Do you like playing Scrabble? I do and my set dates back at least 65 years. I recently went through my old set and didn’t find any “Bs” missing; only 2 “Os,” and 1 “R and T,” Fortunately, the Antique Trove, where I take my camera in the rain and heat, has a vendor selling random Scrabble letter. And fortunately, for Beth’s challenge, I have many “B” pictures in my photo archives.
I’ll just make a gallery for you and caption the pictures.
Bath and benchBird–Bald EagleBig Boy Steam engine–visited RosevilleBricksBeer SignBulbBoltGarden BuddaBreak dancingHedge Bus
Thanks, Beth, for the trip down memory “B” lane. This challenge was totally enjoyable! When you post your “Bs” please remember to link to Beth’s original challenge and tag Lens-Artists. Look for Ann-Christine’s Challenge on July 18. The Team will be taking a 2-week break. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.
I’ll be going off to the Antique Trove to find replacement Scrabble letters. Anyone care to play a game?
Photo composition comes naturally or it can be learned. This week John has a great tutorial for us. For some of us, it’s a new tool and for some it’s something we’ve been doing. However, for some, including me, we’ve been using these three tools without knowing it!
Let’s take depth first. That is most important to help our two dimensional art seem three dimensional. Are you enticed to walk through those open door rooms to the end? Or maybe walk down to the end of the ramp?
Next scale.
We have climbers at a practice rock. That’s still a high climb for me! Their images help show scale in the image. Then we have a reflection showing the scale of this tall building in downtown Sacramento.
Next perspective.
Living in California I would be remis not to show perspective using our giant Sequoias. Here we have a redwood with my friend Jean providing perspective at the Calaveras Big Trees State Park. If you’ve ever visited Sequoia National Park, you’ve seen the iconic General Sherman. This family was taking pictures and I just joined in.
So there you have it, and I posted just the six images allowed. I’m sure we all had more.
Thanks John, for a review and education this week. When you respond, please link your post to John’s original and use the Lens-Artists tag. There were so many wonderful wonders for Sofia’s challenge last week. I enjoyed them all. Next week, Beth will be leading the challenge, so look for her post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.
I live in a place that brings me and my camera to many wonderous places–rivers, lakes, mountains and parks. Let’s take a look.
You know how much I love to photograph flowers, especially macros and close ups. Whether in a nursery, garden or sunflower field, I love the challenge macro photography brings. It gives me something else to concentrate on, shoving the world out. I become relaxed and happy.
Landscapes are nature’s way of humbling us. Just look at the beauty waiting for us to capture with our cameras–especially sunsets.
Wildlife especially birds are amazing to watch. They are free to go anywhere and mostly travel with friends. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Animals are also wonderous, and zoos invite us to visit many that we normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to see–like this beautiful or handsome Okapi. It’s wondering why I’m pointing that black thing at its rear. Who could resist that beautiful pattern!
And then there’s the funky or maybe artistic photographs that we take for fun and later wonder why to took them!
These are my moments of wonder. Thanks Sofia for this fun challenge. When you post your response please link to her original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week, Patti had us concentrating on our compositional abilities. I enjoyed seeing your many wonderous compositions. Next week John will be leading the challenge. Until then enjoy good health and be resilient.
When you’re drawn to color like I am, you can make serious shopping mistakes with impulse buys! This week Ritva’s post is all about color, its meaning and its importance. I love red, and when I see red, I automatically try to figure out where I can use the item. More than not, I don’t need it. The older I get, the more level headed I am and can leave the item behind.
When we were young marrieds, my husband drag raced a red Pontiac with cheater slick tires. It became my car. I cannot tell you how many police followed me on the freeway until they realized I was a woman. Then they left me alone. Here’s a somewhat red car with a beautiful reflection.
I guess I like deep colors like red because my skin is pale and pastels just make me look like a ghost. I went to our new friend AI to find out what red symbolizes:
Passion: Red often represents strong emotions like love and desire.
Danger: It is commonly used to signal warning or alertness.
Energy: Red is associated with vitality and enthusiasm.
Power: The color conveys strength and authority.
Courage: Red symbolizes bravery and determination.
Action: It encourages movement and urgency in various contexts.
Is that me? I’m not sure. I’m passionate about photography. But, I don’t go looking for danger. I used to have a lot of energy. I’ve never been power hungry. I do have courage. In an emergency, I do take action.
Let’s look at some more images. If I have a choice, I’ll sit under a red umbrella. I think I should have bought those cups, but I restrained myself. Japanese gardens always include red. While red is a stimulating color, this bridge calms me down. Just walking across it creates serenity.
You know I love flowers. I could have filled this post with flowers, but we are limited. Here are two: a tulip and rose.
Now that Ritva has me in a red mood, I just might go shopping. One more red blouse or a red doodad won’t hurt. But I really don’t need them. What to do?? Maybe I need to end this post and busy myself with some other color. I do like blue, purple, and green!
Talking about color, your textures last week showed beautiful colors of rust, wood and florals. Thank you for participating. When you post your colors, please link to Ritva’s original post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Next week Egidio will challenge us, so look for his post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.
Like the “Little Engine That Could” I thought I’ll never find photos for this challenge. But when I re-read Patti’s post, I started thinking, “I Think I Can!”
So, I started searching and found some. Here’s what I found.
A very much alive window washer next to a store window mannequin. Taken at a local shopping center just before the stores opened. There are also a lot of reflections.
The Washington Monument towers above the tree line at the Capital Mall in Washington DC. This was taken just before President Obama’s inauguration and from a car window.
The shadow of a window appearing much larger than the actual window. Taken in downtown Sacramento.
Shadows reflecting on various parts of a wall at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art in Davis, CA (UC Davis campus). I love the different walls and how the shadow reflects on them.
A sculpture of a small girl standing on a TALLish building, inviting you to be persistent.
Here we have the juxtaposition of color, style and placement of the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, This museum caters to grade-school children. SMUD is our Sacramento Metropolitan Utility District.
Thanks Patti for teaching me that when I “think I can,” I can! It was fun. Please remember to link to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag when you respond. We certainly had a “cropping” good time last week when Ritva gave us the encouragement to crop away! John is presenting our next challenge, so look for his post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient!
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:
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I’m flying! At least it feels like I have wings–I’m able to sit at a chair for a while. A month ago I fell and hurt my back and have been going from the couch to the bed. Each day I tried more standing up movement. So here I am ready to do a short post on Beth’s wonderful challenge of wings.
Most of my wings are of birds in flight.
Hawk ready for flight.
In flight at the annual Sacramento Chalk it Up.
Crop dusters in rural Yolo County.
Even the Sacramento Zoo had flights in fantasy for a while.
That’s it for my short post today. Next week Ann-Christine will lead us into the Holiday season. I’ve been enjoying all your posts for the last month, especially how all of you expressed mysterious. I’d better not push it. Thank heavens for laptops and a couch that reclines. See you next week. In the meantime stay safe (I need to listen to my own words.) and live in gratitude.
How many of you venture out for our weekly photo challenges? Or do you hunt through your archives? Me, I usually rummage through my archives. I will admit, it’s fun, bringing back great memories. And having a reason to do that search is even better. So, this week, I challenge you to a virtual scavenger hunt!
Listed below are 20 options. Do a deep dive into your archives, going back as far as you want to find the items. Some examples are:
Something with wavy lines:
Something with a camera:
Something with a wheel:
Something with a cool shadow:
Something with a smooth texture:
Below are more suggestions. You can choose from those or from what I’ve posted. Please find at least five images but no more than 10, and just one image from each suggestion. This would give you a maximum of 10 images in your post. Part of this challenge is choosing which to post!
Zig zag lines
Something with green eyes
Some cool jewelry
Something circular
Something rectangular
Something with a design
Something with a pattern
Something with a bumpy texture
Something with a soft texture
Something with water in it
A set of keys
Something glass
A zipper
Shoelaces
Art supplies
Now, if you have a deep desire to look for these outside, please do so. You can also mix it up between inside and outside. Just don’t post a picture that doesn’t relate to any of these items. Be creative and bold. Most of all, have fun! Please be sure to link back to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I want to check out each and every post to see what you scavenged.
Thanks, Beth, for getting us in a sports mood last week. Next week Ritva will be back so be sure to look for her post. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.
I’m reluctant to start this post with a negative; but I really don’t like crowds. However when it comes to festivals and fairs, my camera insists on taking me to them. And, I go willing. Such is the power of photography!
This week Ann-Christine is asking us to show some of the celebrations we’ve enjoyed.
I loved the Sacramento Music Festival, in Old Sacramento, each year. We used to work the youth gig. I was always amazed at the talent of our youth. Of course, we had our adult favorites too. Each festival started with a parade down Front Street. Unfortunately we no longer have this festival, but I do have pictures and memories.
And there’s always something to photograph at small town county fairs.
One year my friend Linda found us a Pirate Festival to explore. These pirates played the part!
A nighttime carnival is something I really enjoy. We have an old shopping center that used to host a small carnival once a year. Now that they’ve decided to tear it down, we’ve lost that fun opportunity. You know how I enjoy slowing down my shutter!
Ann-Christine also mentioned markets. Not only do farmers’ markets have delicious produce, but they provide excellent photo opportunities.
Actually, I do have fun at these festivals. With camera in hand, the crowds don’t seem to bother me. Sometimes people will move when they see me taking a picture. I guess crowds aren’t all that bad.
Thanks Ann-Christine, I enjoyed reliving these fun times. Please remember to link your post to Ann-Christine’s and use the lens-artists tag. I also enjoyed seeing everyone’s lines and patterns posted for John’s challenge last week. Sofia will be challenging us next week so look for her post.
Egidio, you hit the bullseye. I love the woods. Getting out of suburbia and into the fresh air is amazing. I especially love the smell of pine trees. I need to get up to the mountains more often. Fortunately, although Sacramento is too low for pine trees, we do have wooded areas around our creeks and rivers.
Let’s start with higher altitude, the forest, specifically Lassen National Park. These pictures were taken from our last visit in 2023. As soon as I got out of the truck, I could smell the forest. It was wonderful being back after a long absence. Unfortunately they were still clearing away the dead trees from the 2021 fire. Our dog was still alive and I enjoyed our walks around the campground. I think he also enjoyed the new forest smells.
Lets move on to a State Park. Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The Big Trees refer to giant Sequoias. They are impressive trees. Not as tall as our coastal redwoods, but they have amazing girth.
Woods change with the seasons. In the Sacramento area, we don’t get too much Autumn color. We photographers have to go up in altitude to find it. I found these in Grass Valley in what we call the Foothills.
While we are still up in altitude, let’s visit Hope Valley and see how fire can devastate our trees. It will take more years than I have left in my lifetime to grow a new grove of aspens.
Down in altitude and in my local area, Dry Creek is a favorite for children in the summer. You walk through wildflowers to get to the creek. Stock Ranch Nature Preserve is located just behind Costco. It is dark and moist–the perfect place for fungi to grow.
And, now for my favorite National Park in California–Sequoia / Kings Canyon. Although joined, Kings Canyon (higher than Sequoia) has mostly cedar trees and a beautiful forest. Sequoia has the larger Sequoia trees. I’m closing with an image of the infamous, well-known General Sherman. You can’t hug this tree!
You can see why I love the forest and its smells and beautiful trees. Thank you Egidio for this trip down memory lane. When you post your response, please remember to link back to Egidio’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Next week, look for Tina’s post since she will be leading the challenge.
In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!
Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
Slow Shutter Speed 