Three-Years Ago (12-January-2016) — Hawaii

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 8: Honolulu and O’ahu Hawaii.

The first port on our Spring 2016 Semester at Sea voyage was Hilo in Hawaii. The real reason for the stop was to bunker to take on more fuel before continuing the voyage the rest of the way across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. The MV World Odyssey was only going to be in Hawaii for 14 hours so we were not allowed off the ship unless  with a Semester at Sea organized Field Trip. I originally signed up for the Pearl Harbor Memorial tour, but that trip was canceled. (The last time I was in Honolulu to give a talk at the Pacific Chemistry meeting, the US Government was shut down and the Pearl Harbor Memorial was closed. Same problem today!!!). I switched to the North Shore bus tour. In the 14 hours we had I managed to take over 3000 pictures. First stop was at the Byodo-In Temple. Then stops at some regional parks and beaches. Lunch was at a roadside shrimp shack. The last stop was at the Dole Pineapple Plantation.

Panorama of the Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe on the island of Oahu. Composite of six images taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite panorama created using Kolor AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Panorama of the Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe on the island of Oahu. Composite of six images taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite panorama created using Kolor AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)


Litterbugs in paradise -- were they locals or tourists??? Malaekahana State Recreation Area on the north shore of Oahu. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Litterbugs in paradise — were they locals or tourists??? Malaekahana State Recreation Area on the north shore of Oahu. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)


Student being photographed with Mokoli?i (Chinaman's Hat) in the background. Kualoa Regional Park on the north shore of Oahu. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Student being photographed with Mokoli’i (Chinaman’s Hat) in the background. Kualoa Regional Park on the north shore of Oahu. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)


Green Turtle viewing the Sun at Sunset Beach. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 90 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Green Turtle viewing the Sun at Sunset Beach. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 90 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)


Saturday (26-May-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime in New Jersey.

I am back from Japan, and don’t know what time zone I am in. I’ve been wandering around the yard to see what is new. There were a few, but not many wildflowers (and weeds). The remaining Rhododendron was fully in bloom. Much of the rhododendron shrub fell down last winter, so I  glad to see these blooms. If I am lucky, I will see some clearwing butterfly moths like last year. I was glad to see significant growth of plants on the Garden Towers. It looks like the electric fence charger kept the raccoon away while I was away.

Moths Mating. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)
Moths Mating. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)




Brick Sidewalk Progress. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)
Brick Sidewalk Progress. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)

Saturday (05-May-2018) — New Jersey

Springtime in New Jersey.

An eerie view of moonlight through the fog and tree branches. Seedlings after 2 days — the lettuce has already started to sprout. Weekly bread making.

Moonlight Through Fog. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Moonlight Through Fog. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Seedling Tray Day. Composite of two image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (David J Mathre)
Seedling Tray Day. Composite of two image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (David J Mathre)


Hearty Whole Wheat, Rye, and Muesli Bread Recipe: Whole Wheat Flour (1 cup); Sprouted Wheat Flour (1 cup); Rye Flour (1/2 cup); Muesli (1 cup); caraway seed (1 tbs); fennel seed (1 tbs); anise seed (1 tbs), dill seed (1 tbs); dry milk (1/4 cup); salt (1 tsp); instant coffee (1 tbs); cocoa powder (1 tbs); egg (1 large); flax oil (2 tbs); water (1 1/4 cup); maple syrup (1/3 cup). Above ingredients minus the maple syrup added to Panasonic Bread Bakery. Yeast (2 tsp) added to yeast hopper and the unit set for Whole Wheat Bread (Rapid) and started. Once the unit started mixing the ingredients the molasses was slowly added. Three hours later, the loaf of bread was removed and allowed to cool.

Monday (08-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

A cricket, spider, and mourning doves.

Cricket at my front door. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Cricket at my front door. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Spider at my front door. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Spider at my front door. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Mourning Dove in my Garden. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)
Mourning Dove in my Garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)
Pair of mourning doves in my Garden. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)
Pair of mourning doves in my Garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/125 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)