Category: Photography

Whatever Wednesday-A Paddle on Lake Tahoe

Posted in Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , 57 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Friday He-Man and I went kayaking on Lake Tahoe. It was his first time in a Kayak and he paddled like a BOSS!

We rented our kayaks from Kings Beach on the North Shore just a 45-minute drive from home.  We hired a guide since it would be the first time for both of us paddling on the Lake Tahoe.  It was a gorgeous morning, and the water was calm; perfect for a paddle.

He-Man in his sit on top kayak- We stopped at a Hot Springs near the shore. I never knew there was a hot spring in the lake. The steel fencing under the dock is where the hot spring bubbles up. A resort pumps the hot water to their spa for guests.

Dave

Our guide Michael had us hugging the shore for some of the paddle, he said, “get your kid out cause we’re going to paddle through the rocks.”

Paddling through the rocks

That was fun, and we spied an opportunist… another Bonsai Rock on the lake?Bonsai Rock

We weren’t the only ones paddling on the lake or paddling through the rocks.  There were quite a few SUP boarders out…I really want to try that! Of course, there were some seagulls.

A View from my kayak

We paddled out two miles out of the California side of the lake to the Nevada side. Hung out a bit in 1200 ft deep water then turned around and headed back in for more tales and sights from our Kayaks.  I have more views, birds, and an interesting house to share with you in the future.

I hope your week is going well and continues to! Happy Wednesday!

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 20.0.5

more to come…

 

 

 

 

Thursday Doors: Firehouse Nº12

Posted in Carson Valley, Nikon, Photography, Thursday DoorsTagged , , , , , , , , 39 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I’ve admired this firehouse/station ever since we started looking to buy a house in Carson Valley back in 2016, and I’ve been planning to photograph it with some clouds and color since moving into our house this Spring.  Finally, we got some clouds that looked like they might hold some color so I grabbed my camera, tripod, keys, wallet, and a spare battery and headed to the firehouse.  There was some color!

Firehouse Nº12

This is probably the firehouse that would service my neighborhood, but other than it being one of the nicest looking fire stations I’ve seen I know nothing about it.

This is part of Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors.  If you have a door or two to share head on over to his blog and join in the fun or just head over and see the doors others have shared from all over the world. Just follow his directions at the end of his Thursday door post.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm/ f/1.8G| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

 

 

Whatever Weds. Wild Iris and Mustangs

Posted in California Wildflowers, Photography, Whatever Wednesday, Wild MustangsTagged , , , , , , , 44 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

In June when some friends and I went out to see the Wild Mustangs in the Eastern Sierras we found the fields pretty swampy.  We definitely needed our Wellies or Muck boots out there to keep our feet dry, but the Wild Iris loved the swampy environment.

Wild Iris and Mustangs

It’s mostly peaceful for humans and horses alike out here until…a Stallion gets upset about another stallion near a mare that’s his, or he wants her, or he just wants to be King of the Pasture then it can get exciting!

Wild Mustang Skirmish

They got wet!

The flirtatious Stallion was run off and all was peaceful again.

Wild Mustangs

I hope you all have a peaceful Wednesday and a great rest of the week!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Wednesday-Summer is…

Posted in Eastern Sierras, Hiking, Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 42 Comments

Copyright ©Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Reading at the Lake-

Girl Reading a Book at Convict Lake

Convict Lake, Eastern Sierras.

UPDATE:  I’ve often wondered how Convict Lake got its name, and some have asked me in the questions so I finally looked it up.  Here’s how it got its name:

“In September of 1871, a group of convicts escaped from Carson City, Nevada, and were cornered by a local posse by the lake. A shootout took place and two members of the posse were killed, including Benton merchant Robert Morrison. The biggest peak above the lake, Mount Morrison, was named in his honor and the lake was renamed after the incident. 

The convicts were eventually caught and two were brought to frontier justice. Several movies have been made about how Convict Lake got its name, and even more movies, commercials and ads have been shot at the picturesque lake. Beauty is just part of its appeal. Convict Lake, however, calls to people with more than just its looks. The unique character of the place has a pull, too.” ~ https://www.visitmammoth.com/blogs/how-convict-lake-got-its-name

It’s a great place to fish, hike, and have ice cream at the store.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 24-120mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Wednesday: Reach for the Stars

Posted in Astrophotography, Milky Way, Night Photography, Night Sky, Nikon, Photography, Planets, Starry Night, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , 63 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I met some girl-friends in Lee Vining this past week-end for a long weekend of camping and photography.

One of the things we wanted to do was some night photography. With the Moon rising in the wee hours of the morning we had several hours of the dark sky to work with.

After sunset which wasn’t too colorful, we went searching for a neat foreground to accompany a Milky Way image. We found this wonderful dead tree on a country road. We had a lot of fun shooting it and admiring the stars is always so peaceful.

If you look closely you’ll see I managed to capture several shooting stars in this frame.

The bright object above the tree is Jupiter.

Reach for the Stars

I have quite a few images to share in future posts from this week-end that include Wild Mustangs, a Ghost town at night, and some landscapes.

I hope you’re all having a great week!

Single Frame| Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G@2.8|IS0 3200|20s| Manual Priority| Tripod

more to come…

 

 

Whatever Weds. The Tahoe Rim Trail

Posted in Hiking, Nevada, Photography, WildflowersTagged , , , , , , , , , , 45 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Saturday He-Man and I went hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail. We heard the views were amazing, and I want to get back in shape and explore our new area. Since I feel out of shape and easily winded at this altitude still we opted for a 3 mile out hike and back.

We quickly discovered that Spring has sprung in the mountains at 7000 and 8000ft elevation. I was so excited!

Here are just a few of the flowers we saw.

Nuttall’s Larkspur with Bumble Bee. We took a side trip up the Vista Trail to the top of a ridge and found a view of Carson Valley and these wildflowers busy with Bumble Bees.

Wild Nuttals's Larkspur

Mule’s Ear was blooming all over the place and it was perfect blooming time!

Mule's Ear-Wildflower

Coast Paint Brush? I’m not positive this is what it is, but it looks like it.

Coast Paintbrush-Wildflower

There were thousands of Butterflies along the trail. I thought at first they were Painted Lady’s which I had heard were migrating through and there were thousands being reported but looking at them and my images confirmed that’s not what they were. It’s new to me called a California Tortoiseshell ( Nymphalis Californica).  There was also White cabbage and Sara Orange Tips I believe but, those little guys were already warmed up and flying all over the place rarely landing and when they did they alighted almost as soon as they touched down.

Californ Tortoiseshell- Nymphalis Californica

We had a glimpse of Lake Tahoe about 2 miles into the hike. It was a great place to catch my breath too.

Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe Rim Trail

I have more images of flowers I need to identify, and two birds too.

There is a gorgeous view we’re told 5 miles in, so we’re going to work up to that.  The Tahoe Rim Trail is 165 miles long going around Lake Tahoe. I’m hoping to do bits and bobs of it here and there, but I don’t think I’ll ever do the whole thing.

Our stats for the hike were:

6.5 miles total distance, 1000 ft elevation gain, and 3H:56 minutes…due to me stopping to smell the roses, watch butterflies, gaze at the views, and stopping to catch my breath.

It was a great hike! I hope I can get back up there before the butterflies flee, and the Lupine is in bloom.

I hope you’re all having a great week, and good Wednesday!

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

 

 

 

 

Thursday Doors: Nº3555

Posted in iPhone 7 Plus, iphonegraphy, Photography, Thursday DoorsTagged , , , , , , , , 33 Comments

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The sunset colors were stunning the other night and luckily He-Man and I were out for an evening walk in the neighborhood when I admired not for the first time this lovely corner green door with a wreath and the gorgeous sky above it. I had to snap a photo for Thursday Doors!

Green Door

This is part of Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors series.  Click the link to add your own Door find and check out some other participants doors from all over our planet.

iPhone 7 Plus| PS CC 2019

more to come…