Draw-a-Bird Day

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…

 

Thursday Doors 14/52 Hearst Castle Guest Room

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

At the end of March while down in Morro Bay, CA. He-Man and  I visited Hearst Castle. It had been over 30 yrs since our last visit.  The tours and visitors center have changed since our first visit.

We saw a bit of everything back then, but this time that wasn’t an option so, we chose to the Upstairs Guest Rooms, Hearst’s Bedroom, and Marion Davies Bedroom.

I’ll be sharing more doors and rooms in future posts, but here’s a Guest room door.

It was one of the most decorative and opulent doors I saw while on the tour.

Hearst Castle Guest Bedroom Door

 

 

The entire bedroom was gorgeous; trimmed with gold leaf, and works of art on the walls, and decorating the furniture.

Guest Bedroom Hearst Castle

Mantle in Guest Bedroom Hearst Castle

A view of the castle while riding up the hill to the castle in the transport bus.

Hearst Castle from the Visitors Center

More about Hearst Castle from Wiki-Pedia

Hearst Castle is a National and California Historical Landmark mansion located on the Central Coast of California, United States. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947[3] for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. The California Park Commission voted to approve its inclusion in the California State Park System, which was approved by the California State Legislature in 1954 with a proposed admission charge of $1 per person ($9 adjusted for inflation) and a 50¢ bus ride.[4] However, ironing out the details with the Trustees of the Hearst Estate and the Hearst Corporation took several years. Agreement was finalized in 1957, and it opened in 1958.[5] Since that time it has been maintained within the Hearst San Simeon State Park where the estate, and its considerable collection of art and antiques, is open for public tours. Despite its location far from any urban center, the site attracts “millions of travelers each year”.[6]

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, or add your own.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24-70mm| Delkin Digital Film| Hand-held| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Monochrome Madness 2 52/52 Close Up

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is the last post for Monochrome Madness 2 as well as the completion of my one year commitment to participate in it. It’s been a lot of fun, and at times challenging. I’ve learned a lot about what images work in Black and White better than others.

This week is also our Theme Week which is Close-up.  The last 3 annual Imaging Projects I’ve done I’ve completed the project with an image made with one of my Mascots, and I didn’t want to break the streak .

Here’s Woody wishing Monochrome Madness 2, and all its participants a “Happy 2nd Anniversary!”  Congratulations everyone for completing the year!

Monochrome Madness 2 52/52 Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Thank you Leanne for hosting this fun annual imaging project this past year. I appreciate all the work you do to make it happen!

To see all the images posted for this week’s MM2 challenge click here.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 105mm micro| Delkin Digital Film| Tripod| PS CC 2015 & On 1 Photo 10

More to come…

 

 

Thursday Doors 13/52 Morro Bay, CA

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I spent the week-end in Morro Bay, CA. and of course couldn’t help but notice a door or two. 🙂

The first door I encountered that I loved were the built-in sliding blind doors that covered our sliding glass doors in our room at Embarcadero Inn. I liked them so much I’m going to have them put on our sliding glass door when we replace the 5 doors we didn’t do in the remodel last year. That will be after we finish the new retaining walls, and planting in the backyard which is happening this week.

Anyway, here’s what those blinds look like. We had a view of the Harbor, but not Morro Rock.

Rm 211 Embarcadero Inn, Morro Bay CA.

Nº 495- I liked the waves etched in the glass on this door.

Nº495 Door Morro Bay CA

Nº 830- Sun~n~Buns Bakery’s side door +1- there were delicious odors wafting from this door. It was with great will-power that we walked by it without going in. We were saving our appetites for dinner.

Nº830 Sun~n~Buns Bakery

Nº 1185- The Portal Window and flag drew me to this door, the menu drew us in for dinner. Great American Fish Co.  We both had the Mesquite Grilled Talipia. It was so tender, and good I ate the whole filet!

Nº1185 Great American Fish Co. Morro Bay

I couldn’t pass up the doors on two boats docked in the harbor. Could you? 🙂

This first one I liked how weathered the door was, and I saw an abstract image in it. I wish I had my longer lens with me just then!

Fishing boat, Morro Bay, CA

Papagallo II the yacht’s door struct me as being clean, classic, and the oak gave me the impression that it was sturdy and strong.  Is she a yacht? I don’t know boats very well, but I know what I like! 🙂

Papagallo II, Morro Bay, CA

There were two unusual  homes that I came across while keeping an eye out for doors, although one is only a partial door I hope Norm, and the Door Purist forgive me for this entry, but I couldn’t resist.

The Windmill House: Was the home of Gladys Walton the silent film star. She added on the Windmill late in her life.  She also built a Lighthouse house in Morro Bay, but I missed that one! She died in Morro Bay at the age of 90. You see, I could only see part of the upper door on the balcony, and the back door due to the fence.

The Windmill House-Morro Bay, CA

Nº 1270- The Pueblo House- I thought this house was really out of place here at the coast, but perhaps not being California. While I was taking photos of the doors, and house the owner or resident came home. Thankfully, he was really nice and thought it was cool that I was taking photos of his doors. PHEW!

Nº1270 The Pueblo House, Morro Bay, CA

Nº1270 image 2, front of the house

Nº 1270 The Pueblo House, Morro Bay, CA

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, or add your own.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24-70mm| Delkin Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I’m posting this a bit early because He-Man and I are celebrating our 35th Wedding Anniversary this week-end.  No one is more surprised than us that we’ve been married this many years.  Time has just flown by!

Table Mt. Spring Lupine in Full Bloom

Regarding this image- I made it last March about this same time when the Lupine was in full bloom up on the mesa.

Our plans for this week-end? He-Man and I  are going to celebrate us, and wrap ourselves up in each other, and nature over a long week-end.  I’ll be offline until Monday.  🙂

May  your Easter Basket be filled to the brim with goodies and love. Happy Easter!

If you don’t celebrate Easter I hope you enjoy the week-end with those you love.

Nikon Df| Nikkor 24mm f/2.8af-d| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film| PS CS5 and PS CC 2015

More to come…

 

Sunset Martin’s Beach

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

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…