“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
I’ve been sorting through the years photos and have selected my best photos. Out of thousands of photos I narrowed it down to just 32. I based these on technical merit, place, a special memory, friends I was with, or the emotion I felt at the time.
I hope you enjoy looking through them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmzajac2004/sets/72157628642506681/show/
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200 + Tamron 1.4x TC 420mm| f6.3 | 1/400 sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Tripod
While out looking for Sandhill Cranes to photograph this Red-tailed Hawk got startled and flew out of a nearby Willow tree.
Flapping
Gliding
Downbeat
Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200mm + Tamron 1.4x extender| f5| 1/800 sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held
The Portal, Big Sur, California
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
The sun lines up to shoot its beam through this portal each winter if the weather cooperates.
I had gone down with some friends in late Nov. and got a shot, but I hoped to get a better one before the sun moved out of range. I’ve been watching and waiting for a clear night. The forecast for last night was perfect; clear skies, but cold, so I made the 109 mile drive down to Big Sur.
I packed my down jacket, gloves, and gear and hiked out to the beach. There was only one other photographer there, but I knew that would change as the sun sunk lower on horizon. By the end of the evening there were about 15 of us shooting the sunset.
It’s a fun trip down and always an adventure since one never really knows what the sunset will look like. The light shines through the Portal about 25 minutes so I shot the beam of light from different angles. Here’s one where I caught a cool little splash.
I’m heading down once more. I’ll try some different angles and perspectives if the fog stays far out at sea.
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
“If there were dreams to sell,
What would you buy?
Some cost a passing-bell;
Some a light sigh.”
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes
Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35 @ 20mm| f20| 1/80 second| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod| Release Cable| 3 frame HDR
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I’ve been trying for weeks to get a decent shot of a Kite that lives in Moss Landing without success. That Kite likes to perch on a tree out in a Marsh which is too far away for my longest lens. Here’s the best I’ve been able to get. It’s soft, and there isn’t much detail. I used a Nikkor 70-300mm VR on a tripod for this shot in mid November 2011.
I hoped by renting the Nikkor 300mm f4 I would have better luck. I’d be able to use my Tamron 1.4x Extender with it and have a bit more reach. With that in mind I took the rental lens with me last Saturday to Merced National Wildlife Refuge with my friend Rainey. We made a detour on the way to try to find some birds at another park and along the way we spotted this Kite perched on the branch. I was busy clicking away when I noticed it opened its beak, and then I heard it call then in came this other Kite! Oh, how I hoped I nailed the shot with its beak open!
While this photo isn’t as sharp, or have as much detail as I would like it to have I’m thrilled it’s decent and I did get the shot with its beak open. You can see a little more detail, but it’s still too far away for this lens plus extender. Also when using an Extender there is generally a loss of sharpness. With my aperture wide open and focused on the perched Kite I missed the opportunity to get them both in focus. I was focused on the perched one.
I’m learning though. One thing I’ll do differently the next time is stop the lens down to f8. I expect the clarity will improve a bit.
A brief word on the Nikkor 300mm F4 lens. This is the 3rd time I’ve rented this lens . Each time I rent it I want one of my own! It’s a great lens. It produces wonderful colors, and superb details if you can get a bit closer, and the Bokeh is yummy. I do wish it had image stabilization though. Hand-holding this lens isn’t easy so I’m using a tripod, or a pillow when I am shooting out of the car window.
Right after I took the picture above the perched Kite took flight. I got a little of his profile, and the sun peeked through the fog and overcast morning for a little while which lit up its chest nicely.
I do love the thrill of the chase so, I’ll continue to look for Kites maybe the next time they’ll be a bit closer.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 70-300mm VR & Nikkor 300mm f4 w/ Tamron 1.4x TeleConverter
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Yesterday myself, and friend Rainey Shuler, who I’ve blogged about before here went out to San Luis Wildlife Refuge to do a little birding photography. We had hoped there would be some interesting and uncommon birds there.
On the way we ran into a “Road Closed” baracade so we stopped in another Refuge to get some back road directions, and while talking to the hunters and Ranger there we learned there was a Tule Elk herd at the Refuge we wanted to go to. So getting the directions we needed we headed out. We were in luck! These Elk in the photo above weren’t too far from the road.
Rainey and I set up our tripods and took some photos of the Elk. When we started shooting the sun was blocked by morning fog and mist, but soon the sun began to burn through the haze to light up the meadow and Elk just right . About the same time these two started sparring. It was great fun to discover this herd here, and more exciting to see this since I didn’t see any of this behavior while viewing the Tule Elk in Northern CA these past 2 years.
In addition to these magnificent Elk we saw a Coyote, Hawks, Kites- the bird, Heron, Egrets, and a little bird I’ve not identified yet. We left this refuge and headed over to the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, and met up with another friend for lunch. I’ll be posting a few of the exciting birds I saw there in the coming days. It was a good day for birding and photography, but made even better by the company of wonderful friends.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm + 1.4x Tamron extender effective range 420mm| f5.6| 1/1600second| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Tripod
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