Month: October 2008

Monday (06-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 2: Bodie State Historic Park.

On day 2, our van visited Bodie State Historical Park. Bodie is one of the best preserved old mining ghost towns in California. It is kept in a state of static decay, and is a favorite place for photographers (and has been the location for filming several movies). There were lots, and lots of photographers in addition to our Nikonian group. Prior to visiting Bodie State Park, we were told not to show Nikonian labels and make sure that we leave well before sunset because of problems between one of the State Park Rangers and the group in the Nikonian van the previous day .


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

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Sunday (05-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. There were many photographers (in addition to the Nikonian group) lined up at the Tunnel View parking lot to photograph sunset. Many left thinking nothing was going to happen, then all of a sudden sunlight came in from the west under the clouds  to light up both sides of the valley with this incredible orange color. I think that the mist down in the valley is smoke from campers cooking dinner.

(David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24 mm PC-E lens (ISO 800, f/16, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)

Saturday (04-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Yosemite National Park.

Red Headed Woodpecker. As I drove through Yosemite Valley on the way to Curry Village to join the Nikonians group for ANPAT 8, I noticed this Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker) on a dead tree. I stopped and realized that it was loading acorns into the tree for winter. I didn’t know that these woodpeckers also lived in California.

Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Loading acorns in a dead tree for winter in Yosemite Valley. (David J Mathre)
Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)