Saturday (01-January-2011) — Argentina

Happy New Year! And May the Light Be With You!

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 6: Hosteria El Pilar, Fitzroy Massif at Sunrise, and a Hike to Laguna Torre.

Some of us got up early in the morning to see what Fitzroy would be like at sunrise. Thom didn’t even need to leave his room since his window looked right at the Fitzroy massif. I actually went out to look a bit earlier to see the southern night sky, and realized that Orion was upside down. I hope to get some night sky and star trail images later in the trip if the weather continues to cooperate. I was able to set a camera up in several locations just in front of the El Pilar for as the early morning light began to develop.

After breakfast, we set off to El Chalten to pick up our guide and start a hike to Laguna Torre. This was a long hike with some elevation gain, bringing us to a glacial lake at the base of Fitzroy. It was relatively warm, and on the way back I could tell that I was overheating – and needed to cool down. At one point Rob, our Wilderness Tours trip leader poured some cold water from a glacial stream over my head. The rest of the hike back was then OK as long as I kept a slow pace.

Early Morning View of Fitzroy from El Pilar Hosteria in El Chalten. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/5 sec) (David J Mathre)
Early Morning View of Fitzroy from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/5 sec) (David J Mathre)
Senda a Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Senda a Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 sec).
Multilingual sign with info and regulations on the trail to Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Multilingual sign with info and regulations on the trail to Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 sec).
Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)
Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec)
Patagonia Panorama. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16-28 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Five image HDR with Nik HDR Pro. (David J. Mathre)
Patagonia Panorama. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 16-28 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Five image HDR with Nik HDR Pro.
Hikers on the trail to Laguna Torres. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)
Hikers on the trail to Laguna Torres. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/160 sec)
Laguna Torre Panorama. Composite of 4 images from a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/40 sec) combined using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J. Mathre)
Laguna Torre Panorama. Composite of 4 images from a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/11, 1/40 sec). Images combined using AutoPano Giga Pro.

Author: David Mathre

I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time on home renovation and expansion of a wildflower garden/meadow.

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