Category: Photography

Yellow

Posted in Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Flowers, Macro Photography, Photography, ToysTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 30 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A little bit of this and that to share today. While developing images I discovered all the images I was selecting to work on had a theme; the color Yellow.  Perhaps it’s because it has been quite nice, warm, and sunny here the last few days? I don’t know, but Yellow just feels good doesn’t it.

I took this image earlier in the year.  Male Western Meadowlark

Western MeadowLark: Male Photography

A Margarite Daisy blossom I think.

Flower- Yellow_Photography

Toys in the Sandbox

Toys in the Sandbox-Yellow_Photography

Matilija Poppy

Flower Matilija Poppy_Macro Photography

Protea from the Australian Garden in Santa Cruz, CA

Protea_Macro Photography

I hope there’s some sunshine in your life today!

Nikon Df| Nikkor 28-105mm, & LensBaby Composer Pro w/Soft focus Optic + 8mm macro converter|Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

What’s Blooming?

Posted in Coulter's Matilija Poppy, Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Nikon DF, Photography, Poppy FamilyTagged , , , , , , , , , 18 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Couler’s Matilija Poppy.  I’m never sure if those I see are wild or cultivated. I’m going to say this one is cultivated since it was outside an industrial building.

I just love this Poppy. It’s my favorite of them all.  The flowers can get as big as a salad plate: 6 inches! It is the largest of any native CA plant.  Just look at all the Pollen!

Coulter's Matilija Poppy-Photography

Nikon Df| LensBaby Composer Pro w/Soft focus Optic & 8mm Macro Converter @f/4 | Delkin Digital Film| Hand-held

More to come…

Thursday Doors 15/52 Hearst Castle Pt II

Posted in Architecture, California State Parks, Doors, Hearst Castle, Photography, Thursday DoorsTagged , , , , , , , , , , 33 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

For this week’s Thursday Doors I am continuing on with my recent trip to Hearst Castle, and sharing some exterior doors.

Outer door

Hearst Castle Exterior Door-Photography

Outer Door II- This door was quite plain compared to everything else there. Hearst Castle Exterior Door-Photography

Hearst Castle’s Front Door.

Hearst Castle Front Door-Photography

There are 3 Guest cottages on the property. Hearst lived in one of them while the Castle was being built.  This is a  back door to Casa del Monte; the view from those windows faces north.

That’s Hearst Castle with the Bell Towers on the left.  The inspiration for the Bell Towers was the tower of the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.

Casa del Monte-Hearst Castle Guest Cottage

There were many flowers and shrubs in bloom while I was there. I really wish I had taken my Lensbaby with me!

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

and one last view today from the south side of the Castle with two balcony doors.

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This post is part of Norm 2.0’s Thursday Doors.  If you love doors and would like to see the doors others are posting, or post doors you’ve photographed and join other door lovers from around the world click here.

At the end of Norm’s latest Thursday Door post is a little Blue Link-up/View button click it to be taken to a page with all the links, or add your own.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24-70mm| Delkin Digital Film| Hand-held| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

What’s Blooming?

Posted in California, Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro Photography, Photography, Spring, What's BloomingTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 20 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Spanish Lavender from my neighbor Maria’s yard. She has the best garden!

Spanish Lavender Macro Photography-LensBaby

This is a hedge that we put in on both sides of our house for a little more privacy.

It’s been so many years ago that we put it in I can’t recall the name of it. It attracts the bees, and looks great when in bloom. It has red and green broad leaves and is ho-hum when not in bloom. 🙂

Privacy hedge- macro photography Lensbaby

We just had our 26 yr old railroad tie retaining wall/planter box replaced with a cement stone looking wall which meant I bought new flowers to replace those that were let go or trampled on while the wall was being installed. These are some sort of cone Daisy. I need to ask Rick our contractor what he planted. I love these!

Macro Photography-Flowers-LensBaby

Calla Lily-  I love this blossom, but have a really hard time photographing it and getting on film what I see in my head, but I adore this curve.

Calla Lily-Macro Photography-LensBaby

Nikon Df| Nikon 105mm macro lens & LensBaby Composer Pro w/Soft Focus Optic & 8mm and 16mm Macro converters| Delking Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Pink Gerbera

Posted in Flowers, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro lens, Photography, Soft Focus OpticTagged , , , , , , , , 40 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

A Pink Gerbera from a  bouquet of flowers #1 Grandson had Baby Girl buy for me a few days ago since I’ve been a bit under the weather the past 2 weeks.  I had to break out my LensBaby to take a few images of the flowers.

Pink Gerbera

Here he is with the bouquet at the store.  Baby Girl said it was his idea and was totally floored.

Jaxon with Bouquet for Grandma
Image used with permission

He wished me to feel better the second the front door opened then ran to me with this huge bouquet. He’s so sweet, and wonderful!

I came down with a mild case of Shingles. I thank God it’s a mild case! I can imagine how horrific a bad case is now because it’s been pretty awful, but I’m a big baby. 🙂

I’m too young to have been offered the vaccine, but I’m going to get it when I’m over this; the Dr. said it can’t hurt.

I am getting better everyday, and hope to be right as rain soon.

I hope you all are having a lovely Sunday!

Purple Flower

Nikon Df| Lensbaby Composer with Soft focus Optic & 8mm macro converter| PS CC 2015 & Nik Suite.

More to come…

Twitterpated

Posted in Bird Photogaphy, birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Common Goldeneye, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, San Mateo CountyTagged , , , , , , , , , 17 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I had a most delightful morning a couple of months back watching  some Common Golden-eye males doing the their mating dance/display.

Common Goldeneye Male-Mating Ritual Dance-Photography

Common Goldeneye male- Mating Ritual Dance Photography

Common Goldeneye Male-Mating Ritual Dance-Photography

Common Goldeneye Male-Mating Ritual Dance-Photography

She likes me!

Common Goldeneye Male-Mating Ritual Dance-Photography

I think I nailed that.

Common Goldeneye Male-Mating Ritual Dance-Photography

The word Twitterpated was first used in the movie Bambi. It means to be overcome with romantic feelings; smitten.

UPDATE: I looked up the scene in the original Disney movie and found the dialog about Spring Twitterpation.  I think it’s delightful! Hope you do too.

Bambi 1942

Flower: [about two birds fluttering around] Well! What’s the matter with them?
Thumper: Why are they acting that way?
Friend Owl: Why, don’t you know? They’re twitterpated.
Flower, Thumper, Bambi: Twitterpated?
Friend Owl: Yes. Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime. For example: you’re walking along, minding your own business. You’re looking neither to the left, nor to the right, when all of a sudden, you run smack into a pretty face. Woo-woo! You begin to get weak in the knees. Your head’s in a whirl. And then you feel light as a feather; and before you know it, you’re walking on air. And then you know what? You’re knocked for a loop, and you completely lose your head!
Thumper: Gosh. That’s awful.
Flower: Gee whiz.
Bambi: Terrible!
Friend Owl: And that ain’t all. It can happen to anybody. So you’d better be careful.
[points at Bambi]
Friend Owl: It could happen to you…
[points at Thumper]
Friend Owl: …and you, and…
[Flower looks at Owl shyly]
Friend Owl: Yes, it could even happen to you!
Thumper: Well, it’s not gonna happen to me.
Bambi: Me neither.
Flower: Me neither.

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

More to come…

 

 

Draw-a-Bird Day

Posted in Art, Bird Art, Create Art Everyday, Draw a Bird Day, Pen & Wash Watercolor, Photography, Watercolor, Watercolor PaintingTagged , , , , , , 18 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I’ve been painting or trying to paint flowers the last month, but I did want to try one bird for Draw-a-Bird Day so, painted a House Finch using my newest watercolor Lukas 12 half pan palette. I painted it in my Strathemore Mixed Media Journal.

This is a male House Finch that has been coming to our feeders for a long time.  I love his bright red coloring.

House Finch in Watercolor Draw-a-Bird Day

The reference image

House Finch Male-Photography

This is part of Draw-a-Bird Day at Methodtwomadness. To see all the bird art posted today click here

To read the original story of how Draw-a-Bird Day got started click here

Bird image: Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f4| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015

Watercolor Image: Lumix FZ200| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…