July 2014 – Page 2 – Circadianreflections Blog

P52 29/52 Moon over San Jose, CA City Hall

July 14, 2014July 14, 2014Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Photography, TravelTagged Astro Photography, Cityscape, Moon, Night Photography, Project 52, San Jose California City Hall, San Jose California Nature Photographer4 Comments

I met my friend Alex downtown last night to shoot the Moon over City Hall’s Rotunda. City Hall is comprised of the Tower where the Mayor has an office on the top floor, the plaza, and the Rotunda which has council rooms, meeting rooms and a large space for events. The space and rooms in the Rotunda can be rented out for events such as weddings.

The Rotunda reminds me of an Observatory very much like those at Lick Observatory that sit high atop Mt. Hamilton which overlooks San Jose from the East side in the Diablo Range. Lick Observatory was the first permanently occupied mountain top astronomical observatory. Constructed between 1886-1887. I don’t know if that reference is what the architect (Richard Meier) had in mind when he designed the Rotunda though. I can’t find that information.

This new City Hall complex opened to the public in Oct. 2005, replacing the former City Hall complex civic center located on North First Street, which was used from 1958 until 2005. From 1889 to 1958 the city hall was located in what is now Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José.~Wiki-pedia

I shot the foreground then switched lenses then waited for the moon to rise above the mountains and buildings then I exposed for the Moon to make the second frame, finally in post development I blended the two frames together.

Nikon D700| Tripod
Frame 1- AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm @ 24mm
Frame 2- AF-D Nikkor 80-200mm @ 200mm

Made from Scratch

July 13, 2014July 13, 2014Posted in Food Photography, Photography, Tabletop PhotographyTagged Food Photography, From my kitchen, Homemade food, Italian food, Made from Scratch, Pizza, San Jose California Nature Photographer4 Comments

I made pizza from scratch yesterday; something I haven’t done in a while.

I made enough dough to roll out two pies. Both had fresh Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, but one had Kalamata Olives, and the other Black Olives for Baby Girl.

In the image above its ready for the oven. I had the pizza stone in the oven pre-heated; ready for the pie, but I forgot to pick up parchment paper at the store so the transfer from the baking sheet to the stone didn’t go smoothly. It ended up in a bit of a mess actually. It baked up fine. Just looked like a hot mess when it came out of the oven.

I didn’t take any photos of it don’t worry! 🙂

I did manage to cut a decent looking slice albeit slightly dinged at the tip.

It tasted great, and it was just as good cold this morning for breakfast.

The dough is a basic recipe, and uber simple. I used Lidia Matticchio Bastianich’s recipe. (Lidia’s Italy in America)

Makes two pies or a lot of Calzones 🙂

6 cups of all-purpose flour

1 package of active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Olive Oil for the bowl

2 cups warm water (90ºF to 110ºF)

I used my electric stand mixer to make my dough.

Pour two cups of warm water into a bowl. Stir in the yeast and sugar until dissolved; let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Combine the yeast mixture with flour, and salt in the mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together. Switch to your dough-hook attachment. Increase the speed to medium-high, and mix until the dough comes together into a smooth mass, approx. 2-3 minutes. The dough will not clear the sides of the work bowl at this point, but should not be too wet. Add a little water or flour as necessary to get the right consistency.

Scrap the dough onto a floured work surface and knead several times, until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.

Oil a large bowl, then turn the dough into the bowl until it is coated with oil. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in size about 1-1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough, divide in half, and let rise again.

Add your favorite marinara sauce and toppings, bake at 425ºF for 11-20 minutes, let stand a few minutes and serve.

Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm| SB910 and SB600 speedlights

Palace of Fine Arts- San Francisco

July 12, 2014Posted in California, Photography, TravelTagged "Blue Period", After Dark Photography, Fine Art, Palace of Fine Arts, Reflections, San Francisco California, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Twilight3 Comments

I rose at 3AM this morning to head up to San Francisco to make some images. I was hoping for pockets in the fog to see the Moonset, or have thick fog in the bay so I might get the fog/ Golden Gate Bridge image I have in my head, but I struck out on both counts this morning. I couldn’t see the moon anywhere, and the pocket in the fog was in the bay with no fog at all on Golden Gate Bridge.

Trying to make lemonade out of lemons I made this image. I’ve shot this location several times both at night and in the daylight, but not in the “Blue period” so, at least it’s a bit different from the images I’ve made before.

I need a nap. I hope you have a wonderful week-end! 🙂

P52 28/52 To make a prairie…

July 8, 2014July 8, 2014Posted in DEDPXL, Flowers, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, WildflowersTagged #dedpxl04, Bees, Get Low, Insects, Macro photography, Nature, Perspective, Project 52, San Jose California Nature Photographer, White Clover, Wildflowers4 Comments

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
~Emilly Dickinson

Image taken laying on my belly in my front yard at the beginning of evening Golden Hour. The clover is popping up in patches here and there…I sometimes think we should let it take over. Though most consider it a weed, and blight on the lawn (He-Man included) I like it!

Addendum: Woo-whoo! I’ve passed the halfway mark of my Project 52! It’s actually gone by pretty fast.

Nikon D300s| AF-D Nikkor 105mm @f9 + Kenko 20mm extension tube| Hand-held

Dahlias from the garden

July 6, 2014July 6, 2014Posted in Fine Art, Flowers, Macro Photography, NatureTagged Bokeh, Dahlias, Flowers, From the Garden, Macro photography, San Jose California Nature PhotographerLeave a comment

Here are few macros I’ve made of the Dahlias growing in my backyard. This one is a Pom-pom Dahlia.

Nikon D700| AF-D Nikkor 105mm micro| Hand-held

This one I used my 20mm Kenko extension tube, and a Hoya Soft Filter on my Macro lens

This yellow Dahlia I photographed using my AF-S 50mm f1.8g lens

…and one more Pom-pom Dahlia. I’ve had a lot of fun photographing these this Spring/Summer. Unfortunately, the blossoms are getting smaller, and smaller on this plant.

I think I’m ready to try growing Plate size Dahlias and Peony’s next year.

Nikon D700, D300s, Nikkor AF-D 105mm micro lens, Kenko Extension Tubes, Hoya Soft Filter (B)

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake pt II

July 4, 2014December 10, 2014Posted in Food Photography, Photography, Tabletop PhotographyTagged Bundt Cake, Cakes, Chocolate, Desserts, Food Photography, Off camera flash, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Strobist5 Comments

The finished cake glazed, and topped with chopped almonds.

…this cake is so moist, rich, and delicious! The crumb is lovely. It won’t last the week-end!

I hope you have a great week-end!

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8| Nikon SB600

Addendum: The recipe for the cake is from Taste of Home you can get it here

Notes: After spraying the Bundt or Flute pan with non-stick cooking spray I dusted my Bundt pan with unsweetened Cocoa Powder instead of flour. This keeps the cake from having white flour on the crust.

To make the Chocolate Sauce I melted 1.5 cups of Dark Chocolate Chips with 2-3 Tablespoons of milk then drizzled over the completely cooled cake letting it drip down the sides of the cake. Add chopped nuts if you like. Enjoy!

P52 27/52 Chocolate chocolate chip Bundt Cake

July 4, 2014December 9, 2014Posted in Food Photography, Photography, Project 52-2014Tagged baking, Bundt Cakes, Chocolate, Food Photography, home-made cakes, Photography, Project 52, San Jose California Nature Photographer7 Comments

Busy morning bakin’. Just waiting for this super rich, moist cake to cool before glazing with a semisweet chocolate sauce.

Miam, miam!

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G| SB600 camera left low @ 1/4pwr

Addendum: Melissa of http://melissabluefineart.wordpress.com/ is craving a good chocolate cake and asked for the recipe, so for you Chere Melissa here’s the recipe.

This is a recipe from Taste of Home- Ultimate Chocolate Cake

I made the chocolate sauce by melting 1.5 cups chocolate chips with a 2-3 tablespoons of milk. Drizzle over the cake when completely cooled letting it run down the sides of the cake. Enjoy!

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: