Wednesday (10-January-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Sky in New Jersey: Contrails at Dawn.

This is an in-camera panorama taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera. I don’t like the auto white balance applied and baked into to the jpg image. This limits the color corrections that can be applied during process. In full daylight the color correction is much better. I should have taken raw images.

Colorful Contrails at Dawn. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. In camera panorama (jpg) taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Colorful Contrails at Dawn. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. In camera panorama (jpg) taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Daytona Beach.

Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec).

Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island and Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse.

Before starting my drive back to New Jersey, I spent the morning on Merritt Island. First for sunrise at Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, then for a drive through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge — both along Biolab Road and Black Point Wildlife Drive. The previous day there was heavy fog in the morning so I didn’t go to Playalinda beach. This beach is favored by surf fishermen. While driving north I also stopped at the Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida.

Rather that using the big telephoto lenses, all of the images on this day were taken with a Nikon D700 with a 28-300 mm VR lens, a Leica X2, or a Nikon 1 V2 and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens. All hand-held, no tripod.


Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 40 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 40 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lighthouse Replica at the Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill. It is right across the street from the real Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/13, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lighthouse Replica at the Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill. It is right across the street from the real Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/13, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (10-January-2009) — New Jersey

Troll Family Portrait.

It can be hard to get a large group to stand still for a family portrait. This time they had to freeze for 47 focus stacked images in order to get a full depth of field.

Troll Family Portrait. Composite of 47 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method C). (David J Mathre)
Troll Family Portrait. Composite of 47 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method C). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (09-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

I spent the day at the Merritt Island National Refuge, driving the Black Point Wildlife Drive and Biolab road. It is a target rich environment for birds and alligators. Well worth spending the day. Make sure you have mosquito repellant.

Alligator at Merritt Island Wildlife Reserve in Florida. Black Point Wildlife Drive. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 600 mm f/4 VRII lens (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alligator at Merritt Island Wildlife Reserve in Florida. Black Point Wildlife Drive. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 600 mm f/4 VRII lens (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)



Three Double-crested Comorants on Posts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Three Double-crested Cormorants on Posts at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)