Category: Photography

A gleaming path led my eye…

Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , 1 Comment

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.

If there were dreams to sell…

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

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

He’s making a list checking it twice…

Posted in Holidays, Nikon, Photography, Still LifeTagged , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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

“This Christmas song was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor‘s radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and more than 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.” ~ Wikipedia

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
“You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town!”

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm| f2.8| 1/80 sec| ISO 320| Manual Mode| Hand-held-

An ornament on my Christmas tree.

Oh Christmas Tree!

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

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

After 17 years I bought a new tree this year. A pre-lit tree. It was so nice not having to string the lights, but it wasn’t totally stress free. This is actually the 2nd tree I bought this year. The first one I bought we put up and plugged it in and half a strand of lights didn’t light up. After contacting the manufacture for troubleshooting it was determined that a string had a short so we returned it and tried again. This one, knock on wood is working well.

I wouldn’t take a photograph of it for days though because I couldn’t find the topper. I finally found it in a box of things I haven’t used in a number of years. I guess I brought that box in when I put things away last year.
I haven’t always put my tree up this early. For years I would shop for a live tree and put it up on New Years Eve, but when my daughter was diagnosed with Asthma 17 years ago the Doctor said, “No more live trees!”. So I bought a faux tree and started setting up in early December. I  soon discovered I like having Christmas in the house all month-long.

I usually decorate mine while listening to Christmas carols…yes,I confess. I sing too.
When do you set up your Christmas tree? What are your Christmas tree traditions?

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 17mm| f3.5| 1/25 second| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Related articles

All Decked Out for Christmas

Posted in Holidays, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

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

Here’s another house I saw while taking Diva Dog for her evening walk .  Have you been out to see the Christmas displays?

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 20mm| f16| 20 seconds| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod

Tule Elk

Posted in California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged , , , , 4 Comments

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

Diva Dog

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

She spent all day at Darlene’s Spa getting a shampoo, hair cut, then had her nails clipped and filed. She feels so soft, and smells wonderful. She came home exhausted. Can you believe that!

Nikon D700| Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AF-D| f3.2| 1/20 sec| ISO 640| Manual Mode| Hand-held