Photo - Digital art photo created from an out-of-focus original photograph
I'm not a wildlife photographer per se, but when an opportunity presents itself like it did here, I'd be a fool not to try to capture it.
[click to continue…]
Photo - Digital art photo created from an out-of-focus original photograph
I'm not a wildlife photographer per se, but when an opportunity presents itself like it did here, I'd be a fool not to try to capture it.
[click to continue…] 
Photo - Digital art photo created from an original photograph
Last week, I posted the photo above and had viewers guess how it was created. Thank you, Richard Wong, for your participation in the guessing game. Thanks also to all of you that studied it, but decided not to participate.
Here is how it was shot
It had been raining for several hours. After it stopped, I went out to the deck to dump the water out of the chairs. You know, the really popular outdoor folding chairs almost everyone has? Fortunately, I looked at the puddle that had collected in the chair before dumping it. Floating in the puddle were these beautiful Oak leaves and the lighting was just right. I went and got my camera and took a series of shots before dumping the chair. Â
This is how it was processed in PhotoShopÂ
Step 1 - Image Adjustment
Step 2 - Selected Hue/Saturation
Step 3 - In edit, changed the setting from master to blue.Â
Step 4 - Gave it a +70 in saturation.Â
Step 5 - Selected Filters
Step 6 - Selected Poster Edges
Now that the cat is out of the bag, how many of you had it right all along? 
Photo - Digital art photo of Oak leaves in Auburn, CA, created from an original photograph
This photo was shot on my deck right after a nice, long, rain.
Any guesses as to how it was created? I'd love to hear from you. I will keep you guessing for a few days, before I reveal the details.
Have fun! 
Photo - Mural of Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race Participants Â
The first annual Endurance Expo is happening today in Auburn, CA. You can read all about it here. 
Photo - Fall colors along the middle fork of the American River, Auburn, CA
We don't get the fall colors here in the Sierra Foothills like other parts of the country do. But, it's still beautiful just the same. It's just a different kind of beautiful!Â
 
Â
Photo - Peg Challender kayaking at Lake Clementine, Auburn, CAÂ
We have just added new kayaking images to our galleries. The photo featured above is one of the new images now available in our Kayaking Stock Photo Gallery. They can be licensed as high-resolution, rights-managed images, or ordered as prints.
Â
Photo - Old truck in rural Auburn, CA
A few weeks back, I posted a photo tip titled "Shoot it before it's too late!" Since that post, I have been following my own advice and making it a priority to shoot the subjects I've wanted to shoot for a long time, but have taken for granted and assumed they would always be around. I have also been shooting subjects that I know will never be the same again, such as the baby goat in the photo below. He is growing daily!
Photo - "Peter" is one of 3 baby goats next door.
The photos above "The Old and the Young" both taken in my neighborhood, are examples of recent subjects I have captured before it's too late! 
Photo - couple canoeing on Lake Clementine, Auburn, CAÂ
Try paddling Lake Clementine. It's great for canoeing and kayaking. It's mostly flatwater, with a few rapids at the upper end where the North Fork of the American River flows into the lake. The water is very warm during the summer months and there are several sandy beaches along the shoreline. So, pack a picnic lunch, load up the boats and head for one of the best paddling lakes in the area!Â
Getting There:
Lake Clementine is located off the Auburn-Foresthill Road, approximately two miles from Auburn. From I-80 in Auburn, exit at Foresthill, drive 3.5 miles on Foresthill Road, turn left onto Lake Clementine Road. It's about 2 miles down to the boat dock, via a paved road. You can also access the lake at the upper end, by driving a little further up on Foresthill Road, turning left and driving about 2 miles, via a dirt road. The dirt road is bumpy in places, but most vehicles can make it just fine.  I prefer to enter the lake from the upper end. This way you avoid most of the speed boats and it's by far the prettiest part of the lake.Â
For more information:
Click here  for more information on Lake Clementine.
The image above is available for purchase as a fine art print, or for licensing as a high-resolution, rights-managed image in our Auburn Stock Photo Gallery.
Check back often to see what's new. We will be adding new Auburn images on a regular basis, as well as more blog posts on recreating in the Auburn area. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions about Lake Clementine. You do not need to register or login to comment on this blog!
Â
Photo by Peg Challender - Sherri and dog Cocoa, near Auburn, CA
I was looking through my photos for an image that would illustrate balance. I came upon this one of my dog and I walking accross a log in a rural pond near Auburn, CA .
That wasn't an easy task, nor is trying to balance my life right now. I, like most people have to juggle many things and it seems things get out of balance so easily. If I spend too much time on business, then the house falls apart. If I spend too much time on the house, the business falls apart. If I spend too much time on the business and the house, the yard falls apart and the list goes on. You get the picture right?
That's why I haven't been blogging for a few days. I was spending way too much time on the computer and not near enough in other areas of my life. After spending a few days catching up on yardwork, housework, visiting with family and friends, I'm now back to blogging!
If anyone has a recipe for balancing your life, I'd love to hear from you! You do not need to register or login to comment on this blog.
Are you planning on traveling to Auburn for this big event? If you are looking for other things to do while in the area, visit our Auburn Resource links for information on the area. There is lot's to do here. If you like to hike, bike, run, whitewater raft, antique shop, pan for gold, canoe, kayak or hang out at the American River to name just a few, then you may just want to plan your summer vacation around the Western States 100.
If you would like to order fine art prints of the Auburn area, please visit our Auburn Gallery. We will be adding photos to this gallery on a regular basis, so please check back often.
