Posted on by Anne Sandler · 8 Comments

Searching for fall colors: Markleeville

It seems that with each season Sacramento photographers rush to photograph the Milky Way, wildlife including the Sandhill Crane, snow and Fall colors. I’m no exception which is why my Camera Totin Tuesday group treked up to Markleeville, Alpine County, to capture delightful images.

There were five of us, and we squeezed into one car. Fortunately Marlene drove and her Suby Blue accomodated us easily. It’s a 2-hour ride up to the colorful aspens. Thank you Marlene for driving us. We stopped along the way to photograph the changing colors and had lunch in Markleeville. After lunch and taking pictures of the small town, population of 210 in the last census, we continued looking for color.

While editing the pictures of this outing, I tried to get out of my comfort zone with some creative help from Nik software. I’ve been liking the soft look lately and wanted to do some of my own. So, here’s the California colors of Fall.

A softened Aspen image.
Color in all its brilliance.
Another softened image.
We stopped on the way up.
You’ve got to love sunbursts.
Along the highway.
Around the area.
This guy holds down the bench!
A Markleeville building framed by color.
Two fences and a structure.
Photo buddy Richard showed me this shot.
I’m not sure what flower this was, but it’s still beautiful.
Old barns.
A book worm topiary in the back of the town’s library.
We stopped on the way home.
The tree glow is reflected in the water. Also tried handheld slow shutter.
Rocks and trees, what more could you want!
I liked this leaf’s reflection in the water.

 

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 8 Comments

Busy, no time to edit: McKinley Park Rose Garden, Sacramento

Right now, I have about four photo outings to edit, and very little time to do it. May has been a horrendous time gobbling month. Right now, I’m taking time away from working the Sacramento Music Festival, which is a four-day event in Old Sacramento. We’re just not going in this morning. I haven’t brought my camera and probably won’t. Last weekend I shot the District 39 Toastmasters’ Conference. Jill and I went up a day earlier to shoot in Redding, and haven’t even imported those images into Lightroom. I have edited about 400 of the conference images. Next week, Linda and I are spending two-days in San Francisco shooting. Oh, and Mother’s Day weekend, I was enjoying staying with my two younger grandchildren.

Have you ever hit a point when you need to stop shooting and just edit what you’ve taken? What has your experience been?

This post won’t be just my complaining via words. I did go to McKinley Park to shoot the Rose Garden. I heard it was at full bloom, and it was. I did take time to edit this outing while I was working on the Toastmaster images.

Since my goal this year was to learn some Photoshop basics–which I haven’t accomplished yet. Maybe I should shoot less and edit more–with whatever time I have!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

What’s your passion? IKEA, part 2

I have two passions: Photography and Toastmasters. Toastmasters changed my life and Photography enriches my retirement. So I decided to combine these two diverse activities and formed a Toastmaster’s Specialty Club: All About Photography (AAP).

At AAP we follow the Toastmaster format, but as our name suggests, we speak on photography and our table topics are on photography. We have photographers of all levels. Last week, I presented my images from IKEA for table topics. The participants were to give a 1 – 2 minute mini-speech on how they would edit these mostly abstract photos. I do crop well in the camera, so they had a difficult time imagining the total scene.

It was a fun exercise, and I picked up a few hints on what I could have done–next time. So what is your passion? What has changed your life? What enriches your life?

Here are my remaining images from IKEA in West Sacramento in black and white.

Zooming in on a chandelier.
These clocks were all lined up. I zoomed in.
This was a stainless bowl, but I think it looks better in copper. Okay, it’s not black and white.
Wine glasses.
This is actually a colorful barrel type chair!
A mixer.
Another chandelier.
The same chandelier with a twist.
A hanging light.
Posted on by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

More edited photos from Mexico

This is the unedited photo. It's really washed out.
This is the unedited photo. It’s really washed out.

Again on quick fix in PE9, but with me moving the buttons. I got the background more visible the dark shadows in the bushes gone, but created more deeper shadow on the road. I still like it better than the original. Let me know what you think!
Again on quick fix in PE9, but with me moving the buttons. I got the background more visible the dark shadows in the bushes gone, but created more deeper shadow on the road. I still like it better than the original. Let me know what you think!
This was the patio of a home where they made cheese. I really enjoyed seeing Mexico on this tour.
This was the patio of a home where they made cheese. I really enjoyed seeing Mexico on this tour.
All I did was work with the color a bit. I like the warm saturation better. When I took the photo, I didn't key in on the boxes close to the fence. Can't go back!
All I did was work with the color a bit. I like the warm saturation better. When I took the photo, I didn’t key in on the boxes close to the fence. Can’t go back!
Again, my wide angle lens and harsh sun washed out the street. Although not artistic, this picture shows the small town the way it was.
Again, my wide angle lens and harsh sun washed out the street. Although not artistic, this picture shows the small town the way it was.
Again I played with color and saturation on the quick fix menu. It's not as washed out, but the shadows are deeper. I'm open to suggestions. I know I have to get away from the quick fix menu, but I'm not quite ready.
Again I played with color and saturation on the quick fix menu. It’s not as washed out, but the shadows are deeper. I’m open to suggestions. I know I have to get away from the quick fix menu, but I’m not quite ready.
I thought this was a neat window, and didn't think editing would help it.
I thought this was a neat window, and didn’t think editing would help it.
Well, I was wrong. With lightening the midtones, you can now see the inside restaurant walls. I also straightened and cropped the photo a bit, and intensified the color.
Well, I was wrong. With lightening the midtones, you can now see the inside restaurant walls. I also straightened and cropped the photo a bit, and intensified the color.
I liked the broken pottery, but the picture seemed too dark in the shadows. When you're on a cruise, you can't pick the most ideal time of day for your shots.
I liked the broken pottery, but the picture seemed too dark in the shadows. When you’re on a cruise, you can’t pick the most ideal time of day for your shots.
I tried to lessen the shadows. You can now see the wall in the background, but I'm not sure i like the effect on the broken pots. Help!
I tried to lessen the shadows. You can now see the wall in the background, but I’m not sure i like the effect on the broken pots. Help!