Hello May, 2021 - New Lens Alert!!

As I sit at my desk and think of a few words to say, I will start with the hope that all who visit my website and take time to read this blog have made it through the nightmare that is COVID. I work in a hospital, so it has been a long, long year. I’ve seen sadness I don’t ever want to see again and I hope that we as a Nation and a people united can come together, get vaccinated and finally put this horrible nightmare behind us.

Expanding my photography knowledge is a never ending quest and a beautiful distraction from the chaos that was 2020 and has helped a great deal to put a smile on my face after a long week. I am continuing to learn via YouTube, the kindness of photographers I meet along the way whether it be from social media (follow my account on Instagram, link at the bottom of the page) or on my weekend journeys to wherever my little car will take me! Hitting the road is just as rewarding as shooting photographs!

A few months ago, I was beginning to realize that I was outgrowing my Sigma 400mm lens and I knew that I needed to jump up to a 600mm lens. I studied and looked around and when it came time, a beautiful deal came to me from a fellow photographer who he himself had upgraded and I was able to purchase his lens. I am now the proud owner of a Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Zoom lens and I am in L.O.V.E. This lens is enabling me to go to a whole new level and next step in this journey. I’ve had it for about 3 weeks now and am learning how to use it. I am having a ton of fun with it so far. I’ll be able to get closer to my subjects and have greater detail. I can’t wait to begin posting photos that I have taken with “Ron”(his new name) and that him and I together will take that NatGeo shot that you will want on your wall! :)

Thanks for stopping by! Everyone be well! All the good vibes!!

Always New Beginnings!

Today I had the most amazing three-hour Zoom session with photographer Ron Conigliaro! As a fledgling photographer, I have been so inspired and grateful for all the instruction and advice I have received from various photographers. I got lucky in a chance meeting with Ron via a Facebook friend of a friend of a friend type situation. One look at his photographs and I was star-struck and I thought this guy won’t have the time for me! Well, he did. What a genuine guy! He first helped me over the phone w/ an issue I was having and then we set up a Zoom session and it was everything and more! We talked exposure, settings, ISO, aperture and how to marry them all to make photographs stand out and be the best they can be. I’m a bit like a golfer who started out w/ the wrong putting stance, not bad, but he’s making it better. I’m so very excited to put what he has shared with me in practice so that I can share with all of you!

So, new putting stance, let’s give it a go!

PS: More macro shots coming up!!!

Love and Light

Jen

My First Blog Post! Here we go!!

Well, here it is. The launch of Wanderlust Images - Palm Springs! A culmination of many roads traveled, many hats worn and finally settling into being a “woman of a certain age” and discovering a passion for photography. I had always talked about getting a camera but had always found an excuse as to why I didn’t have time to do it! So, after leaving the chaos that is Los Angeles and Project Management for a quieter pace in Palm Springs, I found the time to finally buy that camera I had always talked about and learn about photography. Of course I did what everyone does who knows nothing about photography equipment, I went big and jumped right into a Nikon d500 with a Sigma 400mm and Nikon 40mm lens that were quickly named Harmony (camera) Rhyme (Sigma lens) and Reason (Nikon lens). Thank the Universe for YouTube, photographer friends and photographers I encounter on the road who have always taken the time to show me that one new trick, that one new setting that will do this and that! I am quickly finding harmony w/ Harmony and learning something new each and every day.

My love of birding is even more fulfilling now that I can capture one of a kind shots of gorgeous birds, my favorite. I have become fond of two species. Hummingbirds, of which I have a huge presence of Anna’s Hummingbirds and Costa’s Hummingbirds in my garden. I call them all “Sassy Pants” as they let me know in no uncertain terms when the food isn’t exactly to their tastes or a feeder is empty. I can have up to 20 birds milling around either on one of three feeders, sometimes two birds to one nectar station or lined up waiting their turn while buzzing my head morning and night. I’ve come to know certain birds. There are older males and younger ones asserting their new found dominance in “feeder guarding”. I have an older male who has lost a flight feather and sounds like the “Jetson’s Car” (for those of you who remember the Jetsons) and I’m pleased when I hear him. And all the females, in all their gorgeous green! I love these little birds. Another species I love to photograph are Acorn Woodpeckers. These birds have great aerobatics! Who knew! They will sit high on a dead tree that they store acorns in and wait for bugs. They then fly off the tree and dive w/ wings tucked in and then swoop straight up, wings still tucked in and catch bugs mid-air. It is something to see. I have managed to catch a few mid-flight meals of which will be posted on this site. They are so much fun to watch and hard to photograph, so when I get a good shot in flight, it is exhilarating. And with their gorgeous black and white markings, along w/ that red cap on their heads and white eye, they are striking birds to see.

And bees! Bees are a close second to birds. I’ve put my macro lens on (Reason) and literally climbed into bushes w/ hundreds of bees collecting pollen. All the bees behave (so far) and let me take pictures of them as they collect all that pollen and keep our Earth growing. They are so important.

So, again - welcome! I’m glad you are here! Please feel free to leave comments below on any thing you would like to see photographed or suggestions on a good birding location or any location you have found magic. I’m always up for new roads!

Please visit my Purchase Journey Images page and see if there is an image you would like to have on your wall. They are all available for purchase.

This first blog is dedicated to four beautiful, strong women in my life. Kym, for being my sister and soulmate, Kit for keeping “no you don’t” in my brain for creative purposes, Mary for making sure I stay laser focused in my endeavors and Tisa for her voice making sure everything is as it should be. I am grateful for you all.

Thanks for joining me! Here we go!