Category: Nikon

Nikon NEF Codec Update

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Nikon has updated the Codec to support Nikon NEF’s

Version 1.12.0

  • Supports NEF (RAW) images taken with the Nikon 1 J1, Nikon 1 V1.
  • Supports 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7.
    If thumbnails for NEF files fail to display correctly in the Photo Gallery or Photo Viewer for 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7, perform a disk clean-up as described below.
  1. Right-click the system drive in Computer and select Properties.
  2. Select Disk Cleanup in the “General” tab.
  3. Select Thumbnails in the “Disk Cleanup” tab “Files to delete” list and remove the checks from the other items.
  4. Click OK to start the disk cleanup. When the “Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?” prompt is displayed, click Delete Files.

Download it here.

H/T Nikon Rumors

Moonset Over San Francisco, California

Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I rose pretty early this morning to make the hour drive to this location to meet my friend Andy aka Stargazer to shoot the Moonset.
He checked and double checked the webcams in the area hoping for no fog. We did have a fog bank sitting right where we hoped to shoot the setting Moon, but we got lucky; it peeked out enough to make a pretty picture, and the color! It really was this color! It was gorgeous. Worth getting up at 3AM for.
We have rain in the forecast tomorrow, but if we get a break and no fog in the morning we may try it again.

Andy has his photo up from this morning please check it out. It’s awesome!
www.flickr.com/photos/sharpshutter/6328755145/in/contacts…

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200 @ 100mm| f11| 45 seconds| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod| Intervelometer

Happiness is Pink Pedals in November

Posted in California, Nature, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Leave a comment

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Continuing with my study of Impressionist Photography and movement I have been using my Camellia Bush which is in full bloom at the moment as a subject. This is one of 2 dozen photographs I’ve taken in the last few days that I like. I used both defocusing and panning to achieve this look. A tip from my good friend Penny was to slow down the shutter speed. That was a big help! I also used a 50mm lens so I could get closer. I plan to stick an extension tube on and get even closer the next time I try it with flowers.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm| f18| 0.4 sec| ISO 160| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Kayaker on Lake Tahoe

Posted in Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , Leave a comment

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

This was a fortuitous shot. One of those shots you imagine before hand then all too often  it never happens when you get to the spot. While scouting out positions to shoot Bonsai Rock at sunset I decided to wait in the shade of this pine tree while my friend Dali was taking off his waders as he had just come out of the lake. I was gazing at the lake when this kayaker rowed  just outside my frame. I couldn’t believe my luck! I have so often wished for  a surfer, sailboat, or ship to come along when shooting bodies of water. My second thought is usually, ” if I were able to paint I’d put  X right there”.  I was thrilled. I know something like this won’t happen every time I want it to.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 22mm| f14| 1/40 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held| Circular Polarizer

Dali in the Lake

San Francisco Night Impressions

Posted in Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , 2 Comments

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

In early October I started experimenting with Impressionist Photography. I had read an article by Eva Polak, and had been studying her work for a couple of weeks and thought the Aspens of the Eastern Sierras would be a great place to try some techniques. I tried “movement” and “panning”, and failed brilliantly! When I got home and uploaded my frames I deleted every frame. I also tried defocusing. I kept 2 of those.

I’ve continued to play with the movement technique, but still am not achieving the result I want. I’m having better results defocusing. I used that here in this  night city street scene. I’m going to continue to play with the movement technique. Hopefully one day I’ll get it. Landscapes are in my blood, but  it has been fun challenging myself to try something new and get out of my  “box”. I certainly have a new appreciation for the talent and work of those like Eva Polak, and others who excel in fine art photography.

To see Eva Polak’s work go here:
http://www.evapolak.com/home.html

Nikon D700| Nikkor 85mm| f5| 1/100sec| ISO 25600| Shutter Priority| Tripod

Sunset on the Lake

Posted in Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged , , , Leave a comment
Sunset on the Lake, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Inspired by several flickr contacts to shoot this location myself I put it on my “Bucket List”. I was in Hope Valley yesterday hoping to score one last day of shooting Autumn colors, alas all the leaves were gone and those that remained looked fried. So, two friends and I switched gears and drove to Lake Tahoe to find Bonsai Rock. We weren’t really that far away at this point so why not?
We found the location and hiked down the 100-150ft of steep, slippery terrain and scouted out several possible shots.
Then we hiked back up and drove up the highway enjoying the views to pass the time.

We got back to Bonsai Rock well before sunset then  we hiked back down and set up to wait for the sunset. The color wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped, but I won’t complain. It was so quiet, and peaceful listening to the water gently hitting the rocks , and hearing the birds sing, all the while my eyes scanned the scene taking in the gradual color shifts and beauty that surrounded me.
I’m hoping to do a sunrise here someday. This location stays on the bucket list! This whole area is beautiful and definitely worth repeated trips.
On another note- The more I use my D700 the more I love it. The Dynamic range this camera gets is amazing!

A huge shout out to those who inspired me to venture out to his location with their beautiful photographs of this spot- MattyD90, M. Shaw, and Steve Sieren. You can find their work in flickr.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35 @17mm| f8| 1/160 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod| Release Cable| 2-stop GND-(Singh-Ray)

Autumn on the Owens

Posted in California, hikes, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , 2 Comments

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac.  All Rights Reserved.

Here’s one from earlier in the month when I was over in the Eastern Sierras for a couple of days. The color was lovely in the higher elevations, and remembering this spot from the previous year I wanted to stop by again and hike up the river a bit to revisit it.
I am standing on boulder out in the river a bit. It’s a fairly easy thing to get out here, but the jump back is harder! I thought, ” Deborah, you may fall in this year!” Phew! Another year I stayed dry. I think I might be pushing my luck though.

My muse this past month has been Worthington Whittredge an American Landscape artist of the Hudson River School. I find a lot of what I shoot is similar to what he painted. I “get” him.  In music and learning to play the guitar and piano I’ve studied the masters and tried to emulate them before breaking out and putting my spin on the piece. With photography I’ve taken the same approach; learning from those who know how to use a camera, but for composition and framing I’ve looked not only at photographers, but also Master painters. What about you? Do you study the master painters or just other photographers? Who are your muses?

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35 @17mm| f16| 1/25 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod