Tuesday (02-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Rainbow in New Jersey.

While eating dinner, it started getting dark outside with the rumble of thunder. I was happy when the rain started since it had been hot out, and all of my garden towers on the patio and the wildflower meadows needed water. A bit later when looking out the kitchen window while doing the dishes saw a rainbow. I dropped everything and first ran out with my Leica CL camera with the 11-23 mm wide-angle lens. After taking a bunch of pictures, I returned with a Nikon D810a camera with the 8-15 mm fisheye lens. I really like the Leica CL camera for travel, but the Nikon D810a camera has a  larger (full frame) and more sensitive sensor with greater dynamic range. Just compare the two images of the rainbow above my backyard weather station.  I then took a bunch of images to make a 360 degree panorama, little planet view, and inverse little planet view of the rainbow.

Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard 360 Panorama View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard 360 Panorama View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Inverse Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Inverse Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (54.9 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (66.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The outside temperatures were high, so the geothermal HVAC system was working hard.

Current Weather Conditions

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Thursday (20-June-2019) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The rain continues… It stopped for a bit a little after noon. Went on a walkabout with my Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens. Lots of Poppies and Cosmos flowers. Also some Forget-Me-Not, Bee Balm, Blue Flax, Marigold, Zinnia, and Yellow Prickly Pear Cactus flowers.

Troll looking at a Poppy Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Dizzy Troll looking at a Poppy Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)



Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

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Thursday (20-June-2017) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

It seems that “Nibbles” the Bunny Rabbit is moving in near my Kitchen Wildflower Garden. I’m letting him or her stay for the time being. So far it is not eating the Poppies.

Bunny Rabbit Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Bunny Rabbit Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)




Bunny Rabbit Behind the Electric Fence. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Bunny Rabbit Behind the Electric Fence. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

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Six-Years Ago (12-May-2013) — France

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 16: Paris, France.

Capoeria Performance in Parc de Bercy.  Late Spring Photowalk with the Photographer Thomas Paris in Paris.


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Three-Years Ago (11-May-2016) New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

A poppy about to pop and an orange poppy bloom. Back then, I had to go across the street to a neighbor’s yard with a high fence that keeps the deer out to take pictures of spring flowers. Now I have my own wildflower garden/meadow with an electric fence.

Red poppy flower about to open. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red poppy flower about to open. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Orange poppy flower. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Orange poppy flower. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)