Nature – Page 20 – Circadianreflections Blog

Morning above San Francisco Bay

April 4, 2012April 4, 2012Posted in California, Landscapes, Nature, Photography, TravelTagged California, Golden Gate Bridge, Panorama, Photography, San Francisco, TravelLeave a comment

Morning above San Francisco Bay, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

My friend Anne asked me if I was free to do some scouting and hiking with her yesterday, and lucky for me I was. We spent the day in San Francisco, and this was our first stop.
Actually we were hoping for more fog, but we got a late start. We met for breakfast…it was worth it!

This is my first published Panorama…I think. Todd have I published one before? I know I’ve played with them but don’t think I’ve shared them.
This is 3 frames stitched together showing Fort Baker‘s Horseshoe Cove, Angel Island, Downtown San Francisco, and Golden Gate Bridge with Twin Peaks behind it.
There is some vignetting in the corners due to my Grad…I was shooting into the sun.
I hope to get better at them as I do more. Be kind with your critiques please. “)

San Jose Morning

March 20, 2012March 20, 2012Posted in California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged D300s, Nikon, Photography, Sunrise, TravelLeave a comment

I met some friends this morning at 5:30A.M. to try to shoot the Crescent Moon as it rose behind Mt. Hamilton, but the clouds covered the summit obscuring the moon. We left that location and moved a couple of miles southeast to try to catch the sunrise, but the clouds, still low and thick also blocked the sun. We were treated to some lovely reds, pinks, and golds though, so I turned my lens toward downtown and photographed the beautiful morning sky with the Old Bank of America Tower in view.

For the History buffs:
The Old Bank of America Building was built in 1925. It’s one of the oldest skyscrapers in Silicon Valley. One of the first to be designed as Earthquake proof. It is a designated San Jose Historical Landmark, and in the National Register of Historic Places-Historic District.
Today it is used for office space.
~ Wiki-pedia

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200mm@155mm+ Tamorn 1.4TC| |f11| 1/5 sec | ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod|

White-tailed Kite

March 19, 2012March 19, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Birds of Prey, D700, Mare Island, Nature, Nikon, Photography, San Francisco Bay Area, White-tailed Kite, Wildlife4 Comments

This photograph is one I took at last month’s Pacific Flyway Festival. It’s a week-end event for birders out on Mare Island in the San Francisco Bay Area. Several hikes, and guided tours with experienced birders are offered. I went with a group of folks, and my friend Dali out to Skaggs Island for a private walk-about. It’s part of an old Navy base which is being renovated and rehabilitated to marsh land.
This Kite was perched in a tree just within range for me to get several shots of it before it flew away. I was so excited to be this close to one that didn’t fly away the moment it spotted me. They’re so skittish they perch far away from the roads, or they take flight as soon as they see me coming.
The day was overcast, and the sky was flat so I decided to turn this one into a “high Key” shot.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300 @ 300mm| f7.1| 1/1600sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Tripod

Hounds Tongue

March 18, 2012March 18, 2012Posted in California, Flowers, Nature, Nikon, PhotographyTagged California, Clear Lake, Macro photography, Nikon, Photography, Prime lens, Wildflowers7 Comments

Yesterday while hiking the Dorn Trail in Clear Lake, CA I saw this wildflower called Hounds Tongue. It’s named for its broad leaves which you can’t see here. To get this macro view I used 3 extensions tubes; the Kenko

36mm, 20mm, and 12mm with my Nikkor 50mm f1.8 prime lens. It took some patience to get the focus lined up. The depth of field is really shallow even using all 3 tubes, and stopping down to f11. I really think I need a focusing rail.

I’d like to get one that doesn’t break the bank since I really only do macro photography in the Spring and Summer when flowers are abundant. Are you using a focusing rail? Recommendations are welcome!

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm w/ Kenko extension Tubes| f11| 1/4 sec| ISO 200| Manual mode & focus| Tripod- I think I used flash too on this shot.

“Everybody, get on the floor, let’s dance! Don’t fight the feelin’, give yourself a chance! Shake, Shake, Shake! Shake your booty!” KC and the Sunshine Band

March 17, 2012March 17, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Birds of Prey, California, Grizzly Island Preserve, Hawks, Nature, Photography, WildlifeLeave a comment

“Everybody, get on the floor, let’s dance! Don’t fight the feelin’, give yourself a chance! Shake, Shake, Shake! Shake your booty!” KC and the Sunshine Band, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 70-300mmVR@ 300mm| f5.6| 1/2000 sec| ISO500| Manual Mode| Hand-held from a car window- Auto-Tour

Northern Pintail

March 16, 2012March 16, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, Ducks, Nature, Nikon D700, Northern Pintail, Photography, Waterfowl4 Comments

I’m looking through some photos of earlier birding trips and finding a few I like more now than when I first uploaded them.
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.

The Beak Warmer

March 14, 2012March 14, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged D700, Ducks, Mallards, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Waterfowl, WildlifeLeave a comment

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200 @ 200mm + 1.4TC| Tripod| Watsonville, CA

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