Lens-Artists Challenge #279 Magical

This week Ann-Christine asks, “Magical – I wonder…what is magical to you?” According to Wikipedia, Magical can mean: “…beautiful or delightful in a way that seems removed from everyday life. ”

A game of dreidel is played during Chanukah. 4 sides of the spinning top have hebrew letters that represent, “A great miracle happened there!”

The menorah represents 8 Days of Chanukah

In this time of war it is also important to remember the Ukrainian people who are standing up for the right of their country to exist against the odds. Their fight keeps the war contained to that region.

Last week I lost my Aunt Elsa. She died in Boca Raton, Florida at 99 1/2 years. Elsa leaves two children and many, many grandchildren. She was the last of the previous generation. A Holocaust survivor born in Lodz, Poland. Despite the horrors that she experienced at the hands of the Nazis she remained a quiet, kind, sweet, and optimistic person. Much of the family lives in Israel. I will miss her.

I am saddened that the world has forgotten the history of 75 years ago. My parents carried their trauma of surviving Nazi concentration camps before restarting a life in New York after World War II. I also feel it in my bones. Being aware of what trauma does to those who survive I see no winners in war. My first cousin (1 generation removed) from Holon, Israel spoke to a Sacramento, Ca. congregation last week. She spoke about a yearning for peace in the region.

Maybe in the coming year 2024, a miracle or some magic can happen to bring about peace for all!

Lens-Artists Challenge #258 Fences

Post Delayed

The coast has been calling my name, and after some last-minute changes, we headed off to our favorite spot, Pacific Grove, Ca. Carly’s kennel developed Kennel Cough. I needed to make new plans. Moxie’s mom, dad, and 10-month-old brother live across the street. My neighbor was happy to have her visit. I didn’t realize that there were also 9 four week old siblings added to the family. Lots to keep her distracted. Not to mention the two cats who just accepted her as part of the pack. Another new experience. Wonderful videos and photos throughout my vacation made me feel comfortable leaving my girl. Now that I am back I have plans to photograph these pups.

Dawn Miller of “The Day After” leads the challenge and the subject is fences. While I have always been drawn to this subject, this was on my mind this week away.

Historic Fence

The San Andreas Fault defines the North American and Pacific plate movement. In 1906 Point Reyes experienced the most dramatic land shift to date. The original fence was split apart 16 feet. The National Park Service reconstructed this fence to demonstrate this.

Fence demonstrates how much the earth shifted
in 1906 San Francisco earthquake

Decorative Fences

If you need a fence it might as well be interesting!

Animals and Fences

Posted Signs on Fences

Flowers along the fence

Useful Fences

Not worried about anyone escaping here.
Trying to keep people out of Sacramento Historic Cemetery for safety.
There are many downed trees from this winter’s rain.

Rural Fences

All theses fences were taken in Northern California

Coastal Fences

Shadows and Leading Lines

That’s all for today. Fences can define a space, contain things, and be creative backdrops. Any particular fence appeal to you?

Lens-Artists Challenge #254 Spiritual Places

This week Tina from Travels and Trifles creates a Lens-Artists challenge focused on Spiritual Places. While many associate spirituality with religion, the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things”, a much wider interpretation.

While photographing buildings, I inevitably find myself in front of a religious site. It may be a church, temple, or synagogue. There is a quietness to these places. Some may call this respectfulness.

One place that gives me a sense of peacefulness is located in Grass Valley. Ananda Village and Crystal Hermitage Garden exude calm.

Many visitors enjoy the tulips in the spring.

Churches

Churches that started as a different building, and churches that have been repurposed.

On the main street in Zionsville, Indiana this Methodist Church transformed into an art gallery. It sits vacant and is looking for a new purpose.

Congregation Beth Shalom in Marysville, California. This building was once a boarding house. It is now making another change.

Abandoned Religious Building

Stain Glass and Beauty

St. Peteter’s Chapel in Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo California.

Sikh Temple

Buddhist Temple

Memorial Sites

Cemetery

I end at the gravesite of my parents. They both are Holocaust Survivors.

My brother pays respect to my parents. There are no markers for my family from Poland for at least 3 generations due to World War II.

Many ask why stones and not flowers are left at Jewish graves. Upon researching this I found that there are many plausible explanations for this tradition. I would like to think of the remembrance of those who come before me.

Lens-Artists Challenge #253 Fragments

Brian said “What has been happening recently is a bit of fragmentation around the world, a disconnect. But we always have been made up of pieces.” He wants to see some of my fragments photographically.

Forgotten History

Bodie Historic State Park in California is a photographer’s dream location for fragments of history. Located in the Eastern Sierra Mountains it now is a historic ghost town. Left as it was.

An outside look. Here I tried some photo editing. HDR, Adobe Photoshop, some B&W