fun with a camera – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 32 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #378: Last Chance

When I look back at my photographic experiences in 2025, I can’t get too excited. Except for my Panama Canal Cruise (which I haven’t been able to process yet), it was a repeat of places we had been before. So, I just picked a few that I liked. I’m sure I posted pictures of the outings from which these were taken, but these were not edited or posted.

Let’s start with the one image I processed of the Panama Canal. This is of the lock just before entering the lake.

Next are pictures of birds. It’s difficult for me to get pictures of Sandhill Cranes because I don’t have a super long lens. I got lucky with this one being closer to the road. The next image is my first of a pheasant. Too bad it was a super foggy day.

You know I enjoy photographing flowers.

I love trees. They are so expressive.

My back is telling me to end this post, and I must listen. Thank you Beth for encouraging us to spread our wings last week. Have a wonderful holiday and happy New Year. I’ll see you in 2026! In the meantime stay safe and live in gratitude.

I’m plagiarizing Patti because she said it so well:

Who are the Lens-Artists? Subscribe to our blogs to get our latest challenges.

1. Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com 2. Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com 3. Ann-Christine of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com 4. John of https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com 5. Sofia of https://photographias.wordpress.com 6. Anne of https://annegeephoto.com 7. Egidio of https://egidio.photography/ 8. Ritva of https://sillarit.com/ 9. Beth of https://wanderingdawgs.com/ To find out more about the Lens-Artists Challenges, click here.

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Out for a stroll at the Car Show

It was a cool Saturday morning; a great time for my husband and I to drive to the car show at Denio’s. Denio’s is a large farmer’s market and swap meet in Roseville. Occasionally they host members of car clubs who enjoy showing off their old, rare and souped up autos.

I sort of knew what to expect; you know, having cars parked next to each other. So while my husband talked to the owners, I photographed the cars–mostly close up! It was fun and challenging for me. Here’s what my camera found.

I liked the care the owners gave their cars. They were all polished and clean. Well, except for my first photo. But there was a certain pride of ownership in that truck also. Maybe the next time I visit, it will be painted and shiny too!

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 May 24, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 82 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge#350: Zooming

Zoom, zoom, zoom! It’s one of my favorite types of photography, and it is fun! Zooming is part of the Intentional Camera Movement family, but instead of moving the camera, you are just moving the lens back and forth. This yields photos of a different kind!

In this technique, you adjust the focal length of a lens to change the magnification of the subject, giving the appearance of moving closer or further away without physically changing the camera’s position. This is achieved using a zoom lens, which has a variable focal length.

Now, this is going to be a do as I say and not as I do challenge. Remember the “Break the Rules” challenge Ritva recently gave us? I break the rules when it comes to zooming.

If you can catch a reflection while zooming, you get an additional WOW!

Use a tripod. I sometimes do use a tripod. That’s how I got the name of the ride clear in this picture while pulling the lens in.

But sometimes a tripod isn’t handy. Just hold the camera as steady as possible while you’re zooming the lens.

You can start with a long exposure photograph and then have more fun experimenting. This was taken during Christmas time, which is a great time to take out that zoom lens and have fun.

If the light is bright, you’ll need to use a polarizing or neutral density filter to stop down the light. Either that or find shade. This image was taken towards evening. I was totally unprepared to do zooming but wanted to try it. I’ll confess that I don’t usually carry a polarizer or ND filter with me each time I go out. These days, I go as light as possible. I do have them though. You’ll also notice there are no daytime photos in this post. Remember do as I say—not as I do!

Additional suggestions:

Photograph at a low ISO—100 or less.

Use a long shutter speed. Start at 1 second and go down from there. You’ll need a long shutter to give you time to move the lens in or out.

Start with an aperture of F/22 and move around from there.

Use manual focus.

The longer the focal length of your zoom lens the better your effect will be. I’ve used 18-55mm and it yielded good results, but the 18-300 was better. My last thought: prime lenses do not zoom!

Your challenge this week is to take your camera and zoom lens out for some zooming. If you don’t have a polarizing or neutral density filter, then go out at night. There are always lights for you to have fun with: streetlights, neon lights, window light displays. This takes practice, so don’t get discouraged. And, there is no right or wrong in Intentional Lens Movement–just good old enjoyment!

When you post, remember to link to this post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I want to see all of your zooms!

I really enjoyed seeing your post on Tina’s challenge, “The First Thing I Thought Of.” And your humor was greatly appreciated. Laughter is good for the soul. It’s amazing how a picture can have different interpretations.

Next week Ritva will be back leading the challenge, so be sure to look for her post. In the meantime, stay healthy and live in gratitude!

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 55 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #345: My Go To Places

John wants to know where I go to relax and rejuvenate. At first I didn’t know since I don’t have a designated place that calms me down. I gave it a lot of thought while I was editing photos, and then it came to me. My go to place is anywhere my camera takes me!

Yes, I can be upset, not feeling well, tired, etc.; but when I’m holding my camera, I have energy, I’m happy and not weary. The upsetting world drifts away, and I’m absorbed in a sunflower field, beautiful countryside, rivers, wildlife, buildings or anything that attracts my photographic eye.

At least one photo outing gets me through the week. Thank you John for helping me realize how important this photo hobby is to my physical and mental being. It’s definitely good for my soul. When you post your response, please link to John’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

What a week this amazing photo community gave me in your responses to “abandoned.” They were varied, heart felt and amazing. Thank you everyone. Sophia is presenting next week’s challenge, so be sure to look for her post a week from now. Until then, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on November 13, 2024November 14, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 29 Comments

Rust!: 3M Ranches

I’ve been talking a lot about how much I love rust – it’s patina and texture. Believe it or not, I’m going back to June when we visited 3M Ranches in Yolo County. Oh, I do love and appreciate those wonderful farms and ranches that allow us to visit their property.

Here’s a little about 3M Ranches from their website:

M Three Ranches is a family-owned farming operation providing high-quality agricultural products for food processors and handlers. We use technology advancements and sustainable practices to ensure high yields and returns for both our clients and our landlords. Having been farming for over 50 years in the Sacramento Valley, our farm is recognized as being a lead grower of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, seed crops, olives, walnuts, and almonds.

These rusty pieces were tossed in a junk pile just waiting for photographers to go crazy. That seems to be a standard way to take care of unwanted things in the country.

Yes, I’ll probably bore you with more rust in the future, but it’s so worth it!

Posted on October 19, 2024October 17, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 95 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #321: Intentional Camera Movement

Come along with me on my journey to discover Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). I’ve never really attempted to do this except for the occasional image. So we’re going down that rabbit hole together! Yes, again. You’ve got to love that rabbit. The rabbit hole was found at Bushnell Gardens and Nursery in Granite Bay. Photo buddy Richard came along.

The first tip came from my friend Laura when I photographed my only other ICM. Move your body and not your camera. That way your lines are straight. This was a gate outside the nursery. I bowed before it.

I think for this one, I just wiggled my body. Laura would be proud that I didn’t move the camera. Richard liked my dance. I like the burst of color surrounded by soft greens. I’ve found it’s important to have color in ICM. I think the bright floral color help this image.

Next are four images showing what the plant really was and three more showing various degrees of ICM. The last one being a horizontal move on my part. These pictures were hardly edited. I just cropped and saturated colors. The fun was taking them.

When I stood under a lattice and saw a sum burst, I just had to try ICM. The sunburst came out at as a super white stripe that dominated the image, so I tried to tone it down. Maybe I did too much cover with the brush. But you can see ICM can be done on more than just foliage.

I also wanted to try to do a swirl. So I chose a long shutter speed and bent my body to one side until the shutter closed. I’m happy with the way these turned out. The longer the shutter is open the more swirl and softness you get.

Of course, I had to zoom a bit, moving the lens and not the camera. I forgot to take a good picture, but you can tell what this plant looked like before the zoom.

For my last set, I chose to photograph two trees. One had leaves turning and the other was green. I enjoyed this experiment. I liked how the colors and light added vibrance to the images.

For all these images, I didn’t go lower than a shutter speed of 6. I found that the image lost definition. I also learned that the more light you have, the more difficult it is to photograph ICM. Next time, I’ll bring along a neutral density filter and/or choose a different time of day.

I had a lot of fun preparing for this post, and I hope you do too. Maybe you’ve been out already learning and picking up tips. And maybe you’re a pro at ICM. Whatever the case, please share your thoughts and images. I’m in the learning stage also, and every bit helps.

We all had fun picking images from the past as Sofia had us looking back last week. I enjoyed experiencing all your wonderful memories. When you share your post for this challenge, please link back to mine and use the Lens-Artist tag. In the meantime have fun learning and experimenting with ICM.

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 34 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #316: Destination Fun

We recently went up to Reno for my grandson’s 15th birthday and to see the Ostrich and Camel Races. Half way through the 2 1/2 hour trip, all of you had better sit down for this, I realized I left my camera at home! Can you imagine that?? Since I started photography, I’ve always had my camera with me for events.

In fact, my camera has taken me to many fun places I wouldn’t have gone if I wasn’t looking for an outing. I now realize, thanks to Egidio and his wonderful challenge, that photography has given me the opportunity for fun.

For instance:

The Sacramento Zoo has been a favorite of mine. It’s fun to get to know the animals and watch them through the years. I always check the red panda enclosure to see if they are awake. Being nocturnal, they are usually napping. This one was awake! The cheetahs are a relatively new zoo addition. One day they were grooming each other. What an opportunity.

The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is a natural habitat where deer, coyote, birds and other animals roam free. It’s located on the banks of the American River. The deer are used to humans and remain calm when we photograph them. However, they do have natural predators. Once we saw the remains of a deer carcass.

Not being a true “birder” with a super long lens, I enjoy my yearly visit to what I call the Nesting Trees in Lincoln. The trees sit in a gully in the middle of two shopping centers. The birds, blue herons and egrets, feel safe and build their nests there. Even though I only have a 300mm stretch on my Fujifilm camera and Tamron lens. I do manage to get a few good ones. I’ve also learned to bring a chair!

I do have fun at carnivals. Not riding the rides; but photographing them. I have fun zooming in and out, moving my camera up and down, combining both on a longer shutter speed. The Ferris wheel provided me with a lot of fun times.

Last, you know I like reflections. At the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, they put a locomotive on mirrors. Did they do that just for me? Here’s one result.

All of these destinations bring me fun each time I visit. But the joy comes from being with my friends for these outings. Photography has brought me wonderful photo buddies and also a great community like LAPC. About leaving my camera home, it must have been an omen. Two days before the races, a fire broke out in Washoe Valley. It looked like they had it contained, but the wind picked up and it changed direction. While we were watching the first ostrich race, my son got an alert to evacuate. Richard and I came home, and my son and family went to stay with his in-laws. It was an intense two days, but the fire didn’t get to their community, and they were able to return home.

Your posts to Ritva’s Common Objects challenge were just the diversion I needed last week. I was amazed at all the different interpretations you had for that challenge. When you respond to Egidio’s Fun challenge, please link back to his post and use the Lens-Artists tag in the reader. Next week Tina will be challenging us, so look for her post.

In the meantime, find the joy in life and have FUN!

Posted on June 27, 2024June 27, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Sunflowers: 3M Ranches, Woodland, California

Sunflowers always make me smile. It seems like they are smiling as they follow the sun through the day. We recently went on a Yolo Arts & Ag Project outing to 3M Ranches to view their sunflower field. They had a warning to alert us of the bees, asking us not to interrupt their mission of pollinating the countryside.

Thanks to the bee boxes along the field, there were plenty of industrious bees working hard. I’m glad they were concentrating on their work because I’m allergic to them. I give them plenty of space. Watching them is amazing. They have one job and that’s all they do.

It was difficult to find a flower without a bee on it, but I managed. You’ll have to look into the full field pictures to find a sunflower with no bees. Unfortunately there was one casualty. I don’t know what happened to that one flower since the field looked young.

This ranch also had old equipment that we were allowed to photograph. In my next non-LAPC post I’ll show you the beauty of rust.

Until then, stay safe and healthy!

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 21 Comments

What’s in a title? Dead Cat Alley

The answer to that question is everything! In a photography competition, your title tells the judge what story your picture is telling. So, I didn’t know what to expect what I would see in Dead Cat Alley, Woodland, California. Needless to say I was curious. I had been to Woodland several times and never saw this Alley, but there was a write up about it. So intrigued by the name I just had to visit. My friend Diane came with me. Although she’s not a photographer, she was great at spotting the cats.

The alley is three blocks long and is difficult to find. There are ceramic, iron, and painted cats. The write up says to look high and low, and it was right. A lot were on roofs, some on gates and some on fences. A lot of the ceramic cats are getting old and could use some rejuvenation.

But it was fun. We parked and walked the three long blocks back and forth. With eagle eyes pierced for finding the cats. Here’s what we found: