Every time I think a challenge is probably the most difficult, there’s another one coming along. This time, Tina is asking us to pick no more than five of our favorite photos. I don’t know about you, but it’s much easier for me to pick favorites from someone else’s images.
I know you expect me to post flowers, but in this photo, the praying mantis was what I was after.
You also know I’m a member of our local zoo. I happened to be talking to a docent when I think we woke up this flamingo. Quick shot!
I happened to be invited to photograph a super moon that was to appear near our State Capitol building. So glad I was there.
I miss our annual Sacramento Music Festival, especially seeing Tom Rigney and Flambeau.
My fifth and final picture is…yes, a flower. A lotus.
Thank you Tina for this wonderful exercise and trip down memory lane. When you post your five favorites, please link to Tina’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we saw portraits of all kinds. It was beautiful and fun. Next week Egidio will be challenging us, so stay tuned! In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.
Every day we connect with people and places; some stronger than others. I’m the type of person who needs those connections. Right now, my old dog is resting near me as I type. Just having that connection comforts him. And, yes, his presence comforts me.
This week, Donna wants us to explore what connections mean to/for us. Since I retired 10 years ago, photography has connected me to wonderful people, some who have become great friends. I’ve also become a member of PSA and one of its chapters and clubs.
I’ve learned so much through workshops from the Gold Rush Chapter and the Sierra Camera Club. This image was featured in the PSA June Showcase.
Some other connections.
Fences are individual boards made of wood, steel, plastic etc. that are all connected together. Once connected, they separate one side from another, keeping people or animals either in or out.
Bridges connect one side to another. They come in all sizes, go over rivers, streams or even land.
Doors connect us to what’s inside or back out.
A park bench is a great connector. It helps connect people to their thoughts or nature, friends to each other or sweethearts to further discovery.
Holidays, fairs and celebrations connect us to fun, enjoyment and each other.
We don’t have to look far for connections. Just say hello and smile to a stranger–you’ve connected. Thank someone for helping you or ask for help–you’ve connected. And my dog, Gem, would suggest that you pet your animal so you can connect with unconditional love and loyalty.
Thank you Donna for reminding us that connections are important to all of us. Look at how we have all become virtual friends through LAPC. Remember to link to her challenge when you post your response and please use the Lens-Artist tag.
John certainly presented us with a great learning experience last week. I enjoyed seeing all the various responses from our community. Ritva is presenting our next challenge, so be sure to look for her post. Until then stay away from monster colds, make new connections and stay safe.
Happy pre-Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! There’s a new animal at the Sacramento Zoo: meet the White Rhinoceros. That’s his keeper behind the fence. She just kept feeding him. I wonder how much he eats in a day! He’s a big guy!
An orangutan was enjoying a snack of romaine lettuce.
The alligator was patiently waiting.
This meercat was the lookout guard at the top of the small mountain.
This raven (I think) caught its meal.
One of the cheetahs posed for me.
The flamingos are back. They are being housed in the former enclosure of the chimpanzees after they were sent to different zoos that had more space for them in a jungle like enclosure. The flamingos are still kept in a glass enclosure because of the avian flu.
What was this zebra trying to tell me?
These are the changes at the zoo. They are planning a move to Elk Grove in a much better location with more space for more animals. It will take about 4 to 5 years. So stay tuned.
Early this month we decided to beat the heat and went to the Sacramento Zoo when it opened. To our surprise, it was pleasant weather wise. However, the animals were being ornery. I don’t know why they turn away when they see a camera! Many weren’t in their enclosures and the nocturnal animals were sleeping early.
The orangutans were playing and eating in their enclosure. Finally one decided to turn around.
Thank goodness it was bone day, and the lions and jaguars were still gnawing at their treats.
By now we should have a new baby giraffe. I guess as soon as it gets a little cooler I’ll get down their to see him/her. The docents are hoping for a girl because she would get to stay. If it’s a male then when he gets to a certain age, he’ll be sent to another zoo.
One of the alligators was active and swimming towards the platform we stood on. He doesn’t look too friendly.
Last we have the okapi. There was only one out that morning. They are an amazing looking animal.
You’ll notice there are no flamingo pictures this time. All the birds are inside because of the avian flu. They even drained the flamingos pool. I hope they are back when we visit next. They are fun to watch and photograph.
Our zoo is planning to move to Elk Grove, a city south of Sacramento but within Sacramento County. More acreage is needed for expansion and to house the current zoo animals. But, it’s not going to happen overnight. They say the zoo will move in stages. I wonder what that would mean for the visitors and animals. Change happens!
When you have thousands of pictures, how do you pick just three? It’s difficult, but Sarah of Travel With Me has given us this challenge. I’ve taken it on and here are my three.
My first photo is of Waterton Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, in Canada. I like it because when I decided to try processing it in black and white, it took on a whole new dimension, almost like a sketch. I love black and white, so when I think an image has a tonal quality that may fit, I try it. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but this time it did. I typically process black and whites in NIK Silver Efex. This won a prize in the Motherload Fair, Sonora.
Next is a macro that almost took first place in the In Focus competition. This means it made it to the final table. That doesn’t matter to me because I just like it for the color, seeing the hair on the leaf and the water drop that’s just hanging on. I process all my photos in Lightroom and may have brought this into NIK Color Efex. I just can’t remember. I’m sure I’ve posted this before in an LAPC post. This is truly one of my favorites.
My third image is definitely a recent favorite of mine. I love the flamingos at the Sacramento Zoo. I had already taken a few photos of them, looking for a “keeper.” I was thinking sometimes you’re just not in the right place at the right time. I was talking to a docent about the birds who were taking their naps and this one opened one eye and looked at me. I’m so glad it opened it again after I got my camera in position. This time I was in the right place at the right time! This was processed in Lightroom and Topaz sharpener AI. It did take “Picture of the Night” at the Sierra Camera Club general competition.
As I said, I have many more favorites. This was a difficult challenge Sarah, but worth the exercise. Thank you! Remember to use the Lens-Artist tag when you post your reply and link to Sarah’s original pose. Tracy’s Surreal challenge last week brought us many amazing photos to look at. I’ll be posting next week’s challenge, so be sure to check back.
During a photography competition, the judge always looks into the subject’s eyes–whether human or animal. Are they sharp and have a catch light. This week, Tina challenges us to focus on the eyes of a subject. Eyes are doorways into the soul.
I managed to find some images in my archives to show you. Let’s start with one I enjoy looking at. My friend and I were at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge driving the course. Towards the end, a bald eagle was in a branch right over the road. To get this picture, I climbed up through her car’s sunroof. Look at those eyes. What do you think he’s telling me?
Two more animals: The coyote is on the hunt. You can see that he is focused in his eyes. While the parrot, is just being colorful and beautiful.
Burrowing owls are very small, but their eyes are big in comparison. Is he flashing a do not disturb sign with those eyes?
I don’t capture enough candid portraits of people. Here are two that tell different stories. The first gentleman was sitting on a bridge bench. His glasses hide the despair in his eyes, but his body language speaks. The woman is taking a break at the Pirate Festival. Her eyes are narrowed and relaxed. To me she’s reflecting on a good day of fun.
Another of my favorites is this flamingo trying to sleep at the Sacramento Zoo. What is he trying to tell me as I snap his picture?
A dog’s eyes are a true reflection of what he/she is thinking. I think he/she wants attention. What do you think?
Eye focus equals communication. At Toastmasters we teach “eye contact.” Look directly into your audience’s eyes. You can tell immediately whether or not your message is reaching them.
Thank you Tina for this wonderful eye opening topic. Remember to link your reply to her post. Next week we begin our tradition of summer guest hosts during July. Next week Aletta Crouse of Now at Home will focus onTreasures. Be sure to look for her post.
During the remainder of July we have:
July 09 – Jez Braithwaite of Photos by Jez isSeeing Double.
July 16 – Andre of My Blog–Solaner is thinking aboutSummer Vibes.
July 30 – Sarah Wilkie, who hosts Travel with Me, asks you to shareThree Favorite Images.
We invite you to look for and check out their blogs and hope you’ll join us throughout July. The Lens-Artists team will be back in August when I will host, “What’s Your Groove”.
Until then, have a safe and fun summer. Remember to use the Lens-Artists tag.
This challenge is a challenge for me because I don’t typically keep photos that don’t make it into my blog posts. Maybe I’m too good of a housekeeper! But, I do have one, only because I did a post, forgetting that I hadn’t finished editing. So for Tina’s challenge this week, here is a macro image of an orchid from Green Acres Nursery.
And I did find this one of a flamingo’s rear that I don’t think made it into a Sacramento Zoo post. Let’s just call it “art!”
And here are some true odds and ends I did find in my archives. First the lumber jack from the LumberJacks restaurant and a metal chicken sculpture nearby. These were taken while out with my friend Marlene. We were looking for a metal horse sculpture. Never found it.
I must include these photos from 2020 just before the pandemic hit because I haven’t been able to get good photographs of almond blossom trees since. In 2021 we had a BIG wind storm before we were supposed to go out to photograph an orchard, and all the blossoms were blown off the trees. This year we were one week too late.
I’ll end with an iris from my garden. The plant bloomed one year in 2020 and never again!
Thanks Tina, from now on I’ll leave some Odds and Ends as I process.
Thank you all for participating in Karina’s (Murtagh’s Meadows) Special Places challenge last week. It was interesting to visit your special places. Next week Patti will host the challenge.
I love Thursdays at the Sacramento Zoo because it’s bone day–the day they give the big cats bones to snack on. For a photographer, that means they are likely to be out and chomping. We went to the zoo on a Thursday in December 2021. We hadn’t been for a while and the animals didn’t disappoint us.
The Jaguar was enjoying his bone.
The lions weren’t as cooperative. I had to go back a couple of times to get a good photo of only the male.
The orangutans were out and playful, putting on a show.
The newest zoo addition is Chigüiro the Capybara–the biggest rodent in the world. He’s sort of cute for a rodent!
Did you know that the Okapi are related to the giraffe? You might think the zebra would be a better choice, but no. They are beautiful no matter who they are related to.
One of my favorites, the white pelican, was preening himself. He lives with the flamingos. He has only one wing, and will never leave the zoo. Fortunately, he was facing the right way for me to photograph him. He’s another of my favorites.
The flamingos weren’t doing much. At one point, they were all sleeping. I happened to be talking to a docent about the flamingos when I saw an opportunity to photograph one asleep with its feathers being blown by a slight breeze. As I was shooting, this particular one opened its eye as if to say “Can’t you see I’m asleep!” This image won picture of the night in the open category at the Sierra Camera Club. Patience prevails.
I’ve renewed my zoo membership, so there will be more visits and more blog posts about these animals.
I enjoy going to the Sacramento Zoo. I’ve gotten to know the animals and their habits. There are new animals, and I’ll introduce them later. There are successes and trials when photographing zoo animals.
I know I’ll not be able to capture a meercat with my camera because they just keep running, at a good speed, along the perimeter of their enclosure. Well all except the lookout who stands still and just keeps turning its head looking for danger. Plus it’s a glass enclosure and you need to photograph through children’s hand prints.
The flamingos are a favorite because they are beautiful and have fun personalities. Sometimes they fight and sometimes they show affection.
While we’re in the pond, there is one white pelican–another favorite of mine. This was the first time I saw him eating.
One of the new arrivals is the largest rodent in the world (says a docent)–a capybara.
The orangutan was not being cooperative, but I got a decent picture anyway. The zebras were doing their usual eating. The red river hog and kangaroo were also reluctant to have their pictures taken.
The lioness was posing beautifully while her mate was peaking out from under a bush.
The red panda was grooming itself before napping and I was able to catch it with eyes open before it rested it’s head. The mongoose lemur got back from it’s cage far enough for me to photograph through the wires.
The cheetahs were being exceptionally difficult. They did not want to sit still, turn and face the camera and stay the proper distance from the enclosure fence. I asked the keeper to talk to them, but I don’t think she did!
When I hear the word “soft” in photography terms, right away my mind goes to a beautiful bokeh background. This week’s challenge from Ann Christine is on things soft. She gave many examples on how we can interpret this challenge, but I’ll stick with the pleasing muted backgrounds.
Flowers with a bokeh background was the first type of shooting I wanted to learn when I started photography.
But then I started thinking that animals can also have a bokeh background too.
Let’s see what else I can find.
Leaves
Insects
Water
Sculpture
Goose
Mushroom
There are some very small daffodils outside my front door. If it wasn’t so windy, I’d go out and shoot them for inclusion in this post. Thank you Ann Christine!
Slow Shutter Speed 