Saturday (30-April-2011) — At Sea

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 4: At Sea.

We have two days at sea while traveling from Cabo San Lucas in Mexico to Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala. Most of the day was spent in the classroom with Michael. Images for the day include sunrise, sunset, and photography workshop members while at sea.

Sunrise on the M/V Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise on the MV Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec).
Sunrise on the M/V Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise on the MV Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec).
Sunrise on the M/V Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise on the MV Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec).
Sunrise on the M/V Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise on the MV Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec).
Sunrise on the M/V Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise on the MV Explorer 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec).
Nikonians Eating Dinner on Deck 6 of the M/V Explorer. UTW-II 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 16 mm fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, sharpened with Focus Magic, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
UTPW-II Photography Workshop Members Eating Dinner on Deck 6 of the MV Explorer.  2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 16 mm fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec).
Jon and Rob waiting for sunset on Deck 6 of the M/V Explorer. UTW-II 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Jon and Rob waiting for sunset on Deck 6 of the MV Explorer. UTPW-II 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Leica X1 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/160 sec).
Practicing Street Photography with a Fisheye on Deck 6 of the M/V Explorer. UTW-II 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 16 mm fisheye lens (ISO 3200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro, sharpened with Focus Magic, converted to sRGB/jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Practicing Street Photography with a Fisheye on Deck 6 of the MV Explorer. UTPW-II 2011 Spring Enrichment Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 16 mm fisheye lens (ISO 3200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec).

Saturday (30-April-2011) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 4: At Sea.

Comparison of Digital Noise Reduction Programs. Pre-dawn view of the Moon, Venus (and Mercury) over the Pacific Ocean. Professor Ian Campbell had us look for the moon and several planets in close proximity. Here are a couple of images taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). I needed the high ISO to even get a 1/30 sec exposure since it was still dark and the ship was moving. For each image I processed with no digital noise reduction, then with either NIK Define 2.0 or Topaz DeNoise 5.0.

Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5.
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with NIK Define 2.0. (David J Mathre)
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with NIK Define 2.0.
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with Topaz DeNoise 5.0. (David J Mathre)
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with Topaz DeNoise 5.0.
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5.
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with NIK Define 2.0. (David J Mathre)
Pre-Dawn View of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 85 mm f/1.4G (ISO 1600, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. Noise Reduction with NIK Define 2.0.

Friday (29-April-2011) — Mexico

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 3: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

A series of 12 telephoto images of a fisherman with the sun rising. The images were taken from deck 7 of the Semester at Sea MV Explorer while anchored off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -1.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized -0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.00 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.00 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.00 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.00 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.67 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Fisherman at Sunrise while at Anchor off Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, (levels normalized +0.33 EV for exposure, cropped), Nik Define 2 (noise reduction), and converted to web with Photoshop CS5.

Friday (29-April-2011) — Mexico

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 3: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

We arrived at Cabo San Lucas early in the morning well before sunrise. My other post for the day documents the sun rising. The shadow self-portrait was taken during the sunrise session.

Rather than docking, the ship anchored off shore and then used the life-boats as tenders to transport the passengers to and from shore. There were some swells that rocked the ship making the transfer from the MV Explorer to the tender difficult, and a very slow process. Folks that were supposed to leave the ship at 07:00 didn’t leave until after 09:00.  During the day I took a series of images of the Arch at Land’s End as viewed from my cabin window, with a Norwegian Troll sitting at the window.

 (David J Mathre)

View from my Cabin on the M/V Explorer. Tender Vessel traveling from the M/V Explorer to Cabo San Lucas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/25, 1/160 sec) and SB-900 flash. (David J Mathre)
View from my Cabin on the MV Explorer. Tender Vessel traveling from the M/V Explorer to Cabo San Lucas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/25, 1/160 sec) and SB-900 flash.
View from my Cabin on the M/V Explorer. Tender Vessel traveling from the M/V Explorer to Cabo San Lucas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/29, 1/160 sec) and SB-900 flash. (David J Mathre)
View from my Cabin on the MV Explorer. Tender Vessel traveling from the M/V Explorer to Cabo San Lucas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/29, 1/160 sec) and SB-900 flash.

Thursday (28-April-2011) — At Sea

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 2: At Sea.

We were out on deck early to catch the sunrise. There was a bit of confusion about what time sunrise would be since the ship changed to Central Mexican time zone overnight. Was the sun going to rise at 05:07 hr or 07:07 hr. It turned out to be 07:07 hr, which makes sense since we are on the west side of the time zone.  We then spent the day in class: “Welcome Orientation & Workshop Introduction”, and “Components to Travel Photography” taught by Michael Mariant. We are scheduled to arrive in Cabo San Lucas tomorrow morning. At the end of the day a fog bank came in just before the sun set.

Sunrise over Isla Cedros Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over Isla Cedros Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec).
Pacific Sunset in Fog off the Mexican Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pacific Sunset in Fog off the Mexican Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec).

[Posts will be limited while on the M/V Explorer due to narrow internet bandwidth.]