Tag: Nature

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…

 

Sunset Martin’s Beach

Posted in California Beaches, Nikon, Photography, Seascapes, SunsetsTagged , , , , , , , , , 26 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I had the pleasure of joining a favorite Meet-Up group at Martin’s Beach near Half Moon Bay Saturday evening. The waves were amazing. They crashed against the rocks with fantastic booms, and they made cracking sounds as they came rushing toward the shore. I’d never heard that before. It was like ice cracking. Have you heard that sound in the ocean before?
The waves were higher than I expected;  I got soaked up to mid calf. My high top hiking boots, socks, long underwear and pants were soaked.
I took off my boots and socks and spent the rest of the shoot barefoot. I should have taken my Wellies! I was quick to get my camera/tripod rig up above my knees more than once during our time here. 🙂

The atmosphere was incredible while we were there. When we arrived the sun was hidden behind thick clouds, but trying so hard to burn a hole through them, then the fog rolled in, bringing more wind, and a light rain of sand and spray. It was take a shot, clean the lens, cover the camera, and lens, take a shot, clean the lens over and over again.  Then about 20 minutes later the fog mostly cleared out leaving a thin layer of damp and mist in the air.

This was taken right before the sun set completely. I was hoping for more color, but I won’t complain. It was beautiful, and really nice to hang out with friends I hadn’t seen in awhile.

 

Sunset Martin's Beach Half Moon Bay

I got my tripod in the shower and cleaned off straight-away, but I’m off now to clean my filter, lens, and probably my sensor since I have more spots of dust I’m cloning out than I like.

I hope you’re all having a lovely Sunday!

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24-70mm| Tripod|B+W 6 Stop Neutral Density Filter| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015, LR CC, On1 Photo 10

More to come…

California Quail

Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Northern California Birds, Photography, Quail, San Jose California Nature PhotographerTagged , , , , , , , , 34 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

When I was setting up my rig a few weeks ago in Santa Cruz to photograph Hummingbirds a California Quail jumped up on an old weathered post not too far from me surrounded by lovely flowers.  I moved pretty quick to finish setting up my tripod w/Sidekick and mounting my camera hoping it would stick around!

California Quail on Post

“You lookin’ at me?”…

California Quail- The Look

A little Morning Stretch…

California Quail-Morning Stretch

Seeing and photographing this Quail first thing in the morning made my day. They’re so quick, and skittish that I’ve only been able to get a few good images of any.  The rest of the images I made this day were icing on the cake.

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

Wishing you all a great week-end!

More to come…

 

 

 

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…

 

California Thrasher

Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds of North America, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged , , , , , , 12 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I don’t see these guys very often so I was thrilled when I spotted one singing a couple of weeks back.

I carefully and quietly walked closer to it trying to get a closer image, but I spooked it, and even though I waited and waited it didn’t come back.

This image is cropped in a bit.

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| Tripod| Wimberley SideKick| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Harbinger of Spring

Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Cedar Waxwing, Nature Photography, Photography, San Jose California Nature PhotographerTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This has been a fantastic birding season so far!  The Vermilion Flycatcher,  the Red-tailed Hawk with its prey, the elusive Loggerhead Shrike, the Bald Head Eagle I didn’t get a photo of, the pair of Ring necked Pheasants, and the sweet Hermit Thrush on my fence all were amazing, and exciting sightings, but in Winter is there anything better than a Harbinger of Spring?

I heard Cedar Waxwings were showing up, a sure sign that Spring is on the way!  I’ve had Robins in the Ginko tree out in the front yard, and in back yard lately so, I’ve been looking for the Waxwings because, they usually arrive with the Robins, and last year there was a flock of Waxwings in the Ginko trees a few houses away from me. That was a first for me.  You can read about that here

Last week-end my birding friend and I stayed local and found some!

Cedar Waxwings

Soon they were taking turns flying down to the bush with  luscious, ripe red berries   beneath this tree.

Cdear Waxwing Feast

… and one was shy,

Cedar Waxwing

I spent some time photographing the Robins that also were there to feed on the same berries, but I’ll save those images for another post.

I’m off to Yosemite National Park today to photograph something other than birds, and my son and his girl-friend are arriving early Saturday morning for the week-end. It promises to be a stellar week-end!

I’ll catch up with all your posts when I return.  I hope you all have a wonderful week-end!

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

More to come…