Folsom Prison – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #351: Looking Back to #20 – Doors

We can look at doors physically; when open, we walk out or in. But there are also emotional doors that can free us or hold us prisoner. Photography, in itself, is a door for us photographers. With camera in hand, we walk out to new and old discoveries and away from reality for a while. This week Sofia is encouraging us to share our door images. Let’s see what doors I’ve come up with.

I visit many small towns primarily in the Gold Country area. Doors range from rustic to cut glass modern.

Gates can be classified as doorways. They also swing in and out! Well, except for the gate at Folsom Prison–it swings only in! And I zoomed way in to get this picture. We couldn’t go beyond a certain point. Oh, and I did a lot of cropping too!

**Main Gate to Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento**

Here are some images that are singular in their category. They are captioned.

Let’s end this post with some unique door knobs.

What a fun challenge this was. Thanks Sofia. Be sure to link your response to Sofia’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week we enjoyed the sights and sounds of your trips to fairs and markets. Some were unusual and colorful. Next week Beth will be challenging us, so look for her post.

In the meantime stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 37 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #320: Looking Back

Looking back is one of my favorite things to do. It reminds me of where I’ve been with my photographic journey and where I intend to go. For Sophia’s challenge, I chose the year 2019 to review. It was the year before Covid and a happy year. So let’s dive in!

Each year the wonderful volunteers at Ananda Village plant tulips for their April festival. This terraced field is lined with colorful and varied varieties of tulips. I haven’t gone for a couple of years. Maybe April 2025 will see me return.

Next, I’m looking back at one of the last outings with my dear friend who passed away from a brain tumor. We went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. That’s Jean standing next to a giant sequoia. The other photo shows a young girl running along one of the paths.

Daffodil Hill closed down the day after these images were taken. The family who planted and cared for these flowers said the hill had become too popular and was being damaged by the large crowds.

I have another wonderful memory of a time with Jean. We went on a road trip into Amador County’s wine country. How beautiful.

Another memory I don’t want to visit again is Folsom Prison. You know the place made famous by Johnny Cash! We weren’t able to go inside for obvious reasons, but the gift shop was great. Here are some pictures of the outside as close as we were allowed to go. Thank heavens for zoom lenses!

Christmas will be here soon enough and so will the Victorian Christmas celebration in Nevada City. I’m not that anxious to face the brutal cold again, but it was fun.

Another private residence, that has since closed to the public, hosted weddings and other celebrations. The owners live on the property. We were lucky to visit on one of the public visit days.

Finally, I’m showing you the Sacramento River Walk in West Sacramento. It’s a walk I’ve taken many times and will continue doing so.

Thank you Sofia for encouraging us to visit our memories. It was a delight to bring the past back to life. When you reply to this challenge, please link to Sofia’s challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Next week, as Sofia announced, we will be having fun with Intentional Camera Movement. I’m new at this and went out today for fun and learning. One hint–find shade or bring along a neutral density filter! I’m looking forward to seeing your abstract images. Until then, take care and be safe.

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #182: Interesting Objects

Of course what is interesting is in the eye of the beholder. What I find interesting are landscapes, macros, architecture but seldom objects. However, sometimes things catch my eye and I can’t resist. This week, Patti encourages to photograph or go through our archives for those objects that we absolutely needed to photograph.

For instance this old bellows camera I spotted at the Antique Trove. The flash has been made into a light source of a different kind.

When taken in context, this sign at the Folsom Prison Museum had me thinking, “Duh!” These old handcuffs must have been totally uncomfortable.

This sign as you enter the small town of Mokelumne Hill will certainly have you slow down!

A restaurant in Napa had a sense of humor when it came to identifying their restrooms.

When we visit farms during the summer months, there’s usually a pile of discarded equipment left to the elements. I love rust and all the colors it gives objects. I think these may have been some sort of stakes.

One of my favorite places to visit is Old Sacramento. On one outing I noticed this gate.

Finally, while these are not unusual; for my photographic eye, they were positioned just right. I’ve posted them in this blog before. So, some of you may know what they are. If you don’t, can you guess?

Thanks Patti for this fun exercise! I had a great time seeing all your double dipping posts last week and look forward to seeing what Ann-Christine has in store for us next week. Please be sure to link your posts this week to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Until next week!

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Lens-Artists 138: Natural Light

Awareness of natural light is essential in photography. Some photographers only go out when the light is optimum. I go out whenever I can and make the best of it! I’ve become good at reducing shadows and highlights in post. This week Amy wants us to show images taken at various times of the day.

Since I rarely get out for a sunrise, mid morning is the time you’ll find me out shooting. Here’s a picture of a painter doing a mural during Sacramento’s Wide Open Wall festival. The sun was in position to show his shadow on the ground and on the wall as he’s painting.

We’re getting slightly later in the morning. This blue heron is facing the sun which lights up his face and beak.

This building along the Sacramento River Walk is in bright sunlight and shadow.

The sunlight streaming through the foliage at Effie Yeaw Nature Center gives this tree expression and beauty. Moss grows where sunlight rarely hits.

And then there’s no sunlight. Folsom Prison looks especially formidable on a foggy day.

We are now approaching sunset time. This is when the light begins what will be a beautiful sunset.

And let’s not forget the darkness. We may not be capturing natural light, but manmade light can be fun and a challenge like this long exposure at Sunrise Mall’s small carnival.

Thank you Amy for this archival trip. It was fun.

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Anne Sandler · 9 Comments

Rainy day visit: Folsom Prison

We’ve pretty much exhausted our rainy day photography options. We’ve been to the Antique Trove twice, IKEA once, and last Tuesday we went to Folsom Prison. Doesn’t everyone want to visit a prison?

I was a little disappointed when all we could photograph was the one gate and from a distance. We were also not allowed to take pictures of officers or inmates. The small museum saved the morning. There were treasures in there. However, shooting through the glass enclosures proved to be difficult!

Aside from the Johnny Cash concerts, Folsom Prison was one of the nation’s first maximum security prisons. It was built in the decades following the 1848 California Gold Rush, relieving the overcrowding at San Quentin State Prison.

Today the prison houses medium security male inmates.

Take a look at what I saw, beginning with the outside.