“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
Travelerette at the Casting Pool, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Watching these men and women is a bit hypnotic. The arm motion and line is so fluid, and I think graceful.
I created Travelerette at the Lego store in town to go with the Traveler, but he was napping at the time of this photo op. 🙂
Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 24-70g| Hand-held
“Parker” White and Rose Gold watch by Michael Kors, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
This was bit challenging getting the white of the watch to separate from the background, and I had a hotspot from my Speedlight which I cloned out. I need to learn how to use flags to prevent Hotspots and unwanted reflections. I’ll be experimenting and practicing with flags as soon as I make/acquired some.
Nikon D700| AF 85mm f1.4 @ f4| 1/160sec| ISO 400| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Hand-held
Strobist, 1 SB910 @ 1/64th pwr camera left close to subject for Key-Rim light, triggered via Commander Mode
1 Eiko 4800K bulb in Shop Clamp light High camera right behind subject for background fill
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Saturday last I had the pleasure of Dali, and Rainey’s company for a few hours of birding.
We headed south about an hour from home hoping to spot Golden Eagles. We hadn’t gone too far down a country road when I spied a falcon on top of a telephone pole. I quickly pulled over and turned off the car so we could take photos without the vibration of the engine.
None of us was positive about the bird’s ID at the time, but we were excited because we knew it was a bird we hadn’t seen before. Here’s how it looked when I first saw it.
With both Rainey and I clicking away we spooked it and he planned to flee the scene.
Ready for Take Off!
Take off!
In Flight—
I was thrilled when I uploaded the images to find I had captured the whole sequence of flight on film. Upon closer look I thought this might have been a juvenile Kestrel, but Rainey confirmed it is a Prairie Falcon. A first for the 3 of us.
We also saw two Golden Eagles, which were flying away from us too fast to capture a photo. Later we saw a Bald Eagle sitting in a tree. Dali got the POD (Picture of the Day) as he got a good image of it. I wish I could show you, but at the time of this writing he hadn’t posted it yet. I was too slow to get the car parked, and out so, I missed the shot. When it got spooked and took flight another Bald Eagle took off with it. We hadn’t seen that one due to tree cover.
We saw this Loggerhead Shrike sitting on a wire. We hoped it would spot something good to eat and dive for it, alas it never did.
We also saw this pretty little Savannah Sparrow—X Marks the Spot:
Savannah Sparrow: Closer Look–
Other birds of note that we saw were: A Red-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-billed Magpie; (see Rainey’s image here) White Crown Sparrows, Acorn Woodpeckers, and Red-tail Hawks.
It was good birding. I hope to get out there again this week-end. With luck I’ll see the Eagles again.
All photos were taken with a Nikon D300s and AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4 lens
Grass Backlit Macro 1/52, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved
For the first time I’m going to try to complete a Project 52 this year. Right now I’m leaning toward making my P52 a Themed project focusing on light/lighting using both natural light, and light modifiers but, we’ll see how that goes. It could end up being a little of everything.
Nikon D700| Nikkor AF-D 105mm @f/16| 1/125s| ISO400|Aperture Priority| Matrix Metering| Hand-held
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
My friend Alex and I arrived at the Dickens Fair just at opening and went straight to Fezziwig’s & Company to get our gear out and ready to take photographs of the extraordinary people and costumes we were about to see. Little did we know that about to begin was a wonderful Waltz!
After the first Waltz they invited the guest (us) to take a turn with an experienced dancer (read actor)
Alex and I both opted out and took photos of the wonderful characters, and costumes instead. The musicians were fantastic. Not a note or beat missed. I wish I could play the piano as well.
Isn’t that mustache and Top Hat something, and look at those curls in her hair! Imagine how long that took. More than I spend on my hair I’m sure.
A gentleman, and gracious teacher.
mtf
Nikon D700| Nikkor 24-70mmG| SB600- On camera flash| Daly City, California Dickens Fair
San Francisco California, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
After spending a delightful morning and afternoon at the Dickens Fair my friend Alex and I headed up to the city to photograph the skyline all lit up for Christmas. It’s a bit hard to tell here, but the Trans America (Pyramid Bldg) has a red light on top for Christmas. Also, in this photo are the towers of Embarcardero Center, the Ferry Building, and way over to the right is Nob Hill. I was freezing! It dipped to the mid-30’s while we were photographing here.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 24-70G @ 24mm| f/8| 4 seconds| ISO200| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Tripod
Golden Crowned Sparrow-Winter, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I have to double-check, but I think this is my first Golden Crowned Sparrow!
So, far this has been a fantastic birding year for me, and it’s still early in the season.
If I see Eagles this winter it will be icing on the cake. 🙂
Photographing birds in Manual Focusing mode is tough. My finger is always on the focusing ring and I’m adjusting all the time since the birds are so fast and moving all the time. It’s a miracle I got this in focus at all. My friend Dali shoots with a Legacy Nikon lens the 400mm f/3.5 which is a manual focus lens and he gets the most beautiful bird and wildlife photographs. I want to be as good as that if I have to manual focus.
See his work here.
Nikon D700| Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4 @ f/5.6 + 14E II TC= 420mm| 1/400s| ISO 500| Manual Priority| Cnt Metering| Monopod
Circadianreflections Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.