10-February-2017 - David Mathre Photography

Friday (10-February-2017) — New Jersey

Home Renovation: Prototype Wall Hanging System for Prints.

Wall hanging system for prints being prototyped in my laundry room — A work in Progress. The goal was to design and build a simple system to display prints on walls in my house, and then deploy the system in many rooms as the house is renovated. I wanted something that would allow me to easily move or change the prints being displayed, and not need to use picture frames, or picture hanging hardware. The first attempt used a map hanging system. This limited me to rows of the same size [letter – 8-1/2″ x 11″; B+ – 13″ x 19″; or C – 17″ x 22″]. One other idea was to hold the prints up with magnets. This was first attempted using parallel strips of flexible 3M magnetic tape attached to the drywall. I tried a number of small magnets, but none were strong enough to hold prints larger than 8 1/2″ by 11″ and especially prints on thick archival papers. Looking for other options I found that cold-rolled steel had a stronger magnetic attraction. For the prototype I mounted thirteen 1″ x 0.125″ x 72″ steel bars on the wall. These were attached by drilling holes in the steel bars and then screwing into the studs behind the drywall. An image of the prototype is shown below. I used a series of different sized images from the day before starting the Spring 2016 Semester at Sea voyage. Future work will be optimizing the placement of the steel bars to work with letter, B+, and C sized prints. The steel bars will be painted the same color as the wall, and the round ceramic magnets will be painted white. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/125 sec) pop-up flash bounced off the ceiling.

Work in Progress. Wall hanging system for prints being prototyped in my laundry room. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/125 sec) pop-up flash bounced off the ceiling. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (10-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2014 Road Trip. Day 9: Big Cypress Swamp.

While staying at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Bungalow, I went for a “Swamp Walk” in the Big Cypress Swamp with Kristen and Angela. Before the trip, I got a pair of waders from Cabela’s. Not really sure what I was getting into, I only took a walking stick/monopod and my trusty Leica X2 travel camera. It was a lot of fun — and we didn’t see any alligators or water moccasin snakes. Just the week before, one of the invasive 15+ foot Burmese pythons was caught nearby.

Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre) — Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)

Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre) — Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)

Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre) — Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)

Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre) — Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)

Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre) — Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (10-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013. Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 13: Tromsø.

Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. A random selection of images taken during the day. After dinner we did see a glimmer of Northern Lights peek through the bright city lights.

"Respect" Stencil on a billboard recently cleared of posts. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/2.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre) — “Respect” Stencil on a billboard recently cleared of posts. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/2.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

"Hot Pants" Sunday outdoor market/festival . Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 180, 18.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — “Hot Pants” Sunday outdoor market/festival . Winter walkabout in Tromsø Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 180, 18.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

"Locked Out". Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 400, 18.5 mm, f/1.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre) — “Locked Out”. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 400, 18.5 mm, f/1.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Graffiti on a wall. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/2.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Locked winter door. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 180, 18.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Dead grass and rock along the harbor walkway. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 180, 18.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Billboard. My Norwegian is rusty. As best I can translate -- "Momma has been too long at the conference, with dad and too much popcorn and ice cream". Initially, I thought the kid was upset about his haircut... Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 220, 18.5 mm, f/2, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — Billboard. My Norwegian is rusty. As best I can translate — “Momma has been too long at the conference, with dad and too much popcorn and ice cream”. Initially, I thought the kid was upset about his haircut… Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 220, 18.5 mm, f/2, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Toy store??? Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 320, 18.5 mm, f/2, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Using a very long hockey stick to clear the icicles above a storefront. Winter walkabout in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 180, 18.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Glimmer of Northern Lights peeking past the night lights in Tromsø, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/2.8, 1 sec). (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (10-February-2008) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: New Snow.

A few images from a winter afternoon walkabout in my backyard.

Light snow on a Rhododendron leaf -- Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/36, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Light snow on a Rhododendron leaf — Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/36, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Light snow on Yucca plant seed pods -- Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Light snow on Yucca plant seed pods — Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Light snow on Holly berries -- Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Light snow on Holly berries — Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Pine cone -- Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre) — Pine cone — Winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)