San Jose California Nature Photographer – Page 5

P52 25/52 Summer Solstice Sunrise

June 21, 2014June 21, 2014Posted in California, Landscapes, Photography, TravelTagged Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Landscape Photography, Marin Headlands, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Summer Solstice, Sunrise, Travel and TourismLeave a comment

My friend Anne and I shot from up here a couple of years ago hoping for a big, fluffy layer of fog, but we didn’t have any fog that time, so we’ve been planning since to return to try again. Finally we both were free, and the Marine layer or fog is returning to the Bay Area. Summer’s can be foggy and cold.Mark Twain wasn’t kidding when he said, “The coldest Winter I ever spent was the Summer I spent in San Francisco.” Or something like that.

So, I got up at 3AM and left the house at 4:45AM and drove an hour north to meet Anne in Marin Headlands.

While we were making images during the Blue Period there was a man who sang a wonderful Summer Solstice Sun Greeting song (The song sounded Native American. ) accompanied by a flutist. They were above and behind me so I couldn’t see him, but his voice carried over the ridge strong and passionate; it was lovely and gave me Goosebumps!

Driving down the mountain Anne and I pulled over in one of the turnouts to check out the color and just then the light of the rising sun hit the North Tower, and the grasses on the ridge. I had to pull out my camera. This is the image I made from that stop.

We didn’t get the shot we’ve envisioned because the fog wasn’t quite thick enough, but it was a lovely morning spent with Anne, some fog, a little color, and a Welcome song to greet and ring in the new season. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Summer is…

June 20, 2014June 20, 2014Posted in Food Photography, Photography, Tabletop PhotographyTagged Food Photography, Off camera flash, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Strawberries, Strobist, Summer Fruit, Tabletop Photography5 Comments

…fresh Strawberries!

Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G| SB910 camera left high, bounced off ceiling 45º.

Blue Abstract

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014Posted in Fine Art, Macro PhotographyTagged Abstract Art, Fine Art, Macro photography, San Jose California Nature Photographer2 Comments

An oil and water macro from my archives.

Nikon D700| AF-D 105mm f/2.8 micro lens| tripod

Agapanthus Abstract

June 14, 2014Posted in California, Flowers, PhotographyTagged Abstract, Agapantha, Fine Art, Flowers, ICM-Intentional Camera Blur, Lily of the Nile, Pleasing Blurs, San Jose California Nature Photographer6 Comments

The Agapanthus are in full bloom at my house. It’s one of a short list of flowers that I can grow…

er…if I’m honest they do well without much attention. I’ve been playing with blurs for a couple of weeks and these tall stalks lend themselves well to this type of blur.

I’ve been toying with the idea of adding a Lens Baby Composer Pro to my kit to use when photographing flowers, and expand my creativity, or open it up! Do any of you have one? If so, did you buy the kit? Do you have a favorite optic you use with it? Any advice or tips regarding the Lens Baby Composer Pro?

Nikon D700| AF-D Nikkor 105mm micro lens| Circular Polarizer| Hand-held

Summer is…

June 13, 2014June 13, 2014Posted in California, Events and Fairs, Photography, TravelTagged Amusement Rides, California State Fair, Ferris Wheels, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Sunsets, Travel and Tourism8 Comments

…the State Fair!

There are a lot more Spinning rides than when I was a kid, but the energy, sounds of the Arcade barkers trying to entice you to try your hand at their game to “Win the big prize!”, the clicking, and clanging of gears and tracks, the lights flashing, and whizzing by, the screams of delight and terror echoing from the tops of rides by children young and old, the sweet smell of Cotton Candy, and the rich buttery smell of fresh popped popcorn wafting through the air all were the same.

Starship 3000, Ferris Wheel, and arcade.

“Let the Spinning wheel spin”~Blood, Sweat, and Tears- Spinning Wheel

My goal on this evening was to have a lot fun slowing down my shutter speed to show the spinning of the many spinning rides.

The Carousel was pretty all lit up so I took two images one to stop action showing its detail, and another with a slow shutter speed.

All the images in this post were taken at the California State Fair July 2012. I missed last year, and hope to get to this year’s State Fair which starts in just about a month. With a little luck #1 Grandson will be with me and experience his first Fair.