Posted on 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 by Anne Sandler · 45 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #337: Bold

This week, Sofia is asking us to think BOLD. COLOR! That’s what I think of when I hear bold. I am attracted to bright, deep and bold colors. I’m also attracted to angles when I see them, especially when they are straight, angular and bold. This rooftop fits that bill.

Now let’s get to my favorite subject of color. Here are two samples of what I like.

Next are bold designs.

When it comes to flowers, sometimes less color can bring out the bold, especially in a single floral photograph. This flower just fills the frame with its bold burst.

I love signs, especially when they are meaningful, funny or just eye catching.

I’ll end with colorful wall and window designs at our local Crocker Art Museum.

Thank you Sofia, for brightening my morning. I love this challenge. When you respond to Sofia’s challenge, please link your to her original post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Last week Ann-Christine challenged us to post just one meaningful image. I enjoyed seeing and reading your responses. Next up is John to challenge us, so be sure to look for his post.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude!

If you want to know more about participating in the Lens-Artists, please click here.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #326: This Made Me Smile

There’s nothing more contagious than a smile. Try it. Just smile at a stranger, and they will smile back. You can also wave. For me a smile is hope. And thank you Ann-Christine for showing us that we can still find hope and smile.

So what makes me smile? I’ve chosen five things that help me smile. Let’s start with animals. First, here is my friend Marlene talking with an alpaca; and, second, a zebra at the Sacramento Zoo with an itch.

Now let’s move on to landscapes. I do smile when I see a field of flowers or a mountain covered with wildflowers. Each year the poppies and sunflowers come out, and I try to get capture them with my camera. Because the sunflowers are farmed, they are easier to find. However, to capture a field of wild poppies is more difficult.

How many of you have chuckled when you saw a clever sign? I love that people will pass along their sense of humor to the public. I have two signs to show you. One is outside the bathroom at the Charles Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa and the other at Ruhstaller Farm in Dixon.

Ruhstaller Farm

If you’ve followed this blog, you know I love trees. They are so expressive and bring me joy.

And last, are people. They don’t have to smile at you to have you smile; they just need to be themselves in the moment. Here is my now teenage grandson at the California State Railroad Museum for the first time and a mother and son enjoying the music at a county fair.

Have these images brought a smile to your face? I hope so. Thank you Ann-Christine for helping us smile this week. When you post your response, remember to link to Ann-Christine’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Last week week Tina prepared us for smiling with her gratitude theme. I enjoyed seeing what you are all grateful for. Sometimes we just need a little poke to help us remember the goodness in life. Next week Sofia will present the challenge, so look for her post.

In the meantime smile and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 58 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #272: Billboards and Signs

I don’t know about you, but these days I feel bombarded with signage of, mostly, the advertising kind. So, it’s great to pay attention to the signs that keep us safe and bring us joy. Thank you John for this fun challenge.

I’m not into photographing signs as a photo practice, but we happened to be at Ruhstaller Farm in Dixon, a beer distillery and farm, and featured in this blog. But, I didn’t post signs when there was so much more for you to see.

I’m learning to look for nature to provide the unusual and man to provide beautiful murals along the American River.

Little did I know that Spam was so popular! There’s a Spam festival in the Sacramento Delta and Spam is popular in Kauai.

I do love neon signs, find sadness at the Old Sacramento City Cemetery and find it wonderful that one store could stay in business for more than 100 years.

And there’s nothing like signage at the Nevada County Fair to get those hunger pangs going. Spicy nachos and sweet churros!

Sometimes feelings give us signs that we have to do something. This goat is no exception. Got an itch? Scratch it!

I’ve enjoyed looking through my archives for signage. I hope you’re having fun too. Remember to link to John’s post and use the Lens-Artists tag. I enjoyed seeing all your contrasty posts last week. Next week Sophia is challenging us, so look for her post.

If you’d like to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 40 Comments

Lens Artist Challenge #182: Interesting Objects

Of course what is interesting is in the eye of the beholder. What I find interesting are landscapes, macros, architecture but seldom objects. However, sometimes things catch my eye and I can’t resist. This week, Patti encourages to photograph or go through our archives for those objects that we absolutely needed to photograph.

For instance this old bellows camera I spotted at the Antique Trove. The flash has been made into a light source of a different kind.

When taken in context, this sign at the Folsom Prison Museum had me thinking, “Duh!” These old handcuffs must have been totally uncomfortable.

This sign as you enter the small town of Mokelumne Hill will certainly have you slow down!

A restaurant in Napa had a sense of humor when it came to identifying their restrooms.

When we visit farms during the summer months, there’s usually a pile of discarded equipment left to the elements. I love rust and all the colors it gives objects. I think these may have been some sort of stakes.

One of my favorite places to visit is Old Sacramento. On one outing I noticed this gate.

Finally, while these are not unusual; for my photographic eye, they were positioned just right. I’ve posted them in this blog before. So, some of you may know what they are. If you don’t, can you guess?

Thanks Patti for this fun exercise! I had a great time seeing all your double dipping posts last week and look forward to seeing what Ann-Christine has in store for us next week. Please be sure to link your posts this week to Patti’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Until next week!