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.
Along a Mountain RoadIronside WineryKings Canyon, Sequoia National ParksMcKinley Rose GardenSacramento National Wildlife RefugeOld Sacramento Railroad DepotSunflower Field
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.
It’s that time of year here in Northern California–RAIN! But this year, it started in December, giving our rivers more than an adequate water level. It started again in late January and so far in February. Discovery Park is at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, and in years of heavy rain fall, it tends to flood.
Of course I can’t miss a good opportunity to photograph a flooded area. But, we were almost too late. I remember one year the picnic tables were under water. Here are some pictures from that area.
River View from the I St. BridgeFlooded Parking LotFlooded Parking LotNot under water, but look at that burl.
After Discovery Park, we went to Old Sacramento to see what we could find.
It’s still raining, but not as hard. I’m not complaining too much because most of the rest of the year we are dry. Summer rain is not normal for us.
I never look forward to last chances. Maybe it’s my age. But, here we are picking photos that didn’t fit into this year’s challenges. I’m just going to reframe this post into Another Chance. Yes, I feel better now.
Here are my photos that didn’t make it into this year’s challenges and the memories that go along with them.
This first one was taken at a Scandinavian Festival in Sacramento. I had high hopes for journalistic photos, but there was hardly any opportunity. It was mostly crafters’ tables. This singer and great food made up for it.
My next was taken in an alley in Woodland Ca. called Dead Cat Alley. This is a three block alley with cat sculptures on the roof tops. This stretch of alley way was recognized in 1853 and officially named in 1962. The sculptures are old and worn. Here’s one.
You never know what you’ll find when you visit Old Sacramento. This man was sleeping just outside the main area of the train depot. I love photo journalism and seldom find an opportunity like this one.
Roseville is home to a fairly large train yard. But, stay off the tracks! There’s a story behind that statement!
I do like to photograph buildings. In one such quest, I found this great reflection.
Lastly, we have many small towns in neighboring Amador County. Sutter Creek is rich in history and its store owners use whatever old things they can. I think the sign may be original, but put on a newer bench.
There, you have my images that were given another chance. I’m looking forward to seeing yours. I enjoyed seeing all your winter photos in response to John’s challenge last week.
The LAPC team will be taking a break for the remainder of the year. We will return on January 4 with our traditional Favorite Photos of the year challenge. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the holidays
Up first are zoo animals. the giraffe and orangutan are my favorites. They are so expressive. The orangutans are playful, and the giraffes make such funny faces.
My next image is of a squawking cormorant with his yellow beak wide open. I wonder what he’s saying!
I enjoy photographing covered bridges. This one was recently redone. Its shingles are warm colored, blending in with the natural surroundings.
Cool in temperature, but warm in color are the Luray Caverns in Virginia.
You never know what you’ll find when you’re driving down a country road! But you know in October you’ll find pumpkins.
Finally, who says warm colors can’t be photographed at night. This image taken in Old Sacramento has warm written all over it.
Thank you Egidio for challenging us with warm colors during Sacramento’s damp, overcast and rainy weather. When you post your response to this challenge, please remember to link your post to Egidio’s and use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing your days and nights last week, especially the comparisons. Next week I will be challenging you, so stay tuned.
It’s a busy day today. Tomorrow we head up to Lassen National Park where we will have no wifi, no internet or cell reception. So, I need to get this post done NOW! Nothing like a little motivation.
But Amy’s challenge of framing a photograph sent me way back (10 years ago) when I started photography. Actually, I wanted to see whether I was framing at that point. My trip back showed me that I was framing, but wasn’t shooting or editing that well. I don’t think I had Lightroom at that time. So, I ran my selections through a quick edit process.
Anyway, here they are. I saw that I used trees as a natural frame.
My next example is using a background as a frame. This is my younger grandson at Disney World. He’s now entering High School.
When does a stairwell become a frame that is leading lines? This was taken in Old Sacramento.
This colorful door is framed by neon and color. Could you resist taking a picture? This is Peggy Sue’s diner in Mesquite Nevada. The inside is just as amazing as the outside. And, oh, the food is good too.
My last picture is of the Tower Bridge in Sacramento. The bridge entrance is framed by street lights. The car light trails make this frame seem like an open box.
Thank you Amy for getting me to see just how far my photo abilities have come. I enjoyed looking back! When you post, please link back to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week, we all agreed that life is a work in progress, and I enjoyed your responses to Ann-Christine’s challenge. Next week John is presenting our challenge, so look for his post.
Now back to loading the trailer.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
While looking through my archives for this week’s challenge byJanet of Sustainabilitea (who wants us to post images of things others may normally overlook or something you think other people would overlook), I found images that I was lucky enough not to overlook and some that presented a surprise! So I’m twisting the challenge a bit to show you some images that I’m happy to not have overlooked. I hope you don’t mind Janet.
I didn’t even notice this bee flying into this sunflower until I processed it. I guess I overlooked it completely!
When I walk, I try to look down for small creatures, but I am delighted when I find a colorfully textured log.
I do like trees. When I looked up at this tree, the sun was in the perfect position for me to catch a sunburst.
I’m not a very patient person, but I’m glad I kept my lens out the car window just a little longer just in case this cormorant took flight.
And sometimes we just get lucky. I was watching this goat when he got an itch.
I’m so glad I looked up and saw this restaurant ceiling because a few days later it burned down and all was lost. Sometimes we are meant to be where we are.
This one was overlooked by my photo buddies. I even pointed it out to one, but he didn’t take the shot. It’s all subjective, isn’t it! Can you see the ferris wheel reflection in the restaurant window?
One picture I never overlooked or missed an opportunity to take was of Kamau the Lion at the Sacramento Zoo. He recently passed away at age 16. RIP Kamau.
Thank you Janet, this was fun even though I twisted the challenge a bit. When you post on this challenge, please remember to link to Janet’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I totally enjoyed Dan’s Unbound challenge and all your posts and interpretations. Thanks to all our July guest hosts. Next week the team returns with Ann-Christine leading the challenge.
If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info.
This is my lucky morning. I was trying to think of how to approach Brian of Bushboy’s challenge on fragments when I remembered taking my new Fujifilm XT3 camera down to Old Sacramento for some practice in May of 2020. My photo buddies and I masked up for the morning and drove down to the waterfront. I was trying all sorts of photography, like these closeups.
You can all these fragments of a train, boxes near the train depot and the gate closing in a train. I thought my new camera did well.
Could a fragment be a moment in time? Here we have some children having fun on the swings in front of the old school house in Old Sacramento enjoying their portion of play time.
Oh, I just love the candy shop and the tasty free and for purchase treats they offer. Can a candy shop be fragmented into separate bins of candy?
My final image isn’t a fragment, but an image of a train that has been moved elsewhere.
Since that day, my Fuji and I have been on all sorts of adventures. I’ve grown to love that camera, but, like life, it took some getting used to.
Thank you Brian for taking me on my fragmented memory. Looking back is such fun. When you reply to Brian’s post please remember to link to it and use the Lens-Artists tag. Last week was such fun as we saw all your buggy images. Some species I’d never seen before. Next week, look for Tina’s challenge on her Travels and Trifles blog. I wonder what she has in store for us. Until then, stay safe!
It’s either go out super early in the morning or go to a museum when it’s hot. In June we chose the museum–The Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento. As many times as I have been to Old Sacramento for various things, I never knew of this museum. I had my doubts as to whether it would be worthwhile. Was I surprised!
Not only did it give a great view of Sacramento’s history via pictures, text and artifacts, it was a photographer’s dream.
Just to give you a bit of the background, Sacramento was founded during the gold rush. You can read all about its history here. Being me I did all my photography before I started reading about my State Capitol’s history!
Here are some images of the lobby area.
The town’s newspaper, the Sacramento Bee. has a rich history in the area and is the newspaper I read daily. Of course, I now view it online. Here are exhibits dedicated to this newspaper.
As we were walking to our car, we saw a docent in period dress leading a tour and coming down to the museum. I thought this was a great museum to learn about Sacramento. It’s going to be a hot summer, so get ready for more museums!
I like standard time during the winter months because it means the sun sets early making photographing in the dark more feasible, getting me home early in the evening. Thank you Sofia for offering this challenge that fits perfectly with a recent visit to Old Sacramento.
My small group of senior photographers visited the waterfront last month to capture the new Ferris Wheel installed as an attraction to draw more visitors.
When we arrived, we came upon a guy break dancing. He kept on performing as darkness fell and his jar filled with dollar bills.
We then walked out on the Tower Bridge (A Sacramento landmark) to capture the Ferris Wheel and waterfront. I’ll be honest, we did not use tripods (which is suggested in low-light photography). As the cars went over the bridge, the resulting rumble would have made the tripods useless.
Tower Bridge
We then walked back to the waterfront to get a better view of the Ferris wheel.
While we were photographing the wheel, the sun had almost set. I ran to a vantage point and fortunately got a decent sunset and reflections.
Now, back to the bridge for the Ferris wheel in action after nightfall.
As we were walking up to the street, I was lucky to see this image: A restaurant with the Ferris wheel reflected in the window. I couldn’t resist photographing it.
I had so much fun this evening which included a cup of hot chocolate. Low-light photography presents challenges but the rewards are great. I’ve also enjoyed light painting and indoor photography.
Thank you Sofia for this fun challenge that fit perfectly with my photo activities. Please be sure to link your post to Sofia’s, and use the Lens-Artists tag. Next week I’ll be presenting the challenge.
Every day, something changes–whether we want it to or not. In his challenge John asks us to think about change: “Maybe it’s the changes in your family over the years, the change of seasons in your favorite park, or even the change in the technology of your camera equipment. In short, what does “change” mean to you?”
I thought about it, and what came to my mind was how Sacramento has changed since I started photography. First are some of the things we lost.
The first blow to photographers was Daffodil Hill. This beautiful hillside of color and flowers closed last year because of too many visitors. It’s remote location caused the one road in and out to become jammed, and visitors were not staying on the designated paths. Daffodil Hill was owned by the McLaughlin family who planted and cared for their farm. This was their labor of love to be enjoyed by many.
Daffodil Hill
The next thing we lost was the annual Sacramento Music Festival. We worked on and enjoyed the festival for several years. I loved walking from venue to venue, listening to wonderful music. It discontinued because of money loss.
Opening parade at the Sacramento Music Festival.
One change that was fought and won was Sacramento City Council’s decision to remove the flowers from the Sacramento Historic Cemetery. The decision was made because when the cemetery was first founded there were no flowers and they wanted to keep it true to its history! The public and the gardeners won. The team of gardeners is volunteer based, and thanks to them we continue to enjoy this amazing place.
A volunteer tends to the garden. The beautiful florals add peace to the cemetery.
Ever changing are the murals that brighten Sacramento each year through Wide Open Walls. We go downtown each year to see what new art adorns the city’s walls.
One of my favorites.
New to Sacramento, specifically Old Sacramento, is the Ferris Wheel along the waterfront. After fixing the wood walkways, the city wanted an attraction to bring families into the Old City.
The Ferris Wheel and its reflection in a restaurant window.
Last, is a thing we want changed: the homeless. There have been many programs offered to help. Some have succeeded, some haven’t.
Asleep on a sidewalk/curb in Old Sacramento.
Among the venues we hope don’t change is Effie Yeaw Nature Center. This center along the American River is close to us and offers us the nearness to wildlife like deer, coyotes, wild turkeys, etc. I hope this center continues for years to come.
A buck at Effie Yeaw.
So, because change is inevitable, we need to embrace it and continue on. Isn’t it wonderful that we are able to capture things we enjoy on camera before they disappear!
Thank you John for giving us a reason to pause and reflect. Last week Amy helped us to remember our travels and what they have taught us; next week Sophia leads the challenge. Look for her post. Remember to link to her post and use the Lens-Artists tag in WordPress.
Slow Shutter Speed 