April, 2017 - David Mathre Photography

Today (25-April-2017) — New Jersey

I’ve been waiting several days for the remaining barrel cactus flowers to open. I set the plant up in a lightbox and started taking periodic images. Initially, every 5 minutes, then 2 minutes, and finally 1 minute. Ultimately, I plan to make a time-lapsed video.

Troll with blooming barrel cactus. Indoor 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/11, 1/30 sec) +SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)

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Sunday (23-April-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

An early spring walkabout in my yard to catch some flowers in bloom.

Small daffodils in my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 177 mm, f/5, 1/300 sec). (David J Mathre)

Plum tree blooms my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 190 mm, f/5, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early blue wildflowers in my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early yellow wildflowers in my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early blue wildflowers in my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Dandelion seeds in my front yard. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec). (David J Mathre)

Today (18-April-2017) — New Jersey

After spending several days outdoors in the sun, the cactus flower closed. I brought it back inside. Next thing I knew there was a Stink bug sucking on the flower. I have read that Stink bugs are vegetarian, and have pictures of them on a grapefruit slice and on my cactus before.

Stink bug on an old cactus bloom. Indoor spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash). (David J Mathre)

Today (16-April-2017) — New Jersey

While the barrel cactus with the big red flower was allowed a few day outside in the sun, one of the other barrel cactus inside and under the LED grow lights decided to bloom. It has many flowers, but they are much smaller.

Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor 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/32, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)

Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor 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/11, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (15-April-2016) — Atlantic Ocean

The Semester at Sea, Spring 2016 voyage was almost over. Some of the students had their faces painted with flags from the countries we visited. Can anyone identify this flag? Then one final sunset image (and yes, that is a sunspot).

Face painting on board the MV World Odyssey. Day 101 of 102 of the Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage at sea between Morocco and England. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and a 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 173 mm, f/5.3, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Final sunset aboard the MV World Odyssey. Day 101 of 102 of the Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage at sea between Morocco and England. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and a 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)