San Jose California Nature Photographer – Page 7

P52 22/52 Mac & Cheese

May 25, 2014May 25, 2014Posted in Food Photography, Photography, Project 52-2014Tagged Food Photography, Mac and Cheese, Project 52, San Jose California Nature Photographer5 Comments

I made Lidia Matticchio Bastianich’s version of Mac & Cheese last night for dinner. It’s made with three types of cheese; Cheddar, Fontina, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Altogether there are a whopping 7 cups of cheese in this version. It’s topped with home-made bread crumbs lightly toasted in sweet butter. It’s delicious! My family loved it. Miam-Miam!

The recipe is in Lidia’s Italy in America cookbook. Or go here!

Nikon D700| AF-D Nikkor 85mm f/1.4| Hand-held

Strobist- SB910 camera left high at 1/16th pwr, triggered via Commander Mode in Camera

“I hate the words ‘handicapped’ and ‘disabled’. They imply that you are less than whole. I don’t see myself that way at all.”~ Aimee Mullins

May 21, 2014May 21, 2014Posted in California, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged California, Handicapped, Lizards, San Jose California Nature Photographer, WildlifeLeave a comment

Taken last month while out birding with friends Rainey, and Rene. He looks like he could overcome anything!

P52 21/52 One Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Five Seconds under the Stars

May 19, 2014May 19, 2014Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Photography, TravelTagged Astro Photography, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Star Trails, Yosemite National ParkLeave a comment

Taken from Washburn Point in Yosemite National Park.

Last week while in Yosemite I shot the stars for an hour, but the Moon was out early and so bright, being nearly Full that it washed out the majority of the stars. I decided to make a return visit since the Moon wasn’t going to rise until midnight.

I thought I’d be alone up there after sunset, but there were two more star/night sky enthusiast there. It was really nice to have the company.
It was lovely meeting you both David, and Brian!

15 frames| 105 seconds each| stacked in StarStaX

P52 20/52Ursa Major “Big Dipper” over Yosemite National Park

May 14, 2014May 14, 2014Posted in California, Photography, Project 52-2014, US National ParksTagged Night Photography, Nikon Df, Project 52-2014, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Star Gazing, US National Parks, Yosemite National ParkLeave a comment

Nikon Df| AF-D Nikkor 24mm f/2.8| Tripod

Yosemite National Park, Half Dome, Basket Dome, Yosemite Valley, California, USA

Roses

May 9, 2014May 9, 2014Posted in California, Flowers, Macro PhotographyTagged George Eliot, Macro photography, Poetry, Roses, San Jose California Nature Photographer3 Comments

You love the roses – so do I. I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush. Why will it not?
Then all the valley would be pink and white
And soft to tread on. They would fall as light
As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be
Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!

I added a Hoya Softener(B) filter to my macro lens to give this Rose a dreamy look.

The side morning light on this variegated pink rose I thought was really nice. I love white picket fences. Don’t you?

This rose-bush was huge and had big clusters of white roses slightly tinged with pink.

I found the majority of Roses in my neighborhood just about done. Is it me or did they have their season early this year?

Nikon Df| AF Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D micro| Hand-held

Hoya Softener(B) filter| Nik Viveza 2| Nik Color Efex Pro 4| CS6

Spring Colors

May 7, 2014May 7, 2014Posted in California, Flowers, Macro Photography, PhotographyTagged Flowers, Gaillardia, Lily, Macro photography, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Spanish Lavender, Spring1 Comment

Butterfly Iris (Moraea iridioides) Thank you Barbara for the ID!xx

All flowers were taken with a rented Nikon Df in the last golden light of day, before the sun slipped behind the Santa Cruz Mountain Range.

Initial thoughts it is so quiet, and very light weight compared to my D700, and D300s. Image quality seems fine, the colors are really nice and seem right on. I didn’t need to correct anything in ACR for this image. Finding the shutter button is a bit challenging now. It’s not where my finger naturally is going due to the smaller size of the body I’m sure.

Spanish Lavender

Gaillardia Arizona Sun…I think.

I’m looking forward to spending time with this camera and trying my favorite lenses on it.

Nikon Df| AF Nikkor 105 mm micro lens | Manual Priority|Hand-held

Rhododendron-Berkeley Botanical Garden

May 6, 2014May 6, 2014Posted in California, Fine Art, Flowers, Macro PhotographyTagged Berkeley Botanical Garden, Flowers, Macro photography, Rhododendron, San Jose California Nature Photographer1 Comment

My friend Dali and I made an impromptu stop at the Berkeley Botanical Garden one morning last month and we found the Rhododendrons in bloom. I was hoping for Butterflies too, alas, no joy there.

It’s a lovely Garden. I hope to go back next year and spend more time wandering around the different regions.

Playing with my macro lens quite a bit this Spring has shown me its limits, and not being able to get closer than a foot has been the biggest disappointment for me.

I could add an extension tube or two, but then I’ll be struggling with Depth of Field issues so, I think I’ll rent a Lens Baby Composer Pro and see if that doesn’t help me make the images I have in my head when shooting flowers.

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