Lens-Artists Challenge #276 Filling the Frame

Anne from Slow Shutter Speed challenge me this week. “When you want your subject to stand out, fill the frame! When you fill the frame with your subject, you eliminate various background distractions. The viewer’s eyes have nowhere to wander. Their attention is where you want it.”

Looking at my library, I decided to concentrate on my food images. I noticed that I have many, many images taken at local farmer’s markets over the years. And the produce does not change all that much. I have enough images of gourds, pumpkins, and peppers. I think I may need to move on to other venues.

The following photographs were not cropped in. I saw my subject and took the photograph.

Lettuce from the Berkeley Farmer’s Market
Red, ripe strawberries
I liked the multi colored lollypops
Smiley faces

In one of my early photoshop classes, I was told to replicate an art piece. I needed the head of a fish, a lipstick and a fence. The last two were easy to obtain, but where was I going to get a fish head. Well, I called up a local supermarket, and spoke to to fish department. And he obliged me with this perfect looking fish. Thank you “Bel Air”. The photograph was so strange that after getting all the items assembled I decided to drop the class and focus on things that were more appealing to me. I just couldn’t see having this fellow stare down from my wall.

What do you think this fish was about to say?
Pickles of all varieties served at Katz’s Deli in New York City.

A long time ago, my son read a magazine that always had a group of photographs that filled the frame so well that it asked us to try and figure out what the image was?

Can you guess what this is?

I hope that I fufilled the challenge and fill the frame.

Now to get busy with the upcoming holiday preparations for Thanksgiving. Being mindful of what I have to be thankful for, and how I can share this feeling.

Lens-Artists Challenge #272 Billboards & Signs

John of Journeys with Johnbo gives me a change to show off my many photographs of signs I have captured over the years. I am always on the lookout for signage. Warnings, information, irony, historic signs, hysterical signs and political signs.

Funny Signs

What does this mean?
I see the sign, but where is the fire hydrant?
Downieville – welcomes you!
Stopped at a vista point off the freeway, and saw this sign.
Right you are!
I don’t understand?

Warnings

Don’t blame Jimmy Beans

A caution to all photographers. A very sad story of a local photographer who was killed while photographing trains. I looked up the story, and to my surprise I saw that tragedy has struck numerous times. BE CAREFUL!

Photographers take heed.

Information: You need to know

Now you know
Good to know.

Hope this information helped her.

Placed in a car window

Bathroom Instructions

Nooooo!

Bumper Stickers & Tee Shirts

Batten down the hatches!
Something to think about while you tailgate this auto.
Town spirit!
I agree

Ending with thoughts of peace

With the correct vision
Katz’s Deli -The owners sent food to their sons fighting in WWII
Ben & Jerry’s in Napa, Ca

Love, love, love 
Love, love, love 
Love, love, love 
There’s nothin’ you can do that can’t be done… John Lennon / Paul McCartney

Love is all you need.

Lens-Artists Challenge #240 The road (most often) taken

John set up this week’s metaphoric theme “The Road taken” – and not about a physical road. For this week’s challenge, he wants me to think of my favorite type or style of photography as the road I’ve chosen to take most often. 

I just returned from a CoVid delayed 8-day trip to New York City. Our last trip occurred in February 2014. We visited in the same season, but CoVid created many changes in the city. Last time I took most of my photographs using my Olympus OMD camera. I have since switched to the Fuji xt4, and I only brought my 18-55 lens. The cold weather dictated many indoor activities, and I found myself using my Apple iPhone 13 pro.

Looking up at the Empire State Building

I visited The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) specifically to view Berenice Abbott’s New York Album 1929. Eugène Atget, a French photographer influenced her, and when I looked at all the photographs I saw my “road”. My catalog includes similar images to those taken by Etget and Abbott. Street scenes, people, and animals capture my interest.

When I go anywhere, I document. I focus on a different or unusual way to see what is there.

Looking down from Zabar’s on Broadway and 80th Street
What kind of cheese are you interested in buying?
Line forming outside of Katz’s Deli. “I’ll have what she’s having!”
Going every which way at The Oculus.
Grand Central Station

Environmental Portraits that tell a story.

Street Musicians in New York City

The American Museum of Natural History
The Lucerne

Animals I meet along the way

I met Louise on a subway in N.Y.C.

My road documents many of the people, places, and animals I meet along the way. Hope you enjoyed the road I have traveled! Let me know.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #216 Urban Environments

This week Sophia’s challenges me to see how I view any urban environments I come across, either by visiting as a tourist or the place I live in. What makes that city or town special and how do I capture it?

Sometimes you come back from a vacation and you don’t take the time to look at your images. This challenge gave me the opportunity to review a trip to New York City in February 2014. I can tell that it was cold and damp. Snow delayed our arrival by one day.

Most of the snow had hardened into ice mounds. Lots of people moving quickly.

Stuck for a while
The day after Valentine’s Day

Looking up

Buildings of all shapes and sizes

We planned to visit the Empire State Building but the Security Guard advised us to come back another day. The clouds would just obscure the view. So we headed to B&H. For this trip, I used my Olympus OMD. I have since moved to a Fuji setup.

Warming up and thinking about future purchases.

When the weather doesn’t cooperate, New York City does not disappoint. I had never been to the Guggenheim Museum and I always visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Empire State Building

Food is everywhere. Katz’s Deli, made famous with the saying, “Senda Salami to your boy in the Army”, The Seinfeld scene, “I’ll have what she’s having!”

So many famous sites

I grew up in Nassau County, but when I go back to visit I like to stay in Manhattan. My husband and I had planned a vacation back to NYC in March 2020. Our actual arrival date was March 10th. Well, on March 11th the whole city shut down. Subways and Broadway stopped by CoVid. The pandemic was gaining traction.

Glad I decided to cancel our vacation. We still have the airline ticket credit.

This post is a bit delayed. The smoke from the Mosquito fire triggered an ongoing asthma attack. All the coughing has added to my dog Moxie’s unsettling behavior. No exercise, and listening to me all day. But I couldn’t let the challenge of showing you the urban city I love.