Month: April 2011

Wednesday (27-April-2011) — California, Mexico, and At Sea

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 1: Depart San Diego; Travel to Ensenada, Mexico; Embarkation on the MV Explorer.

HDR composite of images of Sunrise over San Diego taken from my hotel room. Three images were taken with a Leica X1 camera (+2, 0, -2 EV) just as the sun started to show above the mountains to the east. The first image was processed with HDR Express, using its Artistic default. The second image was processed with Photomatix Pro using the Compressor Deep settings.

We left San Diego at about 11:00 by bus for Ensenada, Mexico. Once we arrived at the cruise line port we embarked on the MV Explorer to begin the Spring Enrichment Voyage to Central America and Panama Canal. It was good to see many friends from the Caribbean Enrichment Voyage and Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop I (UTPW-I) on board the ship.

After the ship departed Ensenada for Cabo San Lucas there was a small  green flash at sunset. The image was taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (200 mm equiv). This is a good omen for the Voyage!!!

San Diego Sunrise. Composite HDR Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/11, 1/13 sec +/- 2EV). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, HDR Express (Artistic), Topaz Denoise, and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
San Diego Sunrise. Composite HDR Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/11, 1/13 sec +/- 2EV). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, HDR Express (Artistic), Topaz Denoise, and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
San Diego Sunrise. Composite HDR Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/11, 1/13 sec +/- 2EV). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Photomatix (Compressor Deep), and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
San Diego Sunrise. Composite HDR Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/11, 1/13 sec +/- 2EV). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Photomatix (Compressor Deep), and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
M/V Explorer Upper Mast. Image taken with a Leica X1 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
M/V Explorer Upper Mast. Image taken with a Leica X1 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Green Flash at Sunset over the Pacific Ocean off Mexico. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 49.2 mm, f/6.3, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Green Flash at Sunset over the Pacific Ocean off Mexico. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 49.2 mm, f/6.3, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

[Posts will be limited while on the M/V Explorer due to narrow internet bandwidth.]

Tuesday (26-April-2011) — Arizona from the Air.

Transcontinental Flight: New Jersey to California.

Aerial View of Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park. Image taken from a commercial jet while flying to San Diego to meet my parents for the Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage.

Aerial View of Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Aerial View of Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec).

Monday (25-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I was afraid I was going to miss the Plum Tree in bloom this year. The tree took a lot of hits this winter and some significant cuts by the power company.  I also got an image of a new maple leaf.

Early Spring Plum Bloom. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/800 sec) (David J Mathre)
Early Spring Plum Bloom. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/800 sec)
Early Spring Maple Tree Leaf. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Early Spring Maple Tree Leaf. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec)

Saturday (23-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

It is raining today. A couple of images from near the house taken with a Leica X1 camera. The first is some daffodils still in bloom (most are already done) and the other of wet holly leaves. In both cases these are the “out of the camera” jpg images.

Spring Rain and Daffodils. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Spring Rain and Daffodils. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec).
Spring Rain and Holly Leaves. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Spring Rain and Holly Leaves. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/50 sec).

Friday (22-April-2011) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I found a Canada Goose nesting near the pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. This was the first time I visited this spring, and only had a small Leica point & shoot to take any images. The bird is well hidden, and has filled the nest with a bed of feathers. I’ll need to get back and check the nest out with a DSLR with a telephoto lens.

Nesting Canadian Goose, Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 200, 49.2 mm, f/4.9, 1/125 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Nesting Canada Goose, Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 200, 49.2 mm, f/4.9, 1/125 sec)

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