One-Year Ago (25-September-2010) — California

Gone to See California: Point Reyes National Seashore.

I drove out to Point Reyes National Seashore to photograph the Lighthouse. I’ve tried to photograph this lighthouse on several previous occasions, but it was always shrouded in fog. I got there early in the morning, and this time it was very clear. In one image, the moon is above the lighthouse. Remembering my mentor Winston Hall telling us to always look behind you for a better picture, I turned around and saw this buck on a ridge in the early morning sunlight.

Moon over Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Moon over Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Morning Light at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Morning Light at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Early Morning Buck on a Ridge at Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Early Morning Buck on a Ridge at Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (25-September-2007) — Wyoming

Gone to See America 2007 Road Trip. Nikonians ANPAT 7 Day 4: Yellowstone National Park.

Upon arrival in Jackson, the ANPAT participants were split into four groups, each with their own van (with a volunteer driver and navigator). Each van had ~8 photographers fully loaded with gear. The space in the van was tight, and I felt like I was sitting in a narrow commuter jet. The vans had schedules to go to different locations so as not to get in each other’s way… Our van did a lot of Bison hunting while traveling through Yellowstone National Park. The first image of one of our Bison hunters, and the second a shy Bison trying to hide behind some grass.

Morning Bison Hunter. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs and 200 f/2 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)
Morning Bison Hunter. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs camera and 200 f/2 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)
Shy Bison Hiding Behind Grass. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs and 200 f/2 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Shy Bison Hiding Behind Grass. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs camera and 200 f/2 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)