Lens-Artists – A Photo's Worth

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.

Looking up

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.

Subway and theatre tickets. This time we saw *Chicago*

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.

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 #215 Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…and the places they take us

Johnbo (Journeys with Johnbo) asks me to share images that focus on my journeys. It’s all about the journey for this week’s challenge.

During my high school years, I experienced a lot of travel. At fifteen my family moved from New York to Karachi, Pakistan. That was the first time flying above the clouds. I caught the travel bug, but it did not stick. I have been in California for the past 44 years. New York, Florida, Indiana, Hawaii, and Washington have been my destinations. About six years ago my husband and I got passports but still have now used them. Recently, I reconnected with my Israeli relatives, and we are talking about making it our first destination next year.

Let’s start with planes. Family trips to Florida and Indiana and southern California, travel to New York City and upstate New York, vacations in Seattle, Washington, and many of Hawaii’s Islands. That’s about the extent of my air travel.

Traveling over the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Looking at water transportation. Only one sunset cruise that had my husband bowing to the porcelain god. Not much fun for him. So I don’t think a cruise is in my future.

I liked the quiet, simple feeling this photo gives me. It reminds me of my camp days.

Sunset and whale watching cruise in Maui

Now the automobile is the way we travel. My son recently bought an electric car, and I am seriously thinking that may be in our future.

Worth the drive up very narrow roads in Maui! Julie’s Best Banana Bread

Took my 10-year-old granddaughter to Disneyland. She now drives her own car
10 years later!

My parent’s first new car was a Gold and white 1957 Plymouth with tail fins. Driving it in Karachi, Pakistan we stood out among all the Chevys.

My current car is Subi Blue – a Subaru Outback 2017

Not a lot of stories, but I hope you enjoyed the photos. It is very hot here and so I will sign off quickly to save electricity. Rolling power outages are possible.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #214 Favorite Finds

Anne-Christine is the host this week. She challenges me to find something surprising in my archive of photographs. She is sure I have something hidden in my archives that once surprised me or filled me with awe… I hope you enjoy my finds this week! And, perhaps the story that goes with it.

This is not an easy challenge, and with all that is going on around me, I need to make some quick decisions. Shall I go with the natural world? Shall I look to look to my collection that tells a story (ie: street photography and candids)? Shall I look at my many photos of household items? Public art? Hmmm?

Decision made. I will combine my collection that tells a story with public art. The 32nd Annual Chalk It Up! Chalk Art & Music Festival this Labor Day Weekend! I have attended this event and these images of the people and their art were taken then. I’m hoping to get down to Fremont Park this very hot weekend.