Category: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge

Lens-Artists #286 Weather

Anne from Slow Shutter Speed challenges me to think about the weather conditions in which we photographers find ourselves pursuing our hobby or vocation.

My cover photo of leaves forming a heart shape is a nod to Valentine’s Day. It was taken on the lake formed in front of my house one winter day.

Charlie was my Australian Labradoodle’s first and only trip to the snow. He enjoyed it thoroughly. I still have some time left this winter to let Moxie experience snow.

Visiting Lake Tahoe for the snow experience
The occasional icy morning
Less-than-fun snow in New York City

Northern California sometimes has more than enough rain at one time. At that time I grab a camera and document. My last house was the low point of the street. It took a while to get a repair done so that water would drain quickly in front of my house.

My lakefront property
Puddle captures reflection
Raindrops
If there is water and puddles you find a
Labrador Retriever and a Golden Doodle having fun
Determined fishermen in the morning winter fog
After a rain look for a rainbow and grab the camera
Summer lightning storm (without rain) captured from the Tower Bridge!

Quick post this time. I hope that whatever weather you are experiencing you can appreciate!

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 #281 Favorites of 2023

The first week of 2024 is over. I look at this year with goals in mind, and wonder how to fit everything in everything. Starting with a positive attitude, I will continue to meet each week’s photo challenges. Capturing new images with my photo friends. When the computer screen gets too tiring for my eyes, I switch to my new endeavor – quilting. Back at the computer, my genealogy quest has surprised me. I connected with relatives living near Tel Aviv, Israel, London, England, and New Hampshire, U.S.A.

New York City

One World Trade Center Memorial
The Met
The Lucerne
Katz’s
Zabars
Definitely, not Trump
Highlights from our trip back to New York City in March

I have passed this Banksy many times, but just now I discovered the background history.

Banksy on West 79th Street

Yolo County

A short drive down I 80 brings my photo friends to Yolo County and plenty of picture-taking opportunities. We visited various farms on Yolo Arts & Ag Days. A real treasure we waited for was our visit to Glashoff Sculpture Ranch. Amazing! Certainly will try and revisit it!

Glashoff Sculpture Garden
Glashoff Sculpture Garden
Getting in the photo

Sacramento Zoo and Local Critters

Family Outings

Ogden Alpaca Farm in Orangevale with my four grandsons

Roseville Big Trucks with my youngest grandson

Out and about with my photo friends

Traveling east to Placerville

Store Front reminds me of my librarian days
Some portraits of shopkeepers in Placerville

Just having fun being out with friends in Old Sacramento, Bushnell Nursery, Crocker Art Museum, Folsom Farmer’s Market, and a nighttime

My friend Anne
Crocker Art Museum
Tea is served

Me and my Moxie Love

Walking around Oak Park in Orangevale

Moxie is waiting to see what the new year holds for us.

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. ”

The feeling of creating magic!

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.

Standing up with strength

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!