Nikon – Page 43 – Circadianreflections Blog

Clark’s Grebes

August 6, 2016August 6, 2016Posted in Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Clark's Grebes, Nature Photography, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Bird Photography, Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Clark's Grebes, Grebe Behavior, Grebe Chicks, Nature, Nikon, Photography20 Comments

Today I thought I share some images from my Spring Grebe excursion. We met at 5:45am to get out on the water to see the sun rise over the mountains and get that great light.

We were so fortunate to have a lovely morning with a rosy glow, and the Grebes were up and feeding already as well.

The male Grebes impressed me by how hard they work to feed the family. I’ll try to convey that with some images.

The male making a fish transfer to his mate and a hungry chick poking its head out in anticipation;

Clark's Grebe Pair making fish transfer

…but that little fish was a slippery one and she dropped it, fortunately, she was able to retrieve it quickly!

Clark Grebe Pair

Here a Clark’s Grebe male is just about to make the transfer;

Clark's Grebe Male making Fish Transfer to Female

Here’s a Clark’s Grebe male feeding a fish directly to a chick. That fish looks too big for that tiny bill!

Clark's Grebe Male Transferring Fish to Grebe Chick

With several mouths to feed the male does a whole lot of fishing!

He helps with swimming lessons, and even gives the female a break by allowing the chicks to swim from Mom’s back to his. Western Grebes: Yes, it’s a butt shot. 🙂

Western Grebes

Seeing this was so exciting and so darn adorable!!

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015.5

Have a wonderful week-end Everyone!

More to come…

Thursday Doors 31/52 N°213 W.

August 4, 2016August 3, 2016Posted in Churches and Cathedrals, Doors, Manhattan, New York, Nikon, Nikon DF, Photography, Red Doors, Thursday DoorsTagged Catholic Church, Churches, Manhattan, New York, Nikon, Photography, Potted Garden, Red Doors, St John the Baptist Church, steps, Thursday Doors26 Comments

I’m back in my NYC files for this week’s Thursday Doors post.

After walking the Highline and working up an appetite we stopped at a Taco Vendor’s on the Highline and enjoyed street tacos and nachos. Full now we headed back the way we came and we were wondering what to do next when I spotted the Empire State Building’s spire. It didn’t look like it was too far away so, we decided to walk there.

While walking there I spied this red door and had to stop for a picture of it.

St. John the Baptist Church’s Parish Office Door

Red Doors

Right next to it was a garden gate with which led to a side door to the church.

St John the Baptist Church Side Door

I loved the potted garden, and the doors with the clover moulding and pretty stone archway.

I never saw the front of the church or the inside, but wish I had! I have no information about the church building or church I’m afraid.

This post is part of Norm 2.0’s Thursday Doors. If you love doors and would like to see the doors others are posting, or post doors you’ve photographed and join other door lovers from around the world click here.

At the end of Norm’s latest Thursday Door post is a little Blue Link-up/View button click it to be taken to a page with all the links to view all the posts, and add your own if you’re a door enthusiast too.

More to come…

An Abundance of Cheer!

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016Posted in Composites, Cultivated Flowers, Flowers, Images with Textures, Photography, Still Life, Still Life Photography, StrobistTagged Composite images, Cultivated Flowers, Flowers, Images with Text, Images with Textuers, Kim Klassen, Nikon, Off camera flash, Photography, Still Life, Strobist17 Comments

My week-end wish for you. 🙂

Still-Life

Strobist- SB910 @ 1/4 pwr camera left low-ish bounced off ceiling; triggered via Commander Mode in camera. ( After composing and developing this image in 2014 it’s been marinating on my back up drive) and published now. Marinating an image can be a good thing! I hated this image back then, but like it now. 🙂 Time is a wonderful thing to perception, and feelings. There’s a great lesson here to those who are listening and seeing. 🙂

Texture “savor” by Kim Klassen

More to come…

Thursday Doors 30/52 Trinity Lutheran Church

July 28, 2016July 28, 2016Posted in Architecture, Carson Valley, Churches, Gardnerville, NV, Nikon, Photography, Thursday DoorsTagged Architecture, Churches, Doors, Gardnerville, Nevada, Nikon, Photography, Thursday Doors24 Comments

While over in Minden and Gardnerville, Nevada last Saturday we had a bit of time to kill so I cruised around looking for what else? DOORS! 🙂

The Steeple or Tower caught my eye of Trinity Lutheran Church before I knew what it was so He-Man and I made bee-line to the church.

Trinity Lutheran Church

This may have been the front door at one time, but I think they’re using a door on the East side now. There were quite a few cars in the parking lot on that side, and I did see a large glass door, but didn’t venture over there thinking there was something going on…possibly a wedding. I erred on the side of CHICKEN, and stayed on the north side of the building.

I really like the brick work in the arch entryway, and blond doors. I’m also a huge fan of brass kick plates.

Interesting facts/History:

The church was established in 1877. The first Trinity Lutheran Church in Carson Valley.

The first service in the nearly completed first building was in 1895. The official dedication ceremony for the newly built church was in 1897.

In 1899 a 1,020 pound church bell that was cast in France was installed. I’m guessing the tower holds the bell. Sadly, I didn’t hear it while there, but later that afternoon I heard a church bell, and wondered if this was what I was hearing.

In 1918 the use of German was suspended until after World War I.

In 1930 they selected their first building committee, but the Great Depression in 1931 contributed to the collapse of the first building effort.

1941 World War II begins. Many of their members enter the service 3 of which will not make it back.

Kenneth Storke was killed on the island of Luzon in 1945. His Grandfather, Henry Marquat donated the site for a new church also in 1945.

The following year they selected their second building committee, and in early Fall 1953 they held their last service in the old building.

In the fall of 1953 the new church was dedicated.

~trinitygv.com

Door to Trinity Lutheran Church

A side door closer look

Side Door Trinity Lutheran Church

and two plaques that are on the front brick work near the front doors.

Trinity Luthern Church Dedication Plaque

Building Age Plaque Trinity Lutheran Church

The doors are simple yet elegant, and building is beautiful I think.

I’ll be going back to the area before summer is over we’re looking at houses there, and I will stop by the church to see if I can get a look at the East and South sides of the building…and with any luck maybe a peek inside too. One can hope!

More to come…

Torch Lily

July 26, 2016Posted in Bokeh, Flowers, Kniphofia uvaria Torch Lily, Nikon, Non Native Plants and Flowers, Non-Native Plants, PhotographyTagged Flowers, Kniphofia uvaria, Nikon, Non Native Flowers, Photography, Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma20 Comments

Torch Lily has several common names- Red Hot Poker, and Tritoma, but its real name is Kniphofia uvaria. It gets it’s name Red Hot Poker from the shape of the blossom, and Torch Lily from the blossom, and the shape of its leaves which are similar to the Lily. They get to be quite tall, and can bloom at different times of the growing season. I made this image in the Spring while out birding.

It’s looks amazing against a green or dark background.

Flower Photography

It’s a non-native plant to California. It originated in Cape Provence of South Africa, but it isn’t uncommon here.

When reading about this plant I discovered it’s become invasive in south-eastern Australia and they consider it an environmental weed. I guess it spreads easily damaging native and sensitive ecosystems. It may come to that here too, but it’s pretty, and a show stopper.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2015.5

Heads Up– Adobe PS CC had a Bridge, and Adobe Camera Raw Update today. If you have PS CC just open your cloud thingy and Bob’s your Uncle! I will say since moving to the subscription service Updates are easy.

More to come…

Humpback Whales

July 18, 2016July 17, 2016Posted in Monterey Bay, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Travel and Tourism, WhalesTagged Blue Ocean Cruises, Humpback Whales, Monterey Submarine Canyon, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Sea Mammals, Travel and Tourism, Whale Watching40 Comments

Saturday I spent late morning until early afternoon at sea Whale Watching outside of Monterey, CA. We sailed about 12 miles off shore to the Monterey Submarine Canyon where there were quite a number of Humpback Whales, Gray Whales, and a Blue Whale feeding on Krill, and other little fishes that were abundant on Saturday.

“The Monterey Submarine Canyon is quite large…an undersea Grand Canyon. It’s 470 kilometers (292 miles) long and approximately 12 kilometers (39 ft) at its widest point with a maximum rim to floor relief of 1,700 meters (5,577feet).” ~Simon Sanctuary

It’s was quite exciting seeing the Whales! I didn’t see a Breach this time out, but saw lots of Spouting, or Blowing.

Humpback Whale Spouting

It was overcast, windy, and a bit choppy out at sea the whole time. The Sun only peeked out a couple of times.

I saw some Fluking when the whales are going to dive down as much as 50 meters.

Humpback Whale Fluking

Once they reach the depth they want they begin to slowly rise by spiraling up to the surface often in teams creating a Bubble Net. The purpose of the bubble is to congregate the Krill and prey and force them to the surface. The Krill and fish see the bubbles as a net and feeling trapped they stay in the center of the Bubble Net. The Whales come up with an explosion of air with their mouths wide open eating all they can.

Here are two images of a fin of a Humpback Whale when it breaks the surface while they’re under the surface spinning.

Humpback Whale Spouting w Flipper showing

Humpback Whale Flipper;

The Humpback often get under that Bubble Net and Lunge up with their mouths gaping open scooping up the prey. Here you see at least 3 working as a team.

Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding

I see four working together here.

Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding

Humpback Whale Lunge feeding.

Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding

Humpback Whales spend the winter in the warm waters near Costa Rica and Hawaii. Humpbacks, including mothers with calves travel thousands of miles to feast on krill, and schooling fish in the Monterey Bay while they migrate north to their feeding waters in Alaska. They grow to be 45ft to 62ft (14-19 meters) long!

I missed quite a few good photo ops b/c for the first time in my life I got sea sick. It’s NOT FUN! I will go again but, I’m taking medicine before hand.

The images are not converted to Black & White. It was so gray out that they look black and white.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200mm| Lexar Digital Film| Hand-held| Developed in PS CC 2015.5

More to come…

Insects of Point Reyes National Seashore

July 15, 2016Posted in Beetles, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Butterflies, Insects, Photography, USA National ParksTagged Banded Birds, Beetles, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Point Reyes National Seashore, Skippers, US National Parks, White-crowned Sparrow29 Comments

I had pretty good luck spotting insects while hiking in Point Reyes National Seashore last week-end. I saw Butterflies, Beetles, and Grubs. Here’s a sampler. 🙂

I’m pretty sure this is a Skipper, but I can’t find anything that looks exactly like it in my books, or online so, don’t know what it is. I found it in Point Reyes National Seashore last week-end; July 9,2016. Anyone know what it is and what it is called?

Unknown Skipper or Butterfly?

Other insects I found while exploring different areas of the park were:

A ladybug, one of several I saw…

a green and black beetle called a Spotted Cucumber Beetle,

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

who was pretty hungry,

Spotted Cumcumber Bettle

…a Common Buckeye Butterfly

Common Buckeye Butterfly

…and a grub or grasshopper served a la carte to a White Crown Sparrow that is banded. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a banded sparrow.

Banded White Crown Sparrow

Nikon Df w/28-105mm lens and Delkin Digital Film, and Lumix FZ200 w/ Lexar Digital Film- Hand-held

More to come…

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