Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

I have to give a HUGE shout out to my friend Alex who shared this find with me and a few other friends. Thank you Alex!
It’s the first time I’ve seen this woodpecker.

Also a Big Thank you to Dali for driving us today!
It was a fun day and good to hang out with you all.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200@200 + Tamron 1.4x TC+= 300mm| 1/ 100s| ISO 1250 | Manual Priority| Tripod

 

February’s Full Moon over the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

I met a group of Photographers early this morning to photograph the Moonset and I hoped I’d get my timing right so I could get this shot lined up.
It’s been really, really great the last week having clear skies in the city.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200 + Tamron 1.4x 280mm| f11| 1/3s| ISO 320| Manual Priority| Tripod| Singh Ray 2 stop GND

 

Woody Warrior Pose…well he’s working on it

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

He was up and out really early this morning. If he thinks getting into these yoga poses are tough for a manikin…Ha! They’re just as tough for me some mornings.

Nikon D700s| Nikkor 2470 @28mm| 1/5s| ISO 640| Manual Priority| Hand-held

 

Hybrid-Crested Pekin Mallard?

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

On my recent jaunt up to Lake Merritt to find the Tufted Duck I was walking past a little enclosed pond when I spotted this duck. I had to call Phil over to see it since it was unique.
Neither of us knew what the name of this duck was and we planned to do some research to see if we could figure it out. Phil got on it straight-away. He found very little information out there, but he did find a photo with a duck that looks like this one and it was called a Hybrid-Crested Pekin Mallard.
Bred for the little Pom-Pom on their heads I’m sure!
Anyone know anything about this breed?

This pond was pretty dirty  so, I did a little work in PS to clean it up, but as you see it’s still a mess. The disadvantage of a small pond I guess.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80200@ 112m + Tamron 1.4x TC| f8| 1/250s| ISO 400| Manual Priority| Hand-held

 

Horsetail Fall 2013

Horsetail Fall 2013, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

This is the 4th yr I’ve gone up to Yosemite trying to capture the natural light show that happens when conditions are just right. For a week or so in February and October during sunset the sun lines up with the fall, and if there is water running down the fall the sunlight will turn the water red like lava or fire.

This year we had more snow on El Capitan than last year, and the day was sunny, but it was cold up there, and it’s been rather dry with no rain for awhile so there wasn’t as much water as we hoped for.
We did get some lovely color and the wind kicked up a little so we were treated to the mist lighting up at the top of the fall.

Every year it has looked different, and I’m hoping one year the fall will be spewing tons of water, and the sun is shining brightly.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200mm| Tripod

“It’s all I have to bring today.” ~Emily Dickinson

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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved

Playing with my food again. Here’s the whole poem that Emily Dickinson wrote:

It’s all I have to bring today

Be sure you count should I forget
Some one the sum could tell –
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 @ f4| 1/200s| ISO 320| Manual Priority| Tripod| SB600 camera Left triggered with camera flash unit

 

“(i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)” ~ E.E. Cummings

While I have my stand with umbrella out I thought I’d compose a couple of still life scenes with a Valentine’s theme.

"(i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only

I purchased a kit of CTO gels for my Speedlight, and have been playing with those too. I hope to create something good enough to share in the future.

I bought the Rogue Universal Filter Kit.
The gels go on easily, and seem to be of good quality. This is my first gel kit, so we’ll see.
I bought my kit at a  local camera store, but Amazon has it too.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm @ f/8| 1/200s| ISO 160| SB600 @ 1/4 pwr camera left| Hand-held