Category: Artistic

Lens-Artist Challenge #285 Warm Colors

For this week’s challenge, Egidio invites me to look at my photos showing how warm colors appear in my world and their emotional significance to me.

California is taking a beating this week. Last night with no power I sat in the dark, listening to the wind, unplugging all electronics, and leaving on one light. I awoke to stillness. The electricity was restored. The skies still threaten, but the color is returning in the house.

Great challenge for the week, warm colors. Color Photography was one of the best, and most demanding classes I attended.

The warm color of food

The first Valentine’s Day I made my boyfriend (now husband of 53 years) a strawberry shortcake!
Oranges of warm colors

Flowers

Warm colors of nature

Pine Cone
Horse Chestnut
Dragon Fly with golden wings

Sunrise/Sunset

Sedona Sunrise
Sedona Sunrise
Sedona Sunrise
Maui Sunset
Folsom Lake
Sailor Bar in Fair Oaks
Sacramento River
Mono Lake at Sunrise

Abstractions created by color

Can you guess what I found?

Warm objects are seen here and there

Cork from a New Year’s past

Looking back at my collection of photographs is my best reason for participating in these challenges. I see forgotten images and the photographic journey I am on.

Just as I was about to post, our electricity went out again. Found emergency candles, and we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. All is back to normal. So without further ado, I will post.

Lens-Artists Challenge #271 Contrast

This week, Amy is focusing on Contrasts. She tells us that in photography, contrasts can include different ranges of tones, colors, subjects, and areas of light and shadow–to name a few. So this is my take on the subject.

I thought this would be an easy challenge, but it took me a while to figure out which way to approach this.

Shapes

Straight and spirally
Rusty stuff in a variety of shapes
Keep out!
River rock in so many shapes and sizes

Color

This colorful photo was taken at a Yarnival
These hardware parts looked like robot eyes
The blue sky really sets off the shape of this plant.

Textures

Fascinated by this belt
A captivating display of textures
So many different textures and colors
A carpet display at an Ikea store
It’s not easy being green, unless you are a fern next to other plants.

Quirky contrasts

Ready to go to the county faire.
What is it, and why is it here?
Rolling down a street in Maui. New and old!

That is all for today’s photographic journey through my images in contrast. What did you find captivating?

Lens-Artists Challenge #255: Telling a Story

This week, Patti of P.A. Moed asks me to focus on telling a story with my photos. “Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can convey a story in one image; other times we need several. For this challenge, we’ll set a limit of 5 photos per story.” People-watching is a favorite pastime for me. I do not eavesdrop; instead, I try to imagine what is happening and capture the emotions.

Festivals and Events

Renaissance Fayre
Father and son act at the Renaissance Fayre
Amgen Cyclist – thoughts?
Amgen Tour of California. How would you caption this?

Summer is heating up here in Sacramento. We are alerted that a heat wave is approaching. Years ago, my grandchildren joined a swim team. That meant all-day swim meets on Saturday. I had my camera ready for action.

What is this swimmer thinking?
Such enthusiasm
Pep Talk
Cheering
Congratulations
Summer = Watermelon

Helping hand

Getting directions at the
American Museum of Natural History
Lost visitor
Father and son. What’s the story?

Teaching

Many docents can be found at the zoo or museums. They provide valuable teachings to the community. Thank you.

Explaining tools at a Big Truck event in Roseville
Spining explained

Creative Energy

Berkeley Kite Festival
Chanukah Celebration
Folsom 4th of July Parade
Spray paint art on the Embarcadero. This artist was less than friendly.
Chalk it Up is held once a year in John C Fremont Park

Caught in the Act

Fisherman’s Wharf in San Fransisco provides plenty of photo opportunities for people-watching. I captured this local character as he counted his earnings.

San Francisco Bush Man
Geyserville, Ca
Nothing like a hot dog on the New York City streets
Capturing a fun moment at
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Keeps traffic flowing on N.Y.C. streets
Serious moment with Daisy Duck in Disneyland

Animal Stories

Ducks at the Sacramento Zoo.
Can you think of a story for these images? Something was going on.
We know what this photo is all about.

And that’s all folks. For now! Check back soon for more of my photographs.

Lens-Artists Challenge #247 Back Lit Photos

Anne-Christine tells me that “backlighting is a great way to create stunning, eye-catching effects. Here are a handful of specific images you can make with backlighting: Street and portrait silhouettes, bird-in-flight silhouettes, portraits, and macros with beautiful background bokeh, landscape silhouettes, and sunset/sunrise landscapes.”

Glass

I always enjoy looking at glass objects. I found some of these images in stores, in windows, and in displays.

I first saw an example of Chihuly glass at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The first and third photographs are examples displayed at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.

Chihuly Glass
Seattle Underground Tour
Cary House Hotel in Placerville Ca

The next two stain glass signs are located on my sister-in-law’s property in Indianapolis, Indianna. They are created from images of the property.

Animals

Wild Turkeys strutting their stuff
A spider has cast its web at the Effie Yeaw Nature Preserve
Great White Egret found at UC Davis Arboretum

The Oakland Zoo features some interesting exhibits like fruit bats and primates.

Flora

Pets

Here my grandson is holding his pet Love Bird Peaches.

I can’t believe my grandson will be 26 years old this week.

Canine Companions starts training early.

Learning all about the leash.
Fun watching dock diving at Petapalooza years ago

Black puppies are particularly hard to photograph. Lighting is key. Libby was an English Black Labrador Retriever and my very first dog. I waited 40 years for her! It has been 4 years ago this month that we parted.

This is Liberty Love at 8 weeks.
Here is Moxie! Backlit.

Lots of images benefit from backlit lighting. I hope that you may be inspired to look at the world from a new perspective. Positive, beautiful and peaceful.