because the management didn’t open the part of the boat facing the river. Anyway, this is my favorite because you can see the love they have for each other.

That’s the extent of my portrait taking. Thanks Ritva for this challenge that helped stretch my thoughts on taking people pictures. When you post your response, please link to Ritva’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

I enjoyed seeing how all of your personal life changes affected your journeys. I thank you for sharing your challenges, dreams and accomplishments with us. Tina will present the next challenge, so be sure to look for her post.

Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude!

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 60 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #289: Tools of Composition

When I’m out with my camera, I see and notice things differently. I mentally compose the picture even before I pick up my camera. So, I really don’t pay much attention to the rules and tools of composition. I do believe I needed John’s challenge today. He has me thinking of how and why I do things regarding composing a picture.

Mostly I look for shape and texture. I do love texture. Anything wood is texture whether it’s a tree, a fallen tree or a barn made from a tree.

Actually, everywhere you look you’ll find shape, form and texture. We can build stores, machines and buildings that show off shape, form and texture.

Rectangles and circles

Squares, triangles and rectangles

Triangle and half circle

Nature’s perfect circles

And my favorite, nature’s freeform.

The next time I take my camera out, I will be more aware thanks to John’s challenge. Thanks John! When you respond, please link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I totally enjoyed window shopping with you and Ritva last week. Next week Ann-Christine will be presenting our challenge so look for her post.

We are having blizzard conditions in the Northern California foothills. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are a beautiful white. My children live in Reno and are getting a lot of snow also. We are okay with just a lot of rain and wind here in Sacramento. Take care everyone.

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 43 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #260: Time

Where did the time go? Wasn’t it just yesterday…….? When you’re a senior senior, (That second word was for emphasis!) time goes by so fast. And when you’ve graduated to become the matriarch of your family, you think of how fast time has flown by. Donna’s challenges typically send me on an emotional trip of some sort. Her Time challenge has me thinking of family, and most recently of my grandkids.

Wasn’t it just yesterday the younger set were:

And now they are:

Olivia and Ryan are now in middle and high schools. I remember picking Ryan up from elementary school and Olivia from preschool.

I also remember the older set of grands coming to my house before and after school. Here is Madison posing with her then boyfriend before her prom. And then at her wedding this year. Just 10 years apart.

And here is Christopher at his High School prom and at his sister’s wedding party.

Yes, time flies by. In October Richard and I will be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary. Here’s the family at our 50th anniversary.

What will October 5th bring? Our family is scattered in three different states now. It’s amazing how time changes things, especially family dynamics.

Nothing can change the dynamics of LAPC when it comes to challenge responses. I so enjoyed seeing all your amazing black and white/monochrome images last week. They were creative and well done. As you respond to Donna’s challenge, please remember to link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Next week Egidio of Through Brazilian Eyes will be hosting our challenge. Be sure to look for his post. Until then, stay healthy and safe!

Posted on July 13, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 28 Comments

Bee there: Sunflowers in Yolo County

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!

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 6 Comments

Trip’s end: Portland & St. John’s New Brunswick

It has certainly taken me longer to blog about this trip then the trip itself! So here we are at the end. Two things are true: (1) The port cities look very much alike. (2) You can’t take good photographs from a moving bus with dirty windows.

Portland. We walked this city to the point of exhaustion. It was fun, but we should have stopped for a snack or lunch. I loved the old buildings and noticed that the electric wiring was still above ground. I thought this added to the charm of the city. There were a few parks within walking distance. Here are some photos and captions.

**This was one of the first buildings we saw. Yes it’s for sale. Made for a nice picture .**

St. John’s New Brunswick. While the “Hop on and Hop Off Busses give a great overall tour, it’s difficult to take pictures. Most places didn’t warrant getting off.

**The tour bus guide told us our ship was across the bridge.**

So, this is the end of my trip. I had a great time. I loved the ship’s food and was careful not to eat too much. I would have liked to go further into the cities, but there’s not much you can do in one day and a limited amount of energy. Would I do it again? YES!!

Posted on November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 12 Comments

On to Boston: The USS Constitution

I fell in love with USS Constitution during our visit in to Boston in 2013. And the total experience was different from our visit during my recent New England trip. In 2013 there were Navy personnel to take us on a guided tour. You had to sign up, wait your turn, I remember the tours were timed so the ship wasn’t crowded. “Old Ironsides,” the ship’s nickname given when she was launched in 1797, was also not sectioned off at the dock so we could have the full advantage of taking amazing photos.

This ship has an amazing history which you can read here.

Today, the ship is open to all. There are no public tours, at least when we were there. And from a photographic point of view, people were everywhere. But she is still an amazing ship with a great history. Here are the first photos I took from the top deck.

Although I am complaining about people, I managed to isolate myself by taking closeups. Here’s what the decks below looked like. The crew slept in hammocks while the officers had better accommodations.

Back on top, I tried to get some different images.

The Constitution is still in commission, is still sea worthy, and her crew of 75 officers and sailors participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while keeping her open to visitors year round and providing free tours. The officers and crew are all active-duty Navy personnel, and the assignment is considered to be special duty. What a testament to the United States history.

There will be more of Boston in my next post.

Posted on July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 15 Comments

Grab a brush: Wide Open Walls

The annual Wide Open Walls Festival is adding more beauty to Sacramento’s buildings. To beat the heat, we left at 7:30 a.m. and headed to downtown. I had a list of about 30 murals and addresses. Diane was our navigator and I drove the one-way streets which sometimes turned into two-way streets. And when you’re not familiar with the streets, mistakes are easy to make. Need I say more.

I’m not going to show you all that I photographed, just some special art pieces. Let’s begin with this one. The artist did separate panels on the building’s walls. I loved the colors and surrealism.

Next is a mural and a close up of the woman’s face. We found on a SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) building. Tea anyone?

This next set is full of symmetrical and asymmetrical designs.

Here are some odds and ends that I thought were great.

I’ll end with art that isn’t a painted mural and I don’t think is part of Wide Open Walls. They are mosaic art images and in some places raised. They are beautiful.

We will return for more mural photography and I hope to have more fantastic pieces to show you.

Posted on July 24, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #209: Surreal

Yikes, Tracy you want us to post images that are surreal? Can I? Do I have any? Well, I don’t say “no” to a challenge, so here goes.

My first image was truly a mistake. I was trying to take away hay from this alpaca‘s face and ended up with…..

I think a three eyed alpaca is weird if not surreal. I put two more images into Photoshop and used various filters to get the effect I wanted. The first was a diffuse filter which gave me surprising results. For the second I used one of the distort filters which gave me predictable results.

This next picture has no fancy editing. I think this mural’s artist had a surreal bent to begin with.

To be honest, I don’t know what this next image was a picture of! It looked surreal to me in the beginning, but I brought it into NIK Silver Efex to see if I could exaggerate it a bit. Do you think it might have been a puddle and drops on concrete?

Finally, I had fun using Photoshop’s distort twirl filter on this one. I don’t think it’s as surreal as much a fun design.

Thank you Tracy for this great challenge. I had fun with it. When you respond, remember to use the Lens Artists tag and link to Tracy’s original post. And we all enjoyed reliving special summer vibes with Andre last week. Next week Sarah Wilkie, blogging at Travel with Me, will be our guest host. She will encourage us to post Three Favorite Images.

Until then, have fun and stay safe.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, just click this link and join us: https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com/about-lens-artists/