Category: Nikon

Sunset Martin’s Beach

Posted in California Beaches, Nikon, Photography, Seascapes, SunsetsTagged , , , , , , , , , 26 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I had the pleasure of joining a favorite Meet-Up group at Martin’s Beach near Half Moon Bay Saturday evening. The waves were amazing. They crashed against the rocks with fantastic booms, and they made cracking sounds as they came rushing toward the shore. I’d never heard that before. It was like ice cracking. Have you heard that sound in the ocean before?
The waves were higher than I expected;  I got soaked up to mid calf. My high top hiking boots, socks, long underwear and pants were soaked.
I took off my boots and socks and spent the rest of the shoot barefoot. I should have taken my Wellies! I was quick to get my camera/tripod rig up above my knees more than once during our time here. 🙂

The atmosphere was incredible while we were there. When we arrived the sun was hidden behind thick clouds, but trying so hard to burn a hole through them, then the fog rolled in, bringing more wind, and a light rain of sand and spray. It was take a shot, clean the lens, cover the camera, and lens, take a shot, clean the lens over and over again.  Then about 20 minutes later the fog mostly cleared out leaving a thin layer of damp and mist in the air.

This was taken right before the sun set completely. I was hoping for more color, but I won’t complain. It was beautiful, and really nice to hang out with friends I hadn’t seen in awhile.

 

Sunset Martin's Beach Half Moon Bay

I got my tripod in the shower and cleaned off straight-away, but I’m off now to clean my filter, lens, and probably my sensor since I have more spots of dust I’m cloning out than I like.

I hope you’re all having a lovely Sunday!

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24-70mm| Tripod|B+W 6 Stop Neutral Density Filter| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015, LR CC, On1 Photo 10

More to come…

California Quail

Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Northern California Birds, Photography, Quail, San Jose California Nature PhotographerTagged , , , , , , , , 34 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

When I was setting up my rig a few weeks ago in Santa Cruz to photograph Hummingbirds a California Quail jumped up on an old weathered post not too far from me surrounded by lovely flowers.  I moved pretty quick to finish setting up my tripod w/Sidekick and mounting my camera hoping it would stick around!

California Quail on Post

“You lookin’ at me?”…

California Quail- The Look

A little Morning Stretch…

California Quail-Morning Stretch

Seeing and photographing this Quail first thing in the morning made my day. They’re so quick, and skittish that I’ve only been able to get a few good images of any.  The rest of the images I made this day were icing on the cake.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015

Wishing you all a great week-end!

More to come…

 

 

 

Anna’s Hummingbird-Female

Posted in Anna's Hummingbird, Bird Photography, birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Hummingbirds, Nikon, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged , , , , , , , , , 37 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I went over to Santa Cruz on Saturday while we had a break between rain showers to photograph Allen’s, and Anna’s Hummingbirds. It was a lovely day in the Arboretum.

There were very few people there since the weather wasn’t ideal.  While I was waiting for a male Allen’s Hummingbird to return to a favored perch I looked behind me and saw a lovely female Anna’s darting around the Ericaceae plants which is a succulent plant.

Here’s a series of 3 images that shows her approach to the plant, feeding, then resting on a perch.

Anna's Hummingbird Female Approaching flowers

Anna's Hummingbird Female Feeding

Anna's Hummingbird Female perched on a branch

I love the fresh Spring color palette in this series, and this pretty little Hummingbird.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Tripod w/ Wimberley SideKick| Lexar Professional Digial Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Great Egret Reflected

Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Coastal Birds, Great Egret, Nikon, Photography, Santa Clara County BirdingTagged , , , , , , 38 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Great Egret Reflected

I made this image with the rental Nikon 200-500mm VR lens the morning after I rented it.

I saw this Great Egret out in the pond within the range of the lens so I walked out to the edge of the pond to photograph it. I initially set up in landscape orientation then I zoomed out to 500mm, and only had its head and half its neck in the frame! “Oh no, that won’t do!” I thought. I switched to portrait orientation, which fit the whole Egret in the frame, but only half the reflection, and I wanted to get the reflection because it was very clear, and the blue sky and water were gorgeous on this morning.  Next I started pulling my zoom in…400mm, nope, 300mm, nope, 200mm, not quite. I had to back up to get the whole reflection in, and stay at 200mm.  This image isn’t cropped at all.  So, began my learning curve with this lens.

After that week-end I liked the lens so well I bought one,  and have been using it a lot.  I’m on the down side of the learning curve now. 🙂

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR hired unit| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Ruffled Feathers

Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , , 2 Comments

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Another Allen’s Hummingbird image I made last week-end. He has a little smudge on his breast that I’m tempted to clone out, but I also like him the way he is in his natural environment. What would you do clone it out, or leave it?

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4 @ f8| 1/400s| ISO 500| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Tripod| Santa Cruz, CA| Fine weather

6/52 Raspberry and Cream

Posted in Close Up Photography, Creative Tabletop Photography, Drops, Nikon, Off Camera Flash, Photography, Splashes, StrobistTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments

Via Flickr:

Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

This was a challenging exercise in timing, but fun! I am planning to try this again with two speedlights soon.

Nikon D700| AF Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D @ f20| 1/160sec| ISO 400| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Tripod

Strobist- SB910 @ 1/25th pwr, camera right low front 75º angle

Sandhill Cranes are Arriving!

Posted in Birds, California, Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged , , , , Leave a comment

Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I’ve been looking forward to this week-end for a month. It’s that time of year when the Sandhill Cranes return for the Winter Migration. A friend of mine (Judi) has been posting Sandhill Cranes from Merced Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Flyway this past week which really excited me. She reported that they were less skittish, and were a  bit closer to the “Auto-Route” we take to see them. I’ve been wanting a really good close up of a Sandhill Crane for years. This report gave me hope that this might be my year.

Yesterday, my friend Rainey and I went over to the Refuge and had a wonderful time. We called Judi and met her at the Refuge. We were not disappointed. The weather was California perfect; sunny, warm, and with a slight breeze. The Cranes were closer than I’d ever seen them.

Sandhill CraneThey are so beautiful with their Red Heart shaped face, and wonderful plumage.

We drove the “Auto-route” several times in the late morning and early afternoon.

We even saw a family group with a juvenile. It’s the little one in front without a red face.

Sandhill CranesThen we went to lunch at an” old-time” family drive-in Burger Joint called H&M in Merced. They say they’re famous for their seasoned fries which are delicious, but their Guacamole Burger is just as good. The Avocado Burger is my next favorite burger on the menu. After a diet busting lunch we went back to the Refuge for another drive around before heading home.

On this last trip around the refuge we saw groups of Sandhill Cranes flying in for the night.

Sandhill CranesToday,  Rainey, Dali, and I went up north to Lodi to the Sandhill Crane Festival and found the weather completely different from yesterday.   Overnight our warm Indian Summer changed to Fall; it was cold, and so windy the top soil was blowing so thick visibility was only 10-20 feet! We didn’t see too many Cranes and those we saw were pretty far back in the fields near the Levees or in the taller rows of mowed corn for protection.

Sandhill CranesWe did see other birds of note: a Belted Kingfisher ( still my nemesis I’m afraid), Dali got the Kingfisher shot today. We also saw Lesser Sandpipers, and a Snipe shown below so, the day wasn’t a total loss.

SnipeIt was a great birding week-end with friends. I’m looking forward to going back to both Wildlife Refuges this winter.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm G