Category: Photography

Monochrome Madness 2 49/52 Natural Bridge

Posted in Black and White Photography, California Beaches, Monochrome Madness2, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged , , , , , , , 6 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I was over in Santa Cruz on Saturday photographing Hummingbirds then thought I’d head over to Natural Bridge Beach to do some long exposures since there was wind, and storm clouds on the horizon.

Natural Bridge State Beach Monochrome

I used my 6 stop B+W Neutral Density filter to create this image. I wanted to retain some

movement in the waves rather than completely smooth it out.  It’s moody and just what I wanted.

But, I also tried some longer exposures with both a 6 stop and 3 stop ND filters on. Here one of those images.

Natural Bridge State Beach Monochrome

It’s a subtle difference , but a wee bit smoother than the image above.

Nikon Df| Nikon 28-105mm| Delkin Devices Digital Film| PS CC 2015, Silver Efex Pro, &

On1 Photo 10

This is part of Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2 Challenge. To view all the images submitted this week click here.

More to come…

Anna’s Hummingbird-Female

Posted in Anna's Hummingbird, Bird Photography, birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Hummingbirds, Nikon, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged , , , , , , , , , 37 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I went over to Santa Cruz on Saturday while we had a break between rain showers to photograph Allen’s, and Anna’s Hummingbirds. It was a lovely day in the Arboretum.

There were very few people there since the weather wasn’t ideal.  While I was waiting for a male Allen’s Hummingbird to return to a favored perch I looked behind me and saw a lovely female Anna’s darting around the Ericaceae plants which is a succulent plant.

Here’s a series of 3 images that shows her approach to the plant, feeding, then resting on a perch.

Anna's Hummingbird Female Approaching flowers

Anna's Hummingbird Female Feeding

Anna's Hummingbird Female perched on a branch

I love the fresh Spring color palette in this series, and this pretty little Hummingbird.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Tripod w/ Wimberley SideKick| Lexar Professional Digial Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Great Egret Reflected

Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Coastal Birds, Great Egret, Nikon, Photography, Santa Clara County BirdingTagged , , , , , , 38 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Great Egret Reflected

I made this image with the rental Nikon 200-500mm VR lens the morning after I rented it.

I saw this Great Egret out in the pond within the range of the lens so I walked out to the edge of the pond to photograph it. I initially set up in landscape orientation then I zoomed out to 500mm, and only had its head and half its neck in the frame! “Oh no, that won’t do!” I thought. I switched to portrait orientation, which fit the whole Egret in the frame, but only half the reflection, and I wanted to get the reflection because it was very clear, and the blue sky and water were gorgeous on this morning.  Next I started pulling my zoom in…400mm, nope, 300mm, nope, 200mm, not quite. I had to back up to get the whole reflection in, and stay at 200mm.  This image isn’t cropped at all.  So, began my learning curve with this lens.

After that week-end I liked the lens so well I bought one,  and have been using it a lot.  I’m on the down side of the learning curve now. 🙂

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR hired unit| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Thursday Doors 10/52 Nº21245

Posted in Architecture, Photography, Santa Clara County, Thursday DoorsTagged , , , , 29 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Saturday we had pouring rain and a lot of wind and there was quite a bit of debris all over the steep road when He-Man and  I went for a “stretch our legs” walk Sunday morning.

Most folks had already swept up or were in the process, but these owners must have slept in. Nº21245

Nº21245 After the Storm

… continuing on with the statuary decor  by the door theme I spied this door- Nº12903

Nº12903

I like the design, and how they carried that into the glass panels. I really like the Lions guarding the doors.  I don’t care for the door knocker on the door. I find it distracting, and only one door has a knob. I would have two. That’s just me.  Maybe they were going for a Yin-Yang thing?

This post is part of Norm 2.0 Thursday Doors. To see all the doors posted this week click  here then click on the little blue view/sync up button at the bottom of his page where you’ll be directed to links to all those participating.

More to come…

 

Monochrome Madness 2 48\52 Silos

Posted in Agriculture, Americana, Black and White Photography, California, Monochrome Madness2, Photography, Sacramento Valley, CA, SilosTagged , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I am loving Silos at the moment, and wish I was a little closer to the central valley or countryside where there are more of them.  In the right light I think they’re really interesting and tell wonderful stories.

These silos are located in Sacramento Valley where a lot of rice is grown.

Monochrome Madness 2 48 of 52 Silos

I added a border with the curly edges because it reminded me of the old black and whites

from my childhood, and I thought it worked for this image.

This is part of Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2 challenge. To view all the images

submitted this week click here. here.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 28-105mm| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film| PS CC 2015, Nik Silver Efex Pro, and On1 Photo 10

More to come…

Bewick’s Wren Pen & Wash

Posted in Photography23 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It poured down rain all day Saturday foiling my birding plans so, I was really lazy all morning, then He-Man and I thought soup for dinner at our favorite Japanese restaurant would be good on such a cold, blustery, raining day which prompted me to shower, and get dressed.  Hours early, but I was motivated.  Feed me and I’ll follow you anywhere! 🙂

Then I spent a couple hours getting ready for our upcoming tax appointment. UGH! I’ll be glad when that’s over!

After that I thought what the heck I’ll try to draw a bird since I can’t go out birding.

I drew it in pencil then went over that with  Pigma Micron pens 03, and 01. The paper is Arches 140lb Hot Press watercolor paper. It’s a smoother less toothy paper which I find I

prefer more than the cold press paper which has a lot more texture. Then I added a wash using my Turner Watercolors.

I used my MimiK Kolinsky 12 round, and Robert Simmons Sapphire #8 round brushes.

Color mixing. I really need to find the box that has my book in it about color mixing!

I struggled with the gray.  I ended up opening a tube of black and mixing a bit with ultramarine blue, and turquoise to get the color I sort of wanted. It’s a bit darker than it should be in the neck area, but I’m learning!

Bewick's Wren Pen and Watercolor WashI wanted to use my own image as my muse, but my image was rather blah with very little color so, I went online to find a reference photo.  I’d like to thank photographer  Jacob S. Spendelow,  who’s image I found to use. The link to the reference image is here.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 28-105mm| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015| Tripod

More to come…

 

Oh joy, oh bliss…

Posted in American Robin, Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Photography, WinterTagged , , , , , , , , 21 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

They’re mine! All mine!

Mine, Mine, Mine! They're all Mine!

It was a great morning for this American Robin, and for me too. It was a lot of fun

seeing him on this branch so full of berries.

American Robin-Male San Mateo County, CA

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

More to come…