Travel – Page 6 – Circadianreflections Blog

A Waltz at Fezziwigs

December 12, 2013December 12, 2013Posted in California, Events and Fairs, Photography, TravelTagged Charles Dickens, Dickens Fair, San Jose Nature Photographer, TravelLeave a comment

My friend Alex and I arrived at the Dickens Fair just at opening and went straight to Fezziwig’s & Company to get our gear out and ready to take photographs of the extraordinary people and costumes we were about to see. Little did we know that about to begin was a wonderful Waltz!

After the first Waltz they invited the guest (us) to take a turn with an experienced dancer (read actor)

Alex and I both opted out and took photos of the wonderful characters, and costumes instead. The musicians were fantastic. Not a note or beat missed. I wish I could play the piano as well.

Isn’t that mustache and Top Hat something, and look at those curls in her hair! Imagine how long that took. More than I spend on my hair I’m sure.

A gentleman, and gracious teacher.

mtf

Nikon D700| Nikkor 24-70mmG| SB600- On camera flash| Daly City, California Dickens Fair

San Francisco California

December 10, 2013December 10, 2013Posted in California, Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Photography, TravelTagged Holidays, San Francisco; Night Photography, San Jose Nature Photographer, TravelLeave a comment

San Francisco California, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

After spending a delightful morning and afternoon at the Dickens Fair my friend Alex and I headed up to the city to photograph the skyline all lit up for Christmas. It’s a bit hard to tell here, but the Trans America (Pyramid Bldg) has a red light on top for Christmas. Also, in this photo are the towers of Embarcardero Center, the Ferry Building, and way over to the right is Nob Hill. I was freezing! It dipped to the mid-30’s while we were photographing here.

Willow Flycatcher

November 12, 2013November 12, 2013Posted in Birds, California, Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Travel, WildlifeTagged Birding; San Jose California Nature Photographer;, California Pacific Flyway;, Flycatcher, Veterans Day, Willow FlycatcherLeave a comment

While out birding for Sandhill Cranes and other birds that are migrating to Central California for the winter I got a quick glimpse of this little Flycatcher. I got three rapid bursts off before a Black Phoebe came flying in to chase this bird off the post.

This is a first sighting of this bird for me. I think it’s a Willow Flycatcher. Please correct me if I’m wrong. If it is a Willow Flycatcher it too is wintering here from the Northeast, Mountain, and Northwest states.

I saw him at 3:30pm when the shadows were getting long, and cloudy, diffused light was getting more golden by the minute. I was shooting at f8 to get as much in focus as I could which resulted in this photo being a bit under-exposed, noisy, and a bit soft. I like the painterly effect it’s given the image.

I boosted the contrast,opened up the exposure value, sharpened, and did a little noise clean up when I developed this image.

An image I took of the Phoebe taking control of the post. I wasn’t quite fast enough to get the whole Flycatcher in the frame.

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day in the States and while at lunch we were lucky enough to see the last few passes of an Air Show in honor of our Veterans. Here are some photos I snapped before our lunch arrived.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4

Least Sandpiper

November 8, 2013November 8, 2013Posted in Birds, California, Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Nature, Photography, TravelTagged Birding, CA, Lodi, San Jose Nature Photographer, Sandhill Crane Festival, TravelLeave a comment

These little guys are so cute. I took this last week-end while up north in Lodi for the Sandhill Crane Festival.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-400mm G| Hand-held

Sandhill Cranes are Arriving!

November 3, 2013November 3, 2013Posted in Birds, California, Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged Birding; San Jose California Nature Photographer; Photography;, Lodi, Pacific-Flyway, Sandhill Crane, Sandhill Crane FestivalLeave a comment

I’ve been looking forward to this week-end for a month. It’s that time of year when the Sandhill Cranes return for the Winter Migration. A friend of mine (Judi) has been posting Sandhill Cranes from Merced Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Flyway this past week which really excited me. She reported that they were less skittish, and were a bit closer to the “Auto-Route” we take to see them. I’ve been wanting a really good close up of a Sandhill Crane for years. This report gave me hope that this might be my year.

Yesterday, my friend Rainey and I went over to the Refuge and had a wonderful time. We called Judi and met her at the Refuge. We were not disappointed. The weather was California perfect; sunny, warm, and with a slight breeze. The Cranes were closer than I’d ever seen them.

They are so beautiful with their Red Heart shaped face, and wonderful plumage.

We drove the “Auto-route” several times in the late morning and early afternoon.

We even saw a family group with a juvenile. It’s the little one in front without a red face.

Then we went to lunch at an” old-time” family drive-in Burger Joint called H&M in Merced. They say they’re famous for their seasoned fries which are delicious, but their Guacamole Burger is just as good. The Avocado Burger is my next favorite burger on the menu. After a diet busting lunch we went back to the Refuge for another drive around before heading home.

On this last trip around the refuge we saw groups of Sandhill Cranes flying in for the night.

Today, Rainey, Dali, and I went up north to Lodi to the Sandhill Crane Festival and found the weather completely different from yesterday. Overnight our warm Indian Summer changed to Fall; it was cold, and so windy the top soil was blowing so thick visibility was only 10-20 feet! We didn’t see too many Cranes and those we saw were pretty far back in the fields near the Levees or in the taller rows of mowed corn for protection.

We did see other birds of note: a Belted Kingfisher ( still my nemesis I’m afraid), Dali got the Kingfisher shot today. We also saw Lesser Sandpipers, and a Snipe shown below so, the day wasn’t a total loss.

It was a great birding week-end with friends. I’m looking forward to going back to both Wildlife Refuges this winter.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm G

Moulton Barn-Mormon Row Grand Tetons National Park

October 25, 2013October 25, 2013Posted in Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Landscapes, Nikon, Photography, Travel, US National ParksTagged Grand Teton National Park, Holidays; Valentine's Day; Nature; Wildlife; Ducks; Hearts; Nikon; Nikkor; Photography, Landscapes, Nikon; Travel; Landscapes, San Jose Nature Photographer, Teton Range, U.S. National Parks, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, United States1 Comment

Moulton Barn-Mormon Row Grand Tetons National Park, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.

This place has been on my bucket list since I first passed through here back in the early 1980’s. We didn’t spend any time in the park on that trip and I’ve regretted it since. This barn has been photographed a million times I’m sure, but I had to have my turn.
This was one of the first places my group visited while in the Grand Tetons. We arrived just at sunrise and already there was quite a crowd of people here.
There wasn’t much color pre-sunrise, but once the sun crested the mountains behind me and lit up the Tetons, and the barn it made getting up early and traveling 45 minutes well worth it. I really hope I get another opportunity to return to this area.

Grand Tetons National Park, Mormon Row, Travel and tourism, Nikon Photographer

Sunrise Oxbow Bend and Mt Moran

September 30, 2013September 30, 2013Posted in Copyright 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved., Landscapes, Nature, Photography, TravelTagged Grand Teton National Park, National Parks and Monuments, Teton Range, Travel and Tourism, United States, Wyoming3 Comments

I took this on day 2 of my Yellowstone – Grand Tetons Trip. Usually, I would have been here an hour before sunrise waiting to see if the magic would happen. We got a late start departing from the Inn on this morning, and by the time we parked and I found this composition to shoot the sun was already cresting the mountains. . The clouds started to take on color, and the mountain peaks glowed that wonderful pink and gold we call Alpine Glow.

The river was still, the reflections crisp, and there was a fine mist hanging low over the water. Even though there were at least 75 other photographers lined up around this bend it was quiet, peaceful, and so beautiful.

Arriving at a destination just in time find my composition, set up my equipment, then have all the elements of nature come together to make it all worth while just doesn’t happen to me often. This was magical! A morning I’ll remember forever.

Fall color is in full swing there. You see some of that on the right side of the bank. I was so happy to see and photograph a little Fall Color. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to the Eastern Sierras this year.

If you’re finally old enough to go on a Road Scholar Trip I would do it! I had a great time, and met lovely people. I’m looking forward to my next Road Scholar trip.

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