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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I was up in the Sierras for the week-end with one of my Meet-Up groups doing some Fall Color photography before the storm that was due to hit on Monday and possibly wipe out all the leaves. Several of us stayed the night and planned to shoot in the area on Sunday as well.

We got up at 3:15AM on Sunday morning then drove out to a spot to catch the sunrise and a bit of the remaining dark sky in hopes of catching a Meteor from the Orionid Meteor shower that was peaking this week-end. Once we got there my companions elected to wait until the blue period before hiking down. So I went alone.

I hiked to a good spot and set up, but not too level I’m afraid and started shooting. I saw quite a few meteors streaking by. I thought I’d missed most of them fearing they were out of my field of view, but I was so thrilled when I uploaded my photos last night to find I had captured quite a few and I even got a shot of the pair I saw streaking by. It was magical and awesome watching the sky and seeing so many meteors streaking by.
It was worth getting up for.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@17mm| f 2.8| 25 seconds| ISO 3200| Manual Priority| Tripod|

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

So are ghost, goblins, huge spider webs, and spiders, and little graveyards are popping up too! ")

Nikon D700| Nikkor 85mm| f3.2| 1/250 sec| ISO 200| Hand-held

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I had a fabulous afternoon and evening this year doing the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk.
I did it last in 2010 with a great group and the leader of that group signed up to do it again this year only later in the day and into the evening. My old friend Rummy signed up too. It was great to see him. We haven’t hung out in quite awhile.
Our photowalk was in downtown Campbell,CA, and this week-end was Oktoberfest there too. It was great fun meeting lots of new people and seeing all the people out having a great time.
This is my last shot of the night and my favorite from the walk.

 

UPDATE 11/9/2012– This photo was the winner for my walk! I’m so excited. I think it moves up to the next level, but I have to read the rules. I never expected to win. The prize at this level is an Ebook version of The Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 28mm| f8| 1/03 sec| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Tripod

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Santa Clara County, California

Nikon D700| Nikkor 24mm AF-D| f8| 0.8 sec| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Tripod

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

This was the view from my cabin on board the Freedom of the Seas on sailing day.
All three ships were pulling out on this Sunday evening. I sailed with Royal Caribbean on a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. It was a lot of fun, and a great ship.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35 @19mm| f8| 1/1000 sec| ISO 200| Aperture Priority| Hand-held

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

We saw a few Golden and Bald eagles while we were in OR looking for birds to photograph. This one got spooked and took flight when we pulled over to photograph it. We were all so excited to see it. They aren’t ever seen where we live in CA so this was quite thrilling. I was shooting through an open car window and since the Eagle was so high I couldn’t use the window sill as a prop unfortunately. Overall I’m happy with it and thought it was worth keeping.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 300mm +2xTC=600mm|f8|1/1250 sec| ISO 800| Hand-held

Oregon, USA, Spring

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Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I took this photo back in May 2012. Several friends and I went up to Oregon for the breeding season, and to spot Grebes. We found them. It was a fun and challenging birding trip. One I hope to re-do.
These birds are so cute and look so pretty in morning and late afternoon light.
This is a Breeding adult.
I rented the Nikkor 300mm f2.8 for this trip and fell in love with it. I’m saving for a big lens. I want to try the 500mm f4 before I decide to buy anything. In the meantime I’ll rent the long lenses.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 300mm f2.8 + 2x TC=600mm| f10| 1/200sec| ISO 500| Manual Priority| Tripod