Friday (26-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Danger, Danger – Praying Mantis Waiting For a Meal in a Thistle Bush. Summer Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 235 mm, f/5.6, 1/75 sec).

Praying Mantis on a Thistle Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/75 sec). (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis on a Thistle Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/75 sec). (David J Mathre)

It was too hot Wednesday when I did my walkabout through the Sourland Mountain Preserve. I didn’t try it yesterday, but gave it a short try today as I am still recovering from Lyme disease. I told myself that I wouldn’t stay out more than an hour, but ended up spending almost two hours. I have three goals at this time of the year: 1) Monarch Butterflies, 2) Hummingbird Clearwing Hummingbird Moths, and 3) Praying Mantis. Bonus points for Praying Mantis with prey. I got all three plus a couple of  bonus images I wasn’t expecting today. I ended up spending nearly two hours out on my walkabout and was really overheated when I got home. A short list of images I took : 1) Turtle; 2) Fritillary butterfly; 3) Hummingbird Clearwing moth; 4) Praying Mantis; 5) Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly mating; 6) Monarch butterfly; 7) Praying Mantis with a Tiger Swallowtail for lunch; 8) American Goldfinch; 9) Frog in the pond; and 10:) American Bittern. I ended up spending two hour in the Sourland Preserve, and was exhausted after getting home. It was way too hot.

Question for those that actually read this far. Should I only do single image in a post, or are albums/collections OK? If albums/collections are OK, only 4 images (so all will be seen, and users understand how to see the image in full screen mode) or as many images as I feel are good? Is it OK when I post images from this day of the year (going back 10 years)? Should they be as processed when first posted, or reprocessed using current photo editing tools (or both)? Is it OK when I post time-lapsed videos? It doesn’t seem like anyone views the time-lapse videos.

Both my “Image of the day” photo blog <a href=”https://david.mathre.com”>https://david.mathre.com</a>
and my photo gallery <a href=”http://davidmathre.com”>http://davidmathre.com</a> need significant updates and/or redesign. I am interested in comments about what does and doesn’t work as I start on a redesign project.

Author: David Mathre

I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time on home renovation and expansion of a wildflower garden/meadow.

One thought on “Friday (26-August-2016) — New Jersey”

  1. Most photographers I know are posting one image at a time. If you post more, only those who are drawn by the first image or those who know you will click through to see the others. If you are using Google Photos, be aware that if you set up an album and order the photos the way you wish, once it comes into Google+ the order may change. That is a current drawback to posting in albums.

    Sometimes photographers will post individual images and then days or weeks later provide a link to an album or select and album to share. But doing that will mean you have to go through the Google Photos album and checkmark each you wish to share this way.

    The desktop views will easily be able to comment and give a Plus One, but on mobile devices, a viewer would be able to click on a photo to see it yet to comment on just one in a series shared, has to know to select "view on web" in order to give a Plus One or comment. It is a huge hassle. Now you see why many if not most of us just post one at a time. None of those drawbacks of ordering photos and still you can easily get comments.

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