Month: March 2018

Seven-Years Ago (24-March-2011) — California

Gone to See California. Day 5: Death Valley Spring 2011 Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant.

I rode into Death Valley with Michael Mariant. We made an initial stop at Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes prior to the start of the workshop, so Michael could geomark a trail for the next day.  The photography workshop group  met up at Furnace Creek. After lunch and an orientation session, we spent the afternoon at  Dante’s View, Golden Valley trail, and the Devil’s Golf Course. There still was some snow on the ground at Dante’s View — 5476 ft (1669 m) above sea level. The Devil’s Golf Course is only a few feet above the lowest point (282 feet below sea level) in the National Park (and the Continental United States). You have to be careful when in the Devil’s Golf Course as the halite crystals are very sharp — which I learned the hard way. While squatting to take a picture, I managed to cut a big hole in my favorite pair of lightweight linen pants.





Individual images from the slide-shows can be viewed here.

Friday (23-March-2018) — New Jersey

Early Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I woke up in time to catch some fleeting brightly colored clouds to the east. There was still some snow on the ground. By noon most of the snow was mostly gone (spring flowers). Then by evening, the snow was all gone (young deer).

Colorful Dawn Clouds Composite of three images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Colorful Dawn Clouds Composite of three images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath Statue. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath Statue. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual images from the slide-show can be viewed here.

Thursday (22-March-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard (and Indoor) Early Spring Nature in New Jersey.

The snow had stopped by the time I woke up. It looked like 6-8 inches. It was fluffy and light, not like the wet & heavy stuff we got with the 2nd Nor’easter. Some images of the snow-covered patio, with a charcoal grill waiting for real spring weather. Then the trees damaged by the previous storm.  As for indoor nature, I am still finding some stink bugs (but not the green ones). By the afternoon, the snow slid off the solar panels, and I was generating electricity. The snow on the driveway and front entry was melting fast so I didn’t need to get the shovel out. As fast as the snow is melting, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some local flooding over the next couple of days. Hopefully, this will be the last Nor’easter this spring.




Individual images from the slide-shows can be viewed here.

Two-Years Ago (22-March-2016) — Atlantic Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 77: At Sea, Atlantic Ocean.

This was a classroom day (B19) as we traveled northwest off the west coast of Africa (Namibia). We were far enough at sea that we didn’t see land. Images of Dawn, Sunrise, Student Portraits including the Sunrise Breakfast Club, the Statues, and then Students and other Passengers “Viewing, and Holding the Moon”. Individual images from the slide-shows can be viewed here.

Catching Venus at Dawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Catching Venus at Dawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)



Catching the Sun. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (David J Mathre)
Catching the Sun. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (David J Mathre)


Moon at Dusk over the Atlantic Ocean (Album Cover). Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (David J Mathre)
Moon at Dusk over the Atlantic Ocean (Album Cover). Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (David J Mathre)
Reaching for the Moon. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Reaching for the Moon. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens. (David J Mathre)


(David Mathre)
Google Earth Map of  the GPS Track for Day 77. Contact me for the Route Coordinates. (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (21-March-2018) — New Jersey

Early Spring Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The second day of spring brought the fourth Nor’easter storm this March. Images from mid-afternoon, and it is still snowing. So far the power has stayed on, and I haven’t lost any more trees.

Resilient Daffodils on the second day of spring. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (monochrom + one color). (David J Mathre)
Resilient Daffodils on the second day of spring. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (monochrom + one color). (David J Mathre)