“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
Nikon Rumors reports the D700 replacement is rumored to be announced in October 2011. The delay due to the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. This is a better outlook than I had hoped for. I’ve been looking forward to this upgrade for awhile now. Read the whole thing here:
http://nikonrumors.com/2011/05/03/nikon-d800-delayed-till-october-2011-d4-in-early-2012.aspx
H/T Nikon Rumors
http://www.coroflot.com/nedmulka/D5R
This Nikon D5R camera is a designer’s concept created by Ned Mulka. The idea is to include the mirror, prism and sensor into a rotating element that can reduce the camera size and weight.
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Sundial Bridge, Redding,California
The first time I photographed this bridge at night was in 2009, but I only had my monopod with me at the time so, the image wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. I’ve wanted to get up here to do another Night image since then. I love this period of Twilight and am so happy to have had another opportunity to photograph this bridge in this special time of day.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 17-35mm @ 17mm| f8| 4.0 sec.| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Tripod|Remote Release Cable
For the Historians:
The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. Opened July 4, 2004, the bridge links the north and south campuses of Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as a new downtown entrance for Redding’s extensive Sacramento River Trail system.
The bridge celebrates human creativity and ingenuity, important themes of the 300 acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The steel, glass, and granite span evokes a sense of weightlessness and the translucent, non-skid decking provides for spectacular viewing at night. The bridge is also environmentally sensitive to its river setting. The tall pylon and cable stays allow the bridge to avoid the nearby salmon-spawning habitat there are no supports in the water while encouraging public appreciation for the river. Plazas are situated at both ends of the bridge for public use; the north-side plaza stretches to the water allowing patrons to sit at the river’s edge.
In addition to being a functional work of art, the Sundial Bridge is a technical marvel as well. The cable-stayed structure has an inclined, 217 foot pylon constructed of 580 tons of steel. The deck is made up of 200 tons of glass and granite and is supported by more than 4,300 feet of cable. The structure is stabilized by a steel truss, and rests on a foundation of more than 115 tons of steel and 1,900 cubic yards of concrete. The McConnell Foundation, a private, independent foundation established in Redding in 1964, funded the majority of the bridge’s $23 million cost.
World renowned Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava conceived the Sundial Bridge’s unusual design, his first free-standing bridge in the United States. Calatrava has built bridges, airports, rail terminals, stadiums, and other structures around the world. His notable designs include the new PATH transportation terminal at the World Trade Center site in New York City and several projects at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, including the main stadium where opening and closing ceremonies were held.
~Turtle Bay Exploration Park
More to come…
This little tool makes a HUGE difference. What is it?
A Filter Wrench!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=251749&is=REG
How many times have you found your filter “stuck” to your lens, or have you turned it one too many turns making it so hard to get off? It happened to me so often that I bought this set of wrenches about 6 months ago. I have been thrilled with this little wrench. Knock on wood it’s worked every time I’ve needed it, and it’s worked with ease!
This tool has found a permanent place in my camera bag.
Meet Rummy Makmur, a Beauty and Fashion photographer, and good friend based in Santa Clara, CA., a little hamlet in the middle of Silicon Valley.
I met Rummy (pronounced roomy), nearly 3 yrs ago at a Scott Kelby World Wide Photo Walk.
Rummy is a prolific and passionate photographer, balancing both a career in the electronics industry, and his passion for photography. 
Rummy says he’s still working to define and refine his style, but whether he’s shooting edgy, new age, Gothic, or romantic scenes he leaves his mark with his innate sense of style, beauty, and creativity.
CircadianReflections- Give us a little bit about your background, where you were born or, grew up, and when you came to this country?
[Rummy]- I was born and raised in North Sumatra in Indonesia. I came here to the States to attend university and studied chemical engineering.
CircadianReflections- How would you describe yourself as a photographer and describe for us your signature look?
[Rummy] My main interest is shooting beauty and fashion, perhaps more on beauty. I feel beauty is simple to shoot but yet at the same time is challenging. When it’s done right, it is very satisfying. I don’t think I have a signature look even though some people who look at my work may feel I have one. I am still experimenting and trying to define and refine my style.
CircadianReflections- Describe to us how all this began for you?
[Rummy] To be honest, before I bought my first DSLR, I had no interest in photography. I owned a very cheap point and shoot and I rarely used it if any at all. One day, I was in a Cosplay conference and helped my wife take some photos of the Cosplayers. Suffice to say that most of the photos turned out not so good and blurry due to the lighting condition in the conference area. Challenged by that, I started to have more interest in finding out why the images were so bad. I thought having a better camera would give better result so I went and purchased my first DSLR. To my surprise at that time, it did not improve at all. From there, it’s been a journey in learning and finding out about lighting, about color and about what makes a great image. And I am still learning.
CicadianReflections- Describe to us your first “real shoot” where were you, what you were doing, and who you were with?
[Rummy] I tried a lot of genres when I first started: landscape, architecture, street photography, people, etc. I found that shooting portrait was most satisfying and for some reason, I had better eyes for portrait. My first “real shoot” was when I participated in local San Francisco meet up group for Strobist to learn about off camera lighting. That was the first time I shot a model. Having a first shoot was quite exciting and I definitely learned a lot in how to work with a model.
CircadianReflections- What has been your most rewarding achievement as a portrait/beauty artist?
[Rummy] I think that is still to come! Although, I find all my projects rewarding… my goal is to continue to make my shoots more dynamic, and compelling.
CircadianReflections- When you first started what was your biggest dream? And have you accomplished that?
[Rummy] I actually didn’t expect a lot when I first started. I just wanted to take better pictures and learned all things related to photography. My goal right now is to get more publications for beauty and fashion. It’s hard, but I am working on that.
CircadianReflections- Who’s your favorite beauty portrait photographer, and who do you draw inspiration from?
[Rummy] There are a lot of beauty photographers that I admire. I try to browse and look around for inspirations, not just from one photographer. So I don’t have a favorite photographer, per se. However, if I need to name somebody, I really like the work of Gavin O’Neill for beauty and skin work.
CircadianReflections- What is it that you like the most about shooting Portrait/Beauty aside from other types of photography?
[Rummy] As we all know, lighting is important in photography. I feel that I have more control of the lighting when I shoot portrait/ beauty. The lighting will be however I want it to be, even for outdoor. In addition, being able to interact with the subject makes it a bit easier and maybe more interesting.
CircadianReflections- In your opinion what are the tools a photographer must always have in his/her photography kit?
[Rummy] I’d say, from portrait standpoint (I assume these are items that you always carry around):
1. Decent camera (entry level is fine and any brand)
2. good lens
3. Color checker (to adjust white balance and color correction in post)
4. External lighting (minimal should have external flash/ strobes) and its modifiers
Hmm, those are the items that I always carry around.
CircadianReflections- Currently you’re working on your photography business “part-time”, and holding down a regular 8-to-5 job in the Electronics Industry. Do you have aspirations of turning your Photography work into a “full-time” business?
[Rummy] No, not at all. My current goal is not necessarily making this into a business. My dream is to shoot for beauty ad campaigns some day.
CircadianReflections- What’s on the horizon for Rummy Makmur?
[Rummy] I’m hoping for more publications this year.
CircadianReflections- What advice would you give a new photographer who would like to start a business as a Portrait/Beauty Photographer?
[Rummy] I won’t give any advice from business standpoint as I am still learning. But, for any new photographers who are just starting shooting portrait, my advice is to keep shooting and shoot often. That’s the only way to learn.
All photographs Copyright © Rummy Makmur and used with permission for this blog
Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
These birds make me smile! They have such a friendly face, but their walk is awkward…. and….stilted. Probably because they’re trying not to disturb the water as they hunt for food.
“The Black-necked Stilt forages by probing and gleaning primarily in mudflats and lakeshores, but also in very shallow waters near shores; it seeks out a range of aquatic invertebrates – mainly crustaceans and other arthropods, and mollusks – and small fish, tadpoles and very rarely plant seeds. Its mainstay food varies according to availability; inland birds usually feed mainly on aquatic insects and their larvae, while coastal populations mostly eat other aquatic invertebrates. For feeding areas they prefer coastal estuaries, salt ponds, lakeshores, alkali flats and even flooded fields. For roosting and resting needs, this bird selects alkali flats (even flooded ones), lake shores, and islands surrounded by shallow water.” ~ Wikipedia
For this shoot I met photographer, and friend Marianne Bush out at Radio Road which is part of Redwood Shores Reserves. After we shot around the lagoon for a while we walked over to a channel that feeds the lagoon where Marianne had spied a Bufflehead while we were driving in. An aquatic bird in the Sea Duck family that has been on my list for sometime. The Bufflehead was no longer there, but we did see this little duck below. Both Marianne and I were very excited because neither one of us had seen this bird before. Marianne being the much more experienced birder had an idea of what breed it might be. When we left we were both anxious to get into our bird books to see if we could identify it.
Marianne was able to ID it faster than I did. She wrote to tell me we had seen a Blue Winged Teal! Very uncommon on the West Coast. You can image how thrilled we both were. A month later looking at this photo I can still feel that thrill of excitement one gets when seeing a new species for the first time.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f4 @ f5.6| 1/800 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| On a Tripod
The chicks turned into Fledglings over night! I misjudged their age by a week it seems. That “crop milk” is indeed very rich and nutritious for they grew from their tiny new-born, blind, and naked size to this in a week!
I’m sure they could see me by this time (Mar. 11, 2011), or their hearing and sense of smell was awfully good.
March 17, 2011 – Passing the window in the living on my way to the kitchen I saw one of the chicks was standing on the edge of the hanging basket. Yes! Standing there and his/her size was enormous. Nearly as big as its mother. I reversed course to grab my camera to record the moment. A milestone in a Mourning Dove’s life.
Not a chick anymore, but a fledgling now soon to be an adult on his own. I wondered if the other chick had already flown away. I went outside to get a little closer to see if I could spy another head in the basket.
The other fledgling was there keeping a low profile. In the distance I heard the soft cooing of the Mother. I wondered if she was calling them to join her in a tree in another yard.
My instincts told me today was the day they would leave the nest. I wanted to stay nearby with camera in hand. I might get lucky and get a shot of one taking flight, but I couldn’t stay. I had a commitment that took me away from hearth, home, and Mourning Dove leaving day. I watched as long as I could about 30 minutes. The whole time this little one stayed right there on the edge of the basket…feeling the pull to fly, and mustering up the courage to take flight. I hated to leave. I knew they’d be gone by the time I returned later in the morning.
When I returned home I went straight to the nest, and as I feared the nest was empty! I immediately started to look around the yard to see if they had stayed close by. I spied one fledgling on the fence on the side of the yard I’d heard cooing earlier in the morning. Then I heard the cooing again. The Mother was in a tree calling him. I got the camera ready, and took a few shots of him on the fence.
All of a sudden there was rustling of leaves, a flutter of wings, I blinked! A squirrel jumped out of the tree landing next to the Fledgling who took flight, I snapped the shutter…
I didn’t get the shot of him in flight. He was gone.
The 7 days the two Doves were in my hanging basket were a gift. It was wonderful to watch them grow, to learn a little more about them, and feel so close to nature.
I looked at the basket now holding a few weeds, and twigs that was once was their nest and felt a little sadness. I pray they will be safe, and grow to have little chicks of their own, and perhaps, next Spring one of them might find my hanging basket.
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