shadows – Slow Shutter Speed

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 54 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #355: Looking Back–Creativity

Looking back in our lives helps us see how far we’ve come in the present, especially in photography. It’s exciting that the LAPC team is beginning this new exercise, and Ann-Christine is starting us off with a challenge from 2019 on creativity.

Now, I don’t think of myself as a creative soul. Maybe that’s why when I looked through 2019 for a post on the subject, I couldn’t find one. I wasn’t a team member then.

There are many types of creativity. You find it in science, architecture, art and more. Teachers and parents have to be creative to reach and teach the children. I don’t think of myself as creative. I can’t create art, but I can see it in everyday circumstances and photograph it.

Here are three places where I found creativity.

Gloshoff Sculpture Ranch in Fairfield.

This ranch is an ongoing exhibition of metal sculptures and it grows each year. You know you’re near the ranch when you see neighbors displaying Mr. Gloshoff’s art in their front yard. You need to make an appointment and he doesn’t mind photographers photographing his creations. Here are a few.

I also believe creativity is in the eye of the beholder. I guess how a photographer interprets an object is creativity. Here are some objects from IKEA as I saw them.

Nature’s shadows form creative patterns that photographers can’t resist. At least I couldn’t.

And finally, one of my favorite forms of creativity is signage.

Thanks Ann-Christine for sending me through my archives in search of creativity. I totally enjoyed your responses to my reflections challenge last week. You kept me busy and posts are still trickling in. You gave me a great week and had me smiling. Please link to Ann-Christine’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag when you respond to her challenge.

We will be off next week. Wherever you are, celebrate life and capture creativity through your lens. We will be back on July 12, when, guest host, Stupidity Hole (SH) will present the challenge. I wonder what he has in store for us? In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Anne Sandler · 24 Comments

A Break in the Weather: Back to Historic Folsom

Yes, the sun was shining, the streets were dry, and we were ready to take our cameras out again. So off to Historic Folsom we went. We found that getting there before stores opened and during the week, made this small tourist area very quiet. This is when you look for small things to photograph.

Like storefront windows, their reflections and shadows.

Buildings and other structures.

Store owners were getting ready to open, vendors were delivering and consumers were waiting for stores to open.

At last, the ice rink opened and was filling up with skaters, skilled and learning.

It was a relaxing and fun morning followed by a delicious lunch. I’m wondering, do we go out because we enjoy photography or finding new places to eat at? Maybe both!

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #308: Perfect Pairs

In a perfect world–wait! There’s no perfect world! Given our imperfections, guest host, Elizabeth of Albatz Travels challenges us to find perfect pairs. This is an exciting task since we interpret what we see so differently.

My first pairing is of two regulars at Mather Lake, a fishing spot and swans’ home. This pair is so different, but can usually be found at the lake at the same time.

Next there are insects and plants helping each other and us. My example are sunflowers and bees. Sunflowers provide the pollen bees need to pollenate and we love the bees honey.

The sun creates shadows and those shadows can change the object they are shadowing. This ship sculpture is at the Sacramento River Walk.

Distance can play tricks. What looks like a giant fork is actually a sculpture made from regular sized forks. Taken at the The Culinary Institute of America at Copia.

Our local Effie Yeaw Nature Center is home to many wild animals, especially deer. They don’t fear us humans, but are wary of coyotes and other animals. We have bucks and does.

Who remembers hood ornaments? I barely do. But our local California State Automobile Museum brings us back in time when cars were adorned with beauties like these. They aren’t at all alike but serve the same purpose.

You know, if you ask me, these are perfect pairings! Thanks Elizabeth for this fun challenge. When you respond, please remember to link to her original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week we traveled to many tourist attractions through a challenge given by Leanne Cole. Your responses took us around the world. Thank you all for participating. Next week PR of Flights of the Soul will present Balconies. Be sure to look for her post.

In the meantime, enjoy and stay healthy!

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #258: Fences

As photographers we look for things to use as leading lines that take our viewer’s eyes to our subject or through the photo. This week Dawn Miller of The Day After challenges us to show fencing as leading lines or as an element to showcase a subject.

For instance some fences are put up to keep people out, protecting whatever is inside the fence. Down near Rio Vista we have wind turbine farms. There is fencing to keep people out. And farmers use fences in orchards to keep us out, especially during an almond harvest.

Talking about keeping things safe, how about fences that keep you safe!

Then there are fences that lead us places. They are usually located along pathways.

Some fencing is old and needs repair.

How about the opportunity for leading line shadows. Don’t we photographers love that!

And then there are fences that just add to our images.

I’ll close with a metal barrier around a memorial set up for the victims of the Paradise Camp Fire in 2018. The entire town was burned. Some rebuilt and some couldn’t go back. My neighbor lived there and took a few of us photographers to document the devastation. This memorial was erected to honor that day.

Fencing keeps us safe and where we belong. It also protects private property. Thanks Dawn for fencing us in this week. When you post, please remember to link to Dawn’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. And thank you Philo for a not so simple challenge on simplicity last week. I enjoyed your responses. Next week Dan Fenner of Departing in 5 Minutes leads our challenge with UNBOUND. Be sure to look for his post.

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

Posted on February 5, 2023 by Anne Sandler · 49 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #235: Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome

I love black and white images when done right. Meaning, not every shot is suitable for black and white unless you know how to burn and doge with ease. Since I’m not artistic, I wait for the picture that is suitable for black and white. Thank you Patti for having me explore my black and white images and the concept of monochrome.

Who would have thought a beautiful lotus flower would be suitable for black and white? I did after processing this in color and then playing around a bit.

At this point I need to explain how I create a black and white image. I shoot all my images in color and process them in color. I then take the images I think might look good in black and white and export them to NIK Silver Efex (lately I’ve even converted them in Lightroom, especially for this post,), play with it and then export back into Lightroom. I liked the way the shadows fell on this flower’s petals.

For shadows I have three examples. Explanations are in the captions.

**Taken at a winery, I liked the way these shadows reflected lines, squares, etd. Black and white just accentuated the patterns.**

**Marlene and I typically take our shadow images when on an outing. I was working with a blue filter while processing. I think it helped show the rocks underneath our shadows.**

The next two are reflections that I just processed to black and white. I wasn’t too happy with the contrast of the landscape so I played with a green filter.

Here’s an image of a person sleeping in an area of dark shadows.

I’ll end with images that are among my favorite black and whites.

Thanks for this fun challenge Patti! Please remember to link to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag when you post your reply to this amazing exercise. Last week we all enjoyed your variety of responses to Donna’s Messages. Amy will be bringing you next week’s challenge. Be sure to look for her post.

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

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Anne Sandler · 38 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #229: Perfect Patterns

As photographers, we are drawn to patterns probably without even realizing it. It’s an integral part of composition. This week Ann Christine helps make us aware of these patterns by challenging us to look for them in our photos.

I’ll start with patterns found in architecture.

**Gates offer beautifully crafted patterns.**

Nature offers patterns of her own.

And, how about fabric!

Here are some more examples of patterns we find as we photograph.

Finally, we can make our own patterns in post as we have fun processing.

Thank you Ann Christine for challenging us with this fun topic. Please link to her post if you have yet to find and show us your own patterns and use the Lens Artists tag. Last week, we had fun seeing your creative diagonals. Tina will be challenging us next week. Be sure to look for her post. Stay safe this holiday season.

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Anne Sandler · 27 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #176: One Story

Can one picture really tell a story? It can, but it depends on the person whose memories it jiggles. This week Ann-Christine asks us to post one picture that tells one story. We can post more than one image along with its story. While going through my archives, I found I typically relate stories with people. Here are three from my past photographic adventures.

In this story, meet Greg Morris. We met when I began photography. We were both of advancing age and could easily keep up with each other. We began going on photo outings once a week. He would drive and I would buy lunch. I’d never knew where we would end up, but we took the day to get there and back. This was taken during a trip to the historical town of Locke in 2015. Always posting selfies (Set up in his home studio.) in our local camera group, it was logical that he would pose as the Mona Lisa for me.

Soon after that trip, Marlene joined us for the remainder of our adventures until Greg passed away from brain cancer.

This next story takes place in Palm Desert in 2016. We joined my cousins at their time share. They went there every year to relax, I went to be with them and take photos and Richard (husband) came for no other reason than to be with us. We were at the Coachella Valley Preserve in Thousand Palms near sunset. The desert can be beautiful. This image shows my cousins walking hand in hand. I could feel the love between them. It was so beautiful.

My last image is a shadowed shot of three amigos, me, Marlene and Laura, commemorating our photography vacation in Kauai. It’s Marlene’s practice to take a shadow picture when we go on a shoot. We had a great time taking our photos and eating shave ice. I learned it’s not necessary to carry every piece of camera equipment through the airports. Laura decided it was good to keep a Snicker bar handy just in case I got hungry. Marlene discovered it’s not good to fall and hurt your foot the first day out. I was also introduced to Fujifilm, Marlene’s new camera, and knew I had to have one.

Three trips down memory lane. Thank you Ann-Christine!

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

A scavenger hunt: Old Sacramento

Sometimes you just want to have fun, so I borrowed a scavenger hunt list for a Tuesday morning outing. With camera in sling, four of us hunted the streets of Old Sacramento for items on the list. They ranged from “Something you can taste through the lens” to “bokeh” to “lines and patterns.” We exercised our minds and imaginations!

Here are some of my trophies.