April 18, 2008

I've been wanting to do some night photography of some of the places around Placerville. I took this plus a couple of others, but next time I'm bringing my husband because it's a little creepy in Placerville on a weekday night after the sun goes down and the tourists leave.

We used to go to this place when we were kids. It's hard to believe it's still around.

April 17, 2008

My second assignment for my "Digital Wedding Photography" class over at Betterphoto.com was to invite a few friends over to the house, pour a little wine and pretend to be a wedding photographer at a Reception. My oldest son came over for dinner on Sunday and brought along a couple of friends, so I annoyed them thoroughly by capturing their every move. Here, my son relaxes outside with his best friend's girlfriend. I took a couple of other shots, but I'm not really happy with them.

Fortunately, I've got a possible new photo opportunity at a winery event this weekend.

April 13, 2008

I've signed up for another online class. This time I've chosen "Digital Wedding Photography" taught by Paul Gero at Betterphoto.com. I've taken some classes from Betterphoto.com before and have enjoyed them.

Why am I taking a wedding photo class? Some poor soul has asked me to photograph her very small (less than 20 people including me) wedding at Tahoe in June. Before I say yes, I probably should know something about it. Anyway, our first assignment was to take a pleasing photo in less than 20 minutes. The teacher says that rarely does a wedding photog have more than 20 minutes to do all the formal portraits of the wedding party. That's not much time, as I found out with this shot. Luckily I had planned it out before I forced my husband to pose for me yet again. (The cigar and cognac were an enticement to cooperate.)

PS. Don't even ask me about this stupid computer and why I still cannot comment on anyone's photos. Sigh.

April 8, 2008

Young's Winery

A local winery jumps into spring a little early. This winery has wonderful wine (a little on the expensive side for this area.) They also have the most beautiful setting and gardens. Many a wedding has been performed here.

PS. I am so frustrated with my security settings being mysteriously reset and I don't know enough about computer settings to change them back. I still can't comment on anyone else's photos, but I look at them every day. They are wonderful!

April 6. 2008

Our camera club was allowed to photograph the old and deteriorating Preston Castle in Ione, CA. It was originally built in 1864 as a home for wayward boys...otherwise known as a juvenile detention center...until 1960, when the state abandoned the building for new quarters for the boys. Now, the Preston Castle foundation is trying to raise money to bring the castle back to it's former glory. Our camera club had the place to ourselves and it was a photographer's dream with the ambient light streaming through dusty windows and everything in the place rusting, rotting and falling apart. What fun!

UPDATE:

For some reason my security settings changed overnight and I cannot make comments on anyone's photos...not even mine. So, I'll add the following:

I have some more photos of the place in my El Dorado Camera Club gallery.

Prior to this place being built, these boys (some of them as young as 7) were held at either San Quentin or Folsom prison. Much worse places. During it's heyday, this place taught the boys a trade so that when they were released they would have a job skill. The castle was also minimum security and it was a beautiful building. They had many amenities that the town boys didn't have available to them.

Merle Haggard apparently spent some time behind these walls.

April 4, 2008

Stars and stripes and stripes

April 2, 2008

This is one of the oldest wineries in California and it's not in Napa or Sonoma. It's in the small town of Placerville in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near my home. This is the original winery, which is still in use by the owners, but it is no longer open to the public. They've moved the tasting room to a newer building on the property.

March 31, 2008

My camera club visited a local hotspot called Daffodil Hill, which is near Sutter Creek, CA. The Daffs were in full bloom and it was a glorious spring day. The place didn't open until 10:00, which made the light a little dicey, but my camera club is not afraid of a challenge. This little girl's parents were taking a bunch of pictures of her and, as I was standing there watching, I decided to snap one myself.

March 23, 2008

I was asked to photograph the Easter happenings at church today, particularly the Easter Egg hunt that started at 11:00 in the morning with the sun blazing. All my outdoor photos had blinkies everywhere. What to do...what to do? Shoot everything anyway.

Maybe next year I can try to talk them into a sunset egg hunt. Lovely golden light...

Somehow I doubt they will buy it.

March 22, 2008

I took this yesterday on our way to dinner...my husband took me out to celebrate my birthday. I thought swingsets were appropriate to celebrate being another year older...and deeper in debt thanks to my photography hobby.

This photo was actually taken at an old one-room school house that is still in use as a community center.