Group of teens hanging out on the dock at Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, California.
Sherri and Cocoa sitting on the end of the dock, Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, California.
This past Sunday, Jeff & I headed for Sugar Pine Reservoir to do a little kayaking, hiking and photographing. During our lunch break, I looked to the sky and the scene in the photo below is what I saw. I've seen a lot of vapor trails in my life, but none that have caught my attention like this one! I was able to quickly get my camera and capture several photos of it before it dissipated. I guess you could say that I was at the "right place at the right time!"
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Photo - Sherri taking her first spin on a quadrunner, Cabo San Lucas, Baja, CA
 
Photo - Jeff is in his element! I think I'll stick to photography!
We are busy working on our photos from our recent trip to Cabo. We went mainly to celebrate our 25th anniversary, but bringing home photos to add to our stock files, was also on the agenda. We will be uploading Cabo San Lucas photos to our galleries in a few days. Here is a partial list of subjects we will have available for licensing and print orders.
- Adventure -Â riding quadrunners on the beach, horseback riding on the beach, sunset dinner cruiseÂ
- Town shots - tourists, restaurants, transportation, native plants
- Beach scenes - local vendors, people enjoying the beach, wildlife
- Hotels and marinas
- Scenics - "El Arco" at Lands End
Our annual camp out is coming up. We have decided to return to Lake Faucherie in the Sierras, where Jeff & I did a "scouting" trip last summer and took a few pics. This time we plan to spend a few days in the area and bring back several memory cards full of photos. A few of our friends will join us for another great time of adventure, laughter, eating, drinking, relaxing and more.
Here are some pics from our scouting trip last year.
 
Photo - Sherri at one of the many beautiful waterfalls at Faucherie
Photo - Jeff & Cocoa heading back toward the lake
 
Photo - Sherri & Cocoa enjoy the pool below the waterfall featured in the photo above
We will be adding many images from our upcoming trip to our galleries later this summer. Check back often to see what's new and what's coming soon!
Photo - Sherri at one of the many beautiful waterfalls at Faucherie
Photo - Jeff & Cocoa heading back toward the lake
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Photo - Sherri & Cocoa enjoy the pool below the waterfall featured in the photo above
We will be adding many images from our upcoming trip to our galleries later this summer. Check back often to see what's new and what's coming soon! 
Photo #1 - Tundra with kayaks, Alpine County, CA. This photo was shot at 1/15 sec as the Tundra was moving.
Photo #2 - Bougainvilleas, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California. This photo was shot at 1/5 sec. I also fired my flash.
- You can use either a stationary or a moving subject.
- You need to use a slow shutter speed (1/15 sec or slower works best). You will need to use a low ISO, unless you are working under really low light. Try adding either a polarizer or a neutral density filter to let less light in when not working under low light, which will let you use a slower shutter speed.
- This is a great technique to use when there is not adequate light to capture a standard image.
- A flash can also be used while zooming.
- Keep your camera as still as possible. A tripod is recommended, althought I rarely use one for this.
- Experiment with different shutter speeds and lenses for different effects.
- During your zoom, try to zoom in or out as smoothly as possible for the best results.
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Photo - Jeff and Cocoa kayaking Lake Faucherie, Sierras, CAÂ
Last week we added a few new Kayaking Stock Photos to our kayaking gallery. The photo above is one of them. My husband and our dog are kayaking on "Dog Friendly" Lake Faucherie, a beautiful, serene lake in the Sierras.
Most people we talk to can't believe that we can actually fit our 80 lb. Aussie/Chocolate Lab dog in our boat with us, much less paddle. It's not easy,but it can be done as you can see here in this photo. I took a series of the two of them and this is one of my favorites.
This photo is available for purchase in our Kayaking Stock Photo Gallery. 
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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.
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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!
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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.
