Posted on by Anne Sandler · 31 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #262: Framing Your Photos

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. 

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 28 Comments

Lens-Artists Challenge #214: Favorite Finds

How do you narrow down your favorite finds, especially when you’ve already shared some of them? So, I’m switching things up a bit. Ann-Christine wants us to share favorite finds at museums, nature; anything that filled us with awe. My twist is to share a few from favorite outings and pictures that you may not have seen.

In Sacramento we have hot days where we look to photograph indoors. I’ve shown you some from IKEA. But it’s been a long time since we’ve visited a museum. They closed down in 2020 and have been slow to reopen. We enjoyed the Aerospace Museum in North Highlands. The old aircraft and space exhibits had a lot to offer us photographers.

Stores are another place we’d take our cameras to. The Antique Trove in Roseville was also closed during 2020. We’d take our time going through the small stalls, finding unique items. They also have an outside area that would, of course, be closed during rain storms. We could use one of those storms now. How would you like one of those cameras? It’s now a lamp. The windmill could give your yard a farm feel. And could you give a hoot?

Another museum we used to enjoy is the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. One complication was the ropes that stopped us from touching the vehicles. My way of getting around that was to photograph close ups. While we still have horns, we’ve done away with lamp lighting. We’ve also done away with hood ornaments.

And new to me were barn quilts. I found out about The Rio Linda Elverta Quilt Trail Project, a group that put together a barn quilt route. A barn quilt is a painted wooden quilt pattern or replica of a sewn quilt. The women would meet in a garage and cut, saw and paint. They would do this for anyone who asked for their art. Along the route, we saw the quilts on houses, businesses and barns. Photo buddy Jim is standing behind the sign outside their garage.

And to finish up, I’ll show you Peggy Sue’s Diner in Barstow. Out in the California desert, in the middle of nowhere, is Peggy Sue’s. It’s worth the wait to go inside. I remember being amazed when we walked in. It was decorated with 50s and 60s movie and entertainment memorabilia. And the food is good too.

These are just some of the places we found to photograph, and I would love to go back now that they are fully open. Thank you Ann-Christine for having us concentrate on our favorites. Remember to link to her post when you respond and use the Lens-Artist tag. We’d love to see your post. And thank you all for your beautiful rays of sunshine in Amy’s Here Comes the Sun challenge. Next week John is going to have us concentrate on modes of transportation, so look for his post.

If you would like to participate weekly in our Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. 

Posted on by Anne Sandler

If you knew Peggy Sue: Peggy Sue’s 50’s diner

How about a “Frankie Avalon Philly Steak Sandwich,” a “Patti Page Patty Melt,” or a Tina Turner Tuna Sandwich? Are you hungry yet?

We don’t travel Highway 58 over the Tehachapi Mountains very often, but we’ve been that way twice since May. About 30 minutes from Baker, California you start seeing signs announcing Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner; and I mean large signs! But the timing wasn’t right for us to stop and experience the cuisine and decor.

This time we did, and it was amazing. The food was good and there was a lot of it. However, roaming the diner was the real treat. Originally built in 1954, the diner was reopened, after being closed after an unknown amount of years, by Peggy Sue and Champ (last names unknown) in 1987. With a history of Peggy Sue working in the movie industry and Champ for Knox Berry Farm, the diner became a place to display their extensive collection of movie and TV memorabilia. Peggy Sue used her grandmother’s family recipes and made food the old fashioned way. The diner soon became a popular with locals and truck drivers. In 1995 they added on a 1950’s style dime store, then a soda fountain, ice cream parlor and a pizza parlor. You just roam from room to room taking in the photos and other mementos from the era, and dining is available in all rooms.

Outside they have a pond, ducks, dinosaurs and other things to delight young and old. I thought it could have been better planned, but just like the diner it rambled on. I’m sure they didn’t import the huge red ant colony that prevented me from taking a picture of the weirdest duck I’ve ever seen! Those ants didn’t look friendly.

So if you want to eat a “Frankie Avalon Philly Steak Sandwich,” listen to 50’s music and enjoy some 50’s memories, stop by Peggy Sue’s Diner, 1-15 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, California. You won’t regret it.