Tag: Nikkor

On a clear day…

Posted in hikes, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

On a clear day…, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
On this Sat. morning I rose a bit later than usual and took a leisurely 1.5 hour drive over to East Glacier to meet Ranger Pat Hagan. Pat was leading me and several other hikers up the Scenic Point Trail.
Pat expanded on the trail giving us more of an idea of what we were about to take on going on this hike.
He said, “We’re going to be hiking up roughly 23 stories today, and, we’re taking the stairs.”

The trail has 16 switchbacks getting longer the higher you climb. Every 4th switchback or so Pat had a story. Most were about bears. Bear management, behavior, and safety which I found interesting, and educational.
I turned around to look back here. I’m about halfway to the top at this point. It’s windy up here, and worth the effort to get here. Look at this view! That’s Two Medicine Lake, and way down there by the waters edge is a campground where many of my hiking companions were camping, and about half inch above the Z in my signature in the right corner is the parking lot my Va-Va is parked in under a shady pine tree.
Hike details
7.80 miles rd trip
2,853ft elevation gain
5h57m total time

The trail is steep, but the switchbacks help make the going easier.

See my complete hiking stats here.

My GPS unit is this one here.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 17-35@ 24mm| f5.6| 1/250 second| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held

“…the glory of our parklands is too precious to be sacrificed…Steps must be taken to protect our dearly won recreation lands…”~ J.D. Grant

Posted in California, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

It looks a bit compressed in this view. Please click in the photo to view it larger.

Took a drive out to Grant Lake with Dali today and wandered around. It’s really pretty now. I don’t visit this park often enough.

D300s| Nikkor 17-35@ 17mm| f8| 1/500 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod

The Matadors

Posted in California, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Portuguese & Azorean Style California Bloodless Bullfights

Matador means “killer” and one who fights bulls on foot.

Photograph by Deborah M. Zajac. © All Rights Reserved

These are who we’ve come to see. Their ensemble is quite elaborate with both their riding pants, and bolero jackets being covered with sequins that glint, sparkle in the afternoon or evening light. The Matador is sequined in Gold and their costume is called. “Suit of Light”.  Matadors have worn suits like this since the 1800’s.

Matadors are professionals. They have training, and have gone through a ceremony to become professional called the “alternativa”.

Bullfighting is considered a Performance Art, not a sport.   There is no contest or elements of competition among the bullfighters.

When the Matador first faces the bull he uses the pink cape and tries to tire the angry bull out, and weaken him.

Photography by Deborah M. Zajac. © All Rights Reserved.

While watching the Matador lead the bull around the ring I kept thinking, “It’s a dance.”  The Matador is very graceful, and his steps are small, quick, and purposeful.  Notice his shoes? They remind me of ballet slippers. Notice too how he holds his feet.  He rarely stands with his feet apart. He stands tall, and I want to say compact…his limbs are held in close so he can move quickly if needed.

When the Matador feels the bull is tired, and weakened he switches to the Red Cape, and his sword. The last of the dance is about to begin.

Photography by Deborah M. Zajac. © All Rights Reserved

In some countries the Matador would kill the bull, but the Portuguese and Azorean style the sword is symbolic, and used for traditions sake. The bull is not killed. The Matador uses his “Velcro dart” to symbolically kill the bull.  In California it is illegal to kill the bull as well.

Photograph by Deborah M. Zajac. © All Rights Reserved.

The best Matadors kill the bull on the first strike. The fans applaud, and chant Bravo! They toss him single flowers, and bouquets, as he walks around the arena thanking the fans for their support.

Photograph by Deborah M. Zajac. © All Rights Reserved.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200mm| Induro CT213 tripod

Resources:

Wikipedia

The Art of California Bloodless Bullfights

1st Summit to Mission Peak

Posted in California, hikes, Nikon, Nikon D90, PhotographyTagged , , 2 Comments
1st Summit to Mission Peak, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

My husband whom I call Heman has been hiking a lot with me these last 2 months. We’ve hiked to Black Mountain 2 times, and up and down the PG&E trail quite a few times so I thought he might like to hike up to Mission Peak. He’s never done it before after-all.
Today he asked me if I wanted to hike up to Vista Point this afternoon, and I said how about Mission Peak instead. He hesitated a moment then said, “Why not.”
I took him up Horse Heaven Trail, and we descended via the Peak Trail.

He felt great. I didn’t. Horse Heaven nearly beat me today. I kept going and made it up to take this photo of Heman. I call him Heman because he can open jars  with his bare hands! He doesn’t  have to bang the lid with a knife, or some other blunt object, and he can do anything that requires muscles and strength, and he can lift me up over his head! Yes, both he and my son have on more than one occasion lifted me up as if I were a bar bell to the ceiling. I think the name suits him to a T. 🙂

Hike details:
My time to the Top- 2h4m
Total hike time- 3h24m
started at 328ft
Total ft gained- 2,236ft
Total Miles- 6.45

Nikon D90| Nikkor 18-200mmVR@20mm| f8| 1/500 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Related articles

Giving it the Ole College Try

Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Nikon D90, PhotographyTagged , , , , 2 Comments

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Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I wrote the date down for June’s full moon and it’s position to set over the San Francisco skyline back in Feb. I had hoped I would be able to photograph it, but you know what they say about, “The best laid plans…”
I had work scheduled early this particular week on the days of the full moon setting, so couldn’t make it up to the city. The first free morning I had to try it was Friday. The moon was 98% full, and a lot higher than I had wanted it to be, but I wanted to try it anyway. Practice! Had I waited for the Moon to be lower where I really wanted it, it would have been daylight and too bright. By 5:30a.m. it was too light. So light that the lights on the bridge went off then!
The belt of Venus is lovely isn’t it. The skyline was diffused by a light fog hanging over the city.
I love it when even the failures are fun, and the view is pretty, and friend Downhill Dali who is so NOT a morning person got up, met me, and went up to the city with me to shoot. Thanks Dali!

Nikon D90| Nikkor 17-35 @ 24mm| f11| 30 seconds| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod

Juvenile Northern Pacific Rattlesnake

Posted in California, hikes, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Nikon D90, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday afternoon I hiked up to Black Mt. starting from a new to me trail-head. On the way down he was sunbathing on the side of the trail. Heman nearly stepped on him! He was about 2ft long, not too fat, and only had 4 rings on his rattle. I didn’t get all that close to him. I stayed on the other side of the fire road/trail.
About 1/2 mile from the end of my hike I saw another smaller one sitting on the side of the trail.
Yesterday afternoon was the day for wildlife. I saw a deer, a rabbit, 2 rattlers, and a hawk eating something. I couldn’t tell what it was I was too far away.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 18-200mmVR @ 170mm| f10| 1/25 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held
Hike details
Black Mt Trail via Rhus Ridge Trail
Total hike 10 miles
Total feet gained 2,549
Total time: 4h 33mins.
Average speed 2.2mph

Correction- Thanks to Correcamino for correctly Identifying this rattler for me!