Category: Landscape

Views of the land around the world

Friday (25-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

While taking the recycling out to the curb early in the morning I noticed the sky lighting up with colorful clouds and a waning moon. I went back in a picked up a camera with a fisheye lens to try and capture it all.

Colorful clouds and waning crescent moon at dawn. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 64, 15 mm, f/5.6, 5 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Colorful clouds and waning crescent moon at dawn. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 64, 15 mm, f/5.6, 5 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (29.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More clouds than yesterday. At this time of the year the sun is lower, and the Sycamore tree leaves shadow the solar panels part of the day. Overall a net deficit of 29.6 kWh.

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Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Last week I noticed something attached to the Cosmos stalk. I didn’t know what it was. Today, I found out that it was an egg sack as I came across a Praying Mantis laying her eggs.

Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Daily walkabout with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter. I was looking to see what survived he frost we had a couple nights ago. There are still some Cosmos, Marigold, Lemon-Mint, and Larkspur flowers. The Burma Water Gourd vine is also still blooming. I see a couple of gourds have set, but don’t expect them them to get much bigger than they are. I also found I still have some late season strawberries.

Click on the above image to access my Photoshelter Gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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Wednesday (16-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Before it started raining, I used the DR Field and Brush mower to clear more of the wildflower meadows and sections next to the house. I left the section with the Marigold flowers and Lemon Mint flowers as there are still bees and bumblebees working the flowers. Also the deer ignore these plants. Later in the afternoon, it started raining followed by heavy winds.

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (7.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Heavy clouds and rain, not much solar power.  Overall a net deficit of 46.6 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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One-Year Ago (14-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 0: Lisbon, Portugal.

I arrived in Lisbon a day before the workshop. I walked around most of the day. Lots of tourists in town to watch the running of the marathon. Later in the evening I had dinner with Steve Simon.






Individual Images from the slideshows can be viewed here.

Afternoon Walkabout in Lisbon during the Marathon. Little-planet time-lapse video (Garmin VIRB-360).

Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Little planet and Tunnel View time-lapse video (Garmin VIRB-360)