“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Taken last Saturday morning in Carmel by the Sea, CA. It was still overcast, and a bit cloudy which provided a lovely soft light on these two Sanderlings that were foraging up a little higher on the beach.
Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4 w/Nikkor 14eII Teleconverter
More to come…
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This little bird is a first sighting for me. I think it’s a Black Turnstone which is in the Sandpiper family.
This one and several others were feeding on the rocks near the shore while some Oyster Catchers were preening or trying to nap.
I always try to focus in on a small detail here and there while out shooting and yesterday the fallen feathers laying on the sand caught my eye~
It was a great morning to be on the coast birding.
More to come…
Taken September 13, 2014 in Carmel, CA- Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4 + Nikkor 14eII Teleconverter
Copyright © Deborah M Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Taken from my backyard…
Nikon D300s| AF-D Nikkor 80-200mm @ 200mm w/crop factor= 420mm| cropped 100%| Tripod
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Nikon AF-S 50mm f1.8G|f10| 1/125s| ISO 320| Nikon SB910 @1/4pwr camera left front bounced off white ceiling| Tripod
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I woke up wide awake just before 4AM and before I could talk myself out of a morning “stretch my legs” hike I got up, dressed, ate, and left the house and headed to my lonely tree on the “Steep Hill” overlooking Santa Clara Valley.
Once I got to the top of the hill I set up my camera and took a few images of Blue Period and the little bit of color that was in the sky looking East, and then I heard to my right an Owl Hooting its morning greeting. It wasn’t too long after that the Blue Jays, and Sparrows started their morning songs, and two ladies came up over the top of the hill stretching their legs too with an early morning hike. We chatted a few minutes then they continued up the hill.
I waited for the Sun to crest the Diablo Mountain Range, but just before it did and during the Sun’s rise the colors grew in intensity, and splendor. All the while the Owl and birds continued their morning salutations. It was glorious!
Just a few minutes after this the colors began to fade so, I packed up my gear and hiked up to the tippy top of the hill then headed home for another cup-a-tea.
Nikon D700| AF-D Nikkor 24mm @f16| 1/30s| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Tripod
More to come…
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I set up a little blind in my backyard hoping I’d be able to make a decent image of the Hummingbirds that come to the feeder. I used the cover of the sandbox as a blind by bracing it against my Camilla bush, then I set up my tripod, camera, and comfy seat behind it then waited.
It took about a half hour and a few over my head buzzes before the Hummingbirds felt safe enough to stop at the Feeder for a drink.
After lunch I moved the sandbox cover to the edge of the lawn for a different angle bracing the cover on the Patio Cover’s post. I heard the Hummingbird chitting away in the Flowering Plum beside me so turned to see if I could see him and there he was sitting on a branch watching the feeder.
There’s been another male coming by and this one chases him off whenever he comes around. He sat there for long enough for me to photograph him for several minutes.
He was in the shade of many branches overhead so, while the image is sharp there is more noise than I’d like. I tried Auto ISO during this shoot to see how it would do, mainly to see if I would be able to concentrate more on shooting than having to change my ISO setting frequently to adjust for the light changes. I was also shooting a Butterfly that would occasionally come by to sip on the Lantana Bush which was in much better light than the feeder, and the tree. Auto ISO worked very well for me in these conditions.
I used Adobe’s Camera Raw noise reduction a little bit to help remove some of the noise.
Here’s another image of an Anna’s Hummingbird at the Feeder. He’s just about to take off after drinking some nectar.
That sandbox cover worked a treat as a blind.
Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f4 + Nikon 14eII Teleconverter
More to come
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Most the flowers in my yard have been long gone, but the Lantana continues to grow and bloom! The Fritillary still comes by to sip on the Lantana, and yesterday I had a Skipper of some sort stop by.
Growing under, and around the Lantana I have some wild Scarlet Pimpernel. Most consider this a weed and pull it out, but I let it grow. I like its tiny flowers. They’re only as big as my little finger’s nail.
Change is definitely in the air around here. There are fewer and fewer Finches coming to the Feeder this week. I think they’re beginning to move on. Here’s a male House Finch perched on the feeder. I really like this feeder. It really is Squirrel proof! ( This was shot through a double glass window so it’s a bit soft).
The Anna’s Hummingbirds are still around, but I haven’t been able to get a decent image of them from my window.
I’m going to get myself a blind during the off season so I’m ready for them next Spring.
It’s a Holiday week-end ( Labor Day on Monday) here in the States I hope to get over to the coast, or to some favorite birding places to see if any of the winter birds are starting to arrive. It’s also He-Man’s birthday tomorrow so, I’ll be in the kitchen baking the cake he’s requested: Chocolate cake with custard filling and vanilla frosting.
I hope you all have a great week-end.
Images made with:
Nikon D700 w/ Nikkor 105mm Micro lens, and
Nikon D300s w/ AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4 w/Nikkor 14eII Teleconverter
more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
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