Nikon – Page 62 – Circadianreflections Blog

A Ground Dweller

March 4, 2012March 4, 2012Posted in California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged Birds, Burrowing Owl, California, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeLeave a comment

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hanging out in Muir Woods National Monument with several photography friends. Several of them had hoped to see owls, but we hadn’t seen or heard any in the 4 hours we had been in the forest. When we met a fellow photographer Dennis A. and he heard there was an interest in seeing owls he kindly shared with us the location where several pairs of Burrowing Owls live.

My friend Dali who is an avid Raptor/bird photographer was eager to go to see if we could find them, and find them we did. (see his photo of the Burrowing Owl here)

I first spotted the pair and thought they might be Ground Squirrels, but as we pulled around I saw they were a pair of Burrowing Owls perched just outside their nest, and partially hidden by a little patch of tall grass. They’re adorable!

After parking the car and grabbing our gear we quickly but cautiously made our way to the nest. Once spotted the female dove into the burrow, while the male stood guarding the entrance. Not expecting to do any bird photography I wasn’t carrying my longest lens yesterday, so I was not able to get as close a shot as I would have liked, but getting as close as I dared I fired a few shots before the male dove into the burrow. Here he is just before he dove into the burrow.

Once in the burrow the male kept his head out keeping watch. He’s all eyes and beak!

It was quite exciting to see them. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Burrowing Owls.

We crept just a bit too close for his comfort and he disappeared down the burrow not to be seen again.

Dennis said there are several pairs living in this field, and we did spot another pair but they must have received word that we were about because before we even neared half the distance between us and them they dove into their burrow.

While wandering around looking for the owls we did see turtles sunbathing along an irrigation canal. That was an unexpected surprise.

Dennis A. here’s a huge “SHOUT OUT!” for sharing with me and a couple of friends the location to these Burrowing Owls that have made a field in Vacaville, CA. home. Thank you!!!

Nikon D700| Nikkor 180mm f2.8| Induro CT213 Tripod

Pheasant Under Grass

February 29, 2012February 29, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged All rights reserved, California, D300s, In the wild, National Wildlife Refuges, Nature, Nikon, Nikon D300S, Photography, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wildlife2 Comments

This is my first Pheasant capture! A couple of friends and I were shooting with a Meet-up group in Solano County and were on the way back from lunch when one of my companions noticed him. I was shooting from a car window, and didn’t think anything would be very good, but was thrilled to see this shot would be a keeper. I love his coloring, wing patterns, and long tail. Even though he’s sort of camouflaged in the grass I’m thrilled that I was able to capture a photo of him in his natural habitat. He darted behind a knoll just after this shot. I didn’t see him again.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 70-300 @ 300| f5.6| 1/1600 sec| Iso 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Planetary Conjunction

February 27, 2012February 27, 2012Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Astrophotography, Jupiter, Moon, Night Photography, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon D700, Photography, Planetary Conjunction, Venus2 Comments

Thanks Dali and Andy for reminding me about this astronomical event. Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon lined up in a triangle to form a special conjunction on Feb. 25, 2012. We spent a lot of time online emailing each other about places we liked to shoot this. I kept looking at this area of the city and I asked the guys to look at it too. After the guys looked at it on TPE (The Photographer’s Ephemeris) they too liked it and we decided to shoot it here. Andy didn’t join us he decided to make some progress on his computer project so it was Dali, Phil, and I who shot here. It was fun, but cold!

The forecast called for a clear sky, but what we had were intermittent clouds, and a low fog bank. As soon as Venus dropped into the fog we called it a night. The Crescent Moon is in those clouds, but Jupiter and Venus are clearly visible.

To see what Dali shot go here

To see Phil’s photo go here

“Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship-never.” ~Charles Caleb Colton

February 16, 2012February 16, 2012Posted in California, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Engagement Rings, Love, Nikon, Nikon D300S, Photography5 Comments

Last night around 3 AM my daughter sent me a text message. Feeling that dread one feels when there is a call at 3AM I said, “This can’t be good.” The text said, ” You have to be home in the morning!” :):):)”

I replied via a text, “R U Okay!?!??!!!!”

She called me straight-away after that and said, “I’m engaged!” I said, “Obviously you said yes!” We hung up after agreeing on time for her to come over. I couldn’t get back to sleep!

I couldn’t wait for her to get over here so I could give her a hug, and kiss, and of course see her ring.

Engagement Ring — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved

Both Baby Girl and John are radiant. They’re beaming smiles are ear to ear.
He whisked her away after he finished work last night and drove her blind-folded, blind-folded! to Santa Cruz; the place of their first date and proposed there.

Allie's Engagement Ring — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved

No date yet…they’re still floating from the engagement. I am thrilled for them both!

American Bittern

February 16, 2012February 16, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, American Bittern, California, D700, Nature, Nikkor, Nikon, Photography, Water fowl, WildlifeLeave a comment

Sunday afternoon I spent with Rainey and Dali photographing birds and waterfowl. Late in the day we saw a Bittern and an Eurasian Wigeon. The lighting and weather weren’t ideal; the sky was getting darker both due to time, and it had been stormy the night before so the sky was still overcast and flat. Monday the sky was blue, and the sun was shining so we decided to go back in the afternoon to take advantage of the better light. The Bittern was there in the same place we’d seen it before tucked in the reeds under an overpass with the late afternoon sun warming his back. This shot was taken from the overpass looking down on him/her.

I uploaded Lightroom Beta 4 to try it out. I’m a bit lost since this is the first time I’ve ever tried LR, but I have to say the highlights and shadow recovery sliders are pretty good. The white feathers around his neck were pretty blown out due to the late afternoon sun beating right down on him. LR did a great job of bringing back the detail in his feathers on his shoulder, and neck. I’m going to be using LR4 for the next several weeks. I’ll be sharing my thoughts and feelings about it as I learn it.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200 @200mm+ Tamron 1.4x TC| f8| 1/50sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode|hand-held

Dreams…

February 15, 2012February 15, 2012Posted in California, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged D700, Nature; Landscape, Nikkor, Nikon, Photography, Travel, Wildlife2 Comments

…”but you never know, traveling, around what bend;

The dreams will curve to an end,

And what will happen then.”

Mary Oliver

I hope you have some time today to slip away to dream, to hope, and plan.

California country-side a day after a storm

Black-crowned Night-Heron

February 11, 2012February 11, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Black-crowned Night Heron, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon D700Leave a comment

When in range the 70-300mm VR really is a good lens! (click photo to view it large. It looks awful compressed to this size!) We had an overcast sky yesterday, but for a few brief moments the sun peeked through the clouds and lit him nicely just as if I ordered it.
This is my best Black-crowned Night-Heron to date. I wish all the birds I chase were within range of my lens.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300mm @ 300mm| f7.1| 1/500 sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held

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