circadianreflections

” The moving moon went up the sky, And nowhere did abide; Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside.” ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

July 30, 2010Posted in Uncategorized1 Comment

" The moving moon went up the sky, And nowhere did abide; Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside." ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004.

Moon Rise
San Juan Bautista
Mission Plaza Garden
Night Shot
Praising Man
Olive Tree
Quotes

This may be the only shot worth saving out of 200+ frames for star trails. My intervelometer fell apart so I was shooting with only the basic remote release cable and keeping my exposures at 30s. I’m not sure I have enough star detail to get decent trails.
This shot was a bonus. The moon came up and looked fantastic under the olive branch with the Praising man statue just there.
It was a beautiful evening spent in a garden with friends.

Nikon D90
Nikkor 18-200mm VR

An Outdoor Café

July 29, 2010July 29, 2010Posted in hikes, Landscapes, Nikon, TravelTagged East Bay Regional Parks, Eastern Sierras, Montana, Mountains; Fresh air;, Outdoors, USA, Wildflowers1 Comment

Reynolds Mountain- Glacier National Park

Wild Blue-Pod Lupine- McGuire Peak

Olmstead Pt- Yosemite National Park

I hope you enjoy the view!

A Predawn Hike

July 28, 2010July 28, 2010Posted in California, hikes, NikonTagged Dawn, Fremont CA, Santa Clara Valley1 Comment

This morning I met some fellow Night Photographers for a Sunrise Hike up to Mission Peak in Fremont,CA.

A last minute change of plans to start at a different trail head took us to Peak Trail Loop. We started up at 4:50AM a bit late. We start the climb at 500ft. The Peak is just 3 short miles up and Peaks at 2517ft.

The group moved a lot faster than I did. I wasn’t going to make the Peak before sunrise so I decide to grab a shot during morning twilight or my favorite “blue period” just before dawn. This was taken just above bench #3.

I made it up to Bench #4 and took one last shot of the valley below in the dawning light. I think I’m at about 2400 ft. here. The morning was foggy, damp, and overcast as you see. This is our typical Summer pattern here in the Bay Area. Although it’s cooler than normal.

From here I headed back down to a hot cup of tea, and breakfast. I will hike this trail again and perhaps go all the way to the top next time.

On the Mission Trail

July 27, 2010July 27, 2010Posted in California, Nikon, TravelTagged California Missions, El Camino Real5 Comments

My local power company shut down the power in the neighborhood to replace transformers and repair the lines. So I thought it a great time to go explore two Missions I spotted along Hwy 101 while driving down to visit my son that I didn’t have time to stop and visit then.
I called two friends to see if they were free to join me. I was in luck. We had a lovely day with a picnic lunch here, and fit in 3 Missions not 2!

What the information below doesn’t tell you about this Mission is that it is surrounded by a Military Base and you use their road to get to the Mission. We were told we would need all sorts of ID and proof of vehicle ownership to get to the Mission, but as it turned out they’ve changed the check point so the turn off to the Mission is just before you need to show all your ID. You do pass right through their training grounds though. It’s interesting to see in itself!
Nikon D300s and Nikon D90
Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S
Nikkor 70-300mm AF-S VR

© Copyright 2010 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
For the historians:
Mission San Antonio De Padua
Located on eighty pristine acres on what was once the Milpitas unit of the sprawling Hearst Ranch, Mission San Antonio de Padua sits within the “Valley of the Oaks” on California’s scenic Central Coast.
The rugged Santa Lucia mountains backdrop this historic mission, where ancient oak trees, their branches dangling webs of Spanish moss, frame the fully restored adobe buildings which include the Church, museum, cloister, fragrant peristyle garden and outbuildings.
Founded as California’s third mission in 1771, it has been said that of all the California missions, San Antonio de Padua is the only one that would be recognizable today to its founder Blessed Junipero Serra. Mission San Antonio de Padua sits upon holy ground, virtually unchanged for more than two centuries.
The mission and its environs have been truly blessed by its secluded location. Offering visitors a true “look back in time” Mission San Antonio de Padua rewards travelers with peace and tranquility far from the hustle and bustle of our modern world and everyday lives.
Come, experience California as it used to be…

~ Mission San Antonio de Padua

A gallery of all 21 photos of this mission is located here:

Ice Café

July 26, 2010July 26, 2010Posted in Nikon, TravelTagged cruise, DSLR, Ice skating, Nikkor 35 f/2, Nikon D90, Prime lensesLeave a comment

Someone on a forum I’m in wanted to know how well the Nikkor 35mm f/2 performed in low light with moving subjects. They had taking photos of their children in their home in mind.

I have that lens, and have found it to perform quite well for me in low light. One such time was last Christmas while on a cruise. I had the pleasure of catching the Royal Caribbean Ice Skating show. Armed with my Nikon D90 and 35mm f/2 from the 4th row I managed to get quite a lot of good shots using only ambient light. The lens didn’t hunt, and found focus fast, and my D90 performed quite well too. For ISO 1250 there is very little noise.

This little lens is a gem. It does cost more than the new 35mm f/1.8, but the f/2 version is FX or DX, and has a metal mount. If you even think you’ll be adding a Full Frame camera to your kit in the future get the f/2 version.

35mm, f2, 1/500s, ISO 1250, Shutter Priority

35mm, f/2, 1/1000s, ISO 1250, Shutter Priority

Photowalk Experience

July 25, 2010July 25, 2010Posted in California, NikonTagged "Worldwide Photowalk" "Scott Kelby" "Campbell CA2 Comments

Yesterday was the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. I participated last year and wanted to do it again this year. I switched locations at the last minute- opting for one closer to home.

The city closer to home was Campbell, CA. A little town in West San Jose. For a little Campbell history go here:

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/AboutCampbell/index.htm

Here are a few shots from the Photowalk.

A little gallery of 11 shots in all can be found here: (probably best viewed in slide show) 😀

Nikon D300s

Nikon D90

Nikkor 17-35mm AF-S f/2.8

Nikkor 80-200mm AF-D f/2.8

In the Shadow of the Clouds

July 24, 2010Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

In the Shadow of the Clouds, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004.

Glacier National Park
Hidden Lake Nature Trail
Logan Pass
Montana
USA
Hidden Lake

I can’t remember now if this spot is on the ledge that I shot the Mt. Goats from or if it’s up a bit further on the overlook.
The view is awesome. It’s a huge valley and I hope you get a sense of how huge those mountains are.

PP- mid-tone curve adjustment, recovery, vibrance, clarity, resized, and sharpened a bit, and I boosted the green a little bit. This was a NEF file. I like the colors of the JPEGs so much more!

Nikon D90
Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S @ 35mm, f16, ISO 200, 1/40s, Aperture Priority

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