Lens-Artists Challenge #249 Public Art

This week’s Journeys by Johnbo challenge features a focus on the arts. Public art in all its forms and locations. Whether in a park or a parking lot, an outdoor theater, or a street corner, art in public places can be found in communities worldwide.

Sidewalk Art

Found outside a store. It has a message.

Airport Art

Baggage Claim at the Sacramento Metro Airport

Big Red Rabbit seeing travelers at the Sacramento Metro Airport

Art Found in a Park Setting

Memorial Art

Art representing place

One day this sculpture appeared on the corner of Eastern and Marconi. I went home, grabbed my camera, and headed back. A while later it was gone.

A couple of years later, this rooster appeared at this remodeled shopping center. So far, this rooster has found its home in Fair Oaks.

Historical Monument in front of Mono County Courthouse

Entitled ***Double Check*** in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan

George M Cohan on Duffy Square in New York City

Claude Chana Prospecter, founding father of Auburn Ca.

“Welcome” to visitors of Rough and Ready, Ca.

Animals in Public Art

Public Art that enhances its surroundings

Found this creative exhibit of public art in South Sacramento in a vacant lot.

Have I shown you something that you yourself have seen? Are there similar works of public art where you are? There is always surprises to see! Enjoy.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #219 Treasure Hunt

As Tina announced last week, this week’s challenge is a Treasure Hunt. In the past, I have created a list of treasures to be found on my photographic journey. Now I will go through my images to uncover these treasures.

Pet

Clouds

Child looking forward to the future

Following her path. Brother tagging along.

Umbrellas of all kinds. But with the drought here the parasol is more useful.

Trucks of all kinds.

Walking along the street there are many things lost: a mitten, glove, glasses, soccer ball, baseball mitt, and bicycle.

Saw this busker many years ago while walking along Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Fisherman’s Wharf Bushman in San Francisco

I am always looking for reflections when I am near water, glass, mirrors, or shiny metals.

My friends and I are out on a Scavenger Hunt in Old Sac.

I hunted through my library and found all these treasures. I hope you enjoyed my findings? Which photograph caught your attention?

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #217 Opposites

How many times have you heard the phrase “opposites attract”? Having heard it, have you ever really thought about it? Whether yes or no, this week Tina challenges me to focus on it by sharing some examples of opposites through my images. I never know where my mind will go with these challenges.

My first photograph is that of a LAPC host Anne who is currently enjoying (I hope) a well-deserved photo getaway.

Looking down. Seeing outside from inside!

The next images were taken at the Aerospace Museum of California located in Sacramento. A great place to take your photography to the next level. For my second image titled Real Plane, I used Photoshop to merge for the HDR needed to see outside the windows.

These challenges let me see my images in a new light. The more I look at my forest image the more I like it. It may be due to our drought and heatwave. Rain is in the forecast this week.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

Ohmega Salvage is located in Berkeley Ca.

Some more opposites to ponder. There are examples of opposites wherever I look!

New *Harley-Davidsons*. Just the opposite of my featured image!

Did I get you thinking about all the opposites around you? Yet, so many had the same beginnings.

Thank you for visiting my take on opposites. Please leave me a comment!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #202 Minimalism/Maximalism

Sofia’s challenge is called Minimalism/Maximalism. It could also be Simplicity/Complexity or Sparce/Full. It’s up to me to show how I approach this challenge. I’ll have to think about this as I look over my library of photographs.

Life during the pandemic gave me time to think. Since I was home, as many of you were, I had time to look around my house. The idea of ‘Decluttering” and “Reimagining” space in our homes found its way into the media. Television, podcasts, and how to books popped up. I think I vacillate between the two. When I have my cleaning staff come to may house, I put away many things on my counters. The house is cleaned, and when I look around I have some satisfaction. But I still need some eye candy. On my new kitchen counter I place a Nixplay Frame. In the morning I turn it on, and throughout the day I am reminded of times in my life. l love my frame, and I am constantly adding new photographs. I also have some kind of silk flower arrangement, and two plants that require little water. Anything else makes my kitchen feel cluttered.

I ebb and flow between straightening out things, and letting life happen. But then the sentimental side shows up. I enjoy having things around that bring back good memories. Some items came from my parents house from when I was younger. Other items were given to me, and I remember the occasion. And other objects just seem to fit in a particular space.

My photography finds new ways to grow. Looking over my library I discovered that the coast is a great place to create minimalist photographs.

Taken on Florida’s beaches with my Nikon D70, my first dslr

Many of my photographs have a busy quality. One teacher criticized me for this. I just say that it is my artistic preference. Sometimes I like to let my eye wander.

Taken on a photo shoot to Bodie, Ca. with my class. This is an example of “arrested decay”.

More from a town frozen in time, Bodie, Ca.

In the following photographs I like to look for familiar things within. Pareidolia used to be seen as a mental illness, but now is considered normal creative thinking.