Anne challenges me to take a lens for a walk. Yes, choose a lens and walk. You can also use your cell phone or point-and-shoot camera and see what you can do with it. Another trick when using a zoom lens is to pick an aperture and stay with it. I accept this challenge.
My photography friends and I headed out of town Sunday. Our destination – Vacaville. I brought along my Fuji xt4 with my 18-55mm lens and my iPhone 13 pro. In my first group of photographs, I kept my aperture set at f 8.
Aperture f 8
This sign probably wouldn’t help muchGetting ready for more springlike weatherPeeking
Lone Lady Bug
Most Used Focal Length
Most used focal length surprised me – 18mm.
Meet Xinea
Two Cameras
iPhone 13 proFuji xt4 Which do you prefer?
Taken with iPhone 13 max
Wren’s Cafe in Vacaville
So ends my photographic look on my one lens walk. Looking forward to continued sunshine this coming week, at least. Gives the gardens and dog parks time to dry out. My Moxie wants to run and play outdoors.
This week Ann-Christine (Leya – To see a world in a grain of sand) hopes I will bring some colorful joy to us all. She would like a story to go with them. I have plenty of flowers in my photo library. I have a garden, but between lack of time, heat, and a puppy I don’t have many flowers. I love to visit and appreciate the efforts put in by others.
This is my unexpected flowering succulent. An ice plant relative.
Following the annual cycle of blooms, I visited Daffodil Hill in the spring. Over the years it’s popularity grew and overwhelmed this rural setting, and the privately owned ranch closed.
Daffodil Hill provided the backdrop for this photo with some visiting guide dogs in training.
Years ago I went with a friend on a cloudy, misty weekday. Few visitors that day.
So many varieties have been planted over the years. I miss this place. A peaceful place., until word got out. Spring and tulips go together. The Hermitage Gardens in Grass Valley never disappoints!
With friends we go out searching, and come across many beautiful flowers as a bonus!
Mustard flowers bloom among the grape vines in Napa ValleySunflowers, zinnias, lotus, irises thistle and cactus flowers found on many outings around Northern CaliforniaA sea of flowers cover this hillLove my California Poppies
Finding pollinators among the flowers is always a fun photograph.
Going to the California coast I love the different flowers I find.
Coastal wild flowersPride of Madeira
Botanical Garden and local nurseries display flowers of the area.
As you can see I love love being out finding flowers. My macro lens often brings a breeze, so not many macro shots. My gear now is Fuji xt4. I used my Nikon D7100 for my earlier shots. Now even my iPhone 13 pro gets some use. i hope these flowers brought some beauty into your day, Any particular flower or image caught your attention?
Oh I forgot to say what flower is my favorite! I don’t have one. I am just not a real fan of cut flowers. I don’t like when they fade.
For this week’s challenge, Patti (P.A. Moed-Exploration in Words and Pictures) asks us to explore what professional photographers call “working a shot.” What does that mean? Photographers pick a subject (a place, an object, a person, for instance) and take a variety of photos–by zooming in on the details or stepping back for a wider view. They also vary the angle of the shot–looking up or down or even sideways. They might walk around the subject to get a unique view.
Why? This method can help us discover the best way to capture the subject. And I agree that taking time and changing perspectives improves my photography.
An abandoned dock at the Berkeley Marina is the subject. First I create a frame for the dock. Then I move closer. I get closer still, creating a leading line with the dock. The seagull adds a bit of interest.
Getting closer
Color provides the subject matter for my images taken at a casino restaurant in Las Vegas. This ceiling really caught my attention, and I spent some time photographing it from many perspectives. I don’t know which one I favored.
I found this topiary display at Bellagio Las Vegas. With a fall-inspired nonmoving subject, I could take photographs from many angles. Which one is your favorite?
Taking flight
Wait for me!
Happy Landing
While visiting my parents in Sun City West, Arizona I wandered around with my Nikon d7100 camera. Plenty of downtimes when it is hot, and my retired parents are resting.
Fence
Golf Course. Golf ball, keep out!
Backyard view
Images of rusty things, gears, and machinery are often subjects of mine. Using different f-stops and focusing on different parts make for interesting photos. My last photograph fits my idea of pareidolia.
Gears
Round About
Do you see a face?
Found this beetle on a cactus in Sedona, Arizona. When I stepped back the cactus reminded me of Mickey Mouse ears. Walking away, the landscape called for another look resulting in a wonderful landscape of the desert.
What kind of beetle is this?
Mouse ears
Sedona Desert
This last image of a California poppy compliments my banner image. Often I like the backlit look when I take photographs of flowers and foliage.
Backlit California Poppy!
The one thing most of these images have in common when it comes to looking at life from different perspectives is that most objects did not move. My fast-moving Moxie would be another story. Stop, slow down, and look at life from different angles! You may be surprised!
This week, Patti invites me to explore the movement of objects or people in my photos. You have several options to do this. Here’s one way: set your camera on auto and let it do most of the work. It will automatically increase the shutter speed and freeze the action. You can also manually adjust the speed settings. That’s when the real fun begins.
Sometimes I just plan to have motion be my subject.
Merry-Go-Round Escape
Taffy in motion
Jelly Bean River
Patriotic Motion
It is always tricky to capture animals in motion. Here I stopped the action with a fast shutter speed.
Lion cubs at playJack rabbit on the run
Sometimes a slower speed enhances the motion.
Just tucking myself in!
Sometimes a slow speed will create a ghostlike image.
Crosswalk pedestrians at night
My backseat passenger Charlie
Dancing the “Hora”
Some Lens Zooming
I hope that you enjoyed my quick tour of my motion photographs!