Tag: Nature

Wordless Wednesday 7/52

Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Hawks, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Photography, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Wordless WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , 29 Comments

Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017

More to come…

Wordless Wednesday 6/52 Band-tailed Pigeon

Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Life List Birds, Nikon, Photography, Project 52, Wordless WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Banded-tail Pigeon

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f/4| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017

More to come…

 

Wordless Wednesday 5/52

Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Nikon, Photography, Project 52, Santa Clara County, Wordless WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , 31 Comments

Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm @460mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2017

More to come…

Along Swanson Creek

Posted in Creeks and Streams, Landscape Photography, Long Exposures, Nature Photography, Nikon, Photography, Santa Clara County Parks, waterfallsTagged , , , , , , , 33 Comments

Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

After all the rain we have had I’ve been itching to get out to Uvas Canyon to photograph the creeks, and waterfalls, but Uvas Canyon County Park was closed for about 2 weeks due to flooding, and high water. It just reopened on the 27th so, this morning #1 Grandson and I went up there for a little hike.

The creeks are full of rushing water hurrying down the hills, and the waterfalls are full and lovely.

I stopped along the creek to make some images on the way up the trail.

swanson-creek_dmz8788

I really wanted to get in the creek and get to some better angles, but with #1 Grandson with me that wasn’t a good idea. He was wanting to get in to go for BIG rocks to throw. 🙂

Swanson's Creek

He was trooper and made it all the way up to Upper Falls, and back on his own two feet. Although while throwing rocks in the creek he waded in after a big rock and got his feet and shoes wet.  He said he had lots of fun today.

He did sit and pose for me, and give me a silly smile.  I’m crazy about this boy!

Jaxon Swanson's Creek Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park

I am hoping to get back up there with my Wellies and maybe not #1 Grandson so I can get in the creek and head up and down a few more trails where there other little cascading falls to photograph.

I have several more images to work on I’ll share soon.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 17-35mm| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2017 & On 1 Photo 10.5

More to come…

 

 

 

 

 

Super Moon Rising November 2016

Posted in California Wildlife Reserves, National Wildlife Refuges in California, Nikon, Photography, Sandhill Cranes, Super MoonsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , 35 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post here that photographing November’s Super Moon was N° 1 on my photography list of things to do this past week-end.

Quite awhile back I made plans to shoot it with with friends, and a photography group we’re in in central California at a Sandhill Crane Refuge called Woodbridge Ecological Reserve aka Isenberg Crane Reserve.    The Sandhill Cranes Winter here, and in November both Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes are on the Reserve.

The goal was to photograph the Sandhill Crane’s evening Fly-in and rising Super Moon.

Here is a series of images I made.

It was hazy and a little cloudy, but here is the Moon just rising above the mountains. You can barely see the mountains.

Rising Super Moon

…some Sandhill Cranes making their way into the Marsh.

Sandhill Cranes and the Super Moon November 2016

super-moon-and-reflection

Two Sandhill Cranes flying in high in front of the Moon.

Sandhill Cranes and the Super Moon

Once the sun went down it was pretty tough shooting. I really pushed the ISO to keep my shutter speed up so the Sandhill Cranes wouldn’t be too blurry, but I failed for the most part. I also focused on the Moon and not the Cranes which didn’t help keep the Cranes sharp.  Still. I would do it all over again. It was an amazing evening hearing and seeing the Cranes coming in with this year’s special Super Moon, and the company was the best.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2017 & On1 Photo 10.5

More to come…

Draw-a-Bird Day Nov.2016

Posted in Birds, Draw a Bird Day, Photography, WatercolorTagged , , , , , , , , 33 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I actually painted this in late October and thought if it came out alright I’d post it for this month’s Draw-a-Bird day.

I’ve never seen a Barred Owl in the wild but, would love to!

Barred Owl in Watercolor

Reference/inspiration Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Painted on Canson 140lb coldpress watercolor paper

Paint: Turner Artist Watercolors; sap green, maya yellow, burnt umber, permanent yellow, ultramarine blue

Ink: Carbon Platinum Pen and ink

Brushes: Escoda #6, rd #2 rd , Mimik Kolinsky #12

More to come…

Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras

Posted in birding, Eastern Sierras, Fall Color, Landscape Photography, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , , , 38 Comments

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Here are several images I made while in the Eastern Sierras looking for Fall Colors.

A spillover along a creek…

Spill Over

The back-light was gorgeous on this little tree, but the broken branch looked like an arm with fingers placing the tree in the light to me.

Backlit Leaves

a little cluster of color among the sage brush…Fall Colors

After sunrise I turned around and saw some Alpine Glow on the Sierras so hustled over to the this side to make a quick image. The reflections were nice too.

Alpine Glow on Eastern Sierras from Mono Lake

I was delighted to see a little flock of White Crowned Sparrows. They’re just beginning to show up in the Bay Area to winter where I live.

White Crowned Sparrows

a valley full of color!

Fall Colors

I couldn’t resist a little close up of the new pinecone with the golden Bokeh gleaming behind it.  Feels like Christmas in October. 🙂

Pinecone Virginia Lake Area

I walked back from Misty Fall about a quarter mile to get this shot.  I’m so glad I did. I love this sign!

South Fork Bishop Creek Canyon

 

Nikon Df| Nikkor 17-35mm & 180mm lenses| Delkin Digital Film| Tripod & Hand-held

More to come…