10-October-2018 - David Mathre Photography

Five-Years Ago (10-October-2013) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2013. Nikonian Annual Photography Adventure Trip. Day 5: Williams, Chloride, and Oatman.

When we woke up, there was snow on the ground. Early winter — but Williams is 6766 feet above sea level. The government shutdown continued, and the closure of Grand Canyon National Park continued. Our van set out for opportunities at lower elevations free of snow. We traveled to Chloride, a one time silver mining town and now nearly a ghost town. Outside of Chloride, we visited a site where artist Roy Purcell created some modern rock murals back in the 1960’s. We also visited Oatman, another former gold mining town. Now a tourist destination. But the remaining local residents don’t want the tourists to feed the wild burro’s.

Footsteps in an Early Snowfall (Williams, Arizona). Gone to See America 2013. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Footsteps in an Early Snowfall (Williams, Arizona). Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Modern Rock Mural near Chloride by Artist Roy Purcell. There are a lot of very colorful murals in this location started in 1966. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 400, 55 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wild Burro (Donkey) in Oatman, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-120 mm lens (ISO 200, 120 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (10-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 4: On the Road – Roswell, New Mexico to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Before leaving for Carlsbad, I stopped back at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge to watch the Sandhill Cranes leave to feed for the day. I was told that one of the places they go to feed is local peanut farms that had been recently plowed. Ever wonder how the salmonella got in the peanut butter a few years ago???

Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Flight. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (10-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 4: On the Road – Roswell, New Mexico to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

I first visited Carlsbad Caverns on a road trip in 1976. Well before I had a camera. As part of the road trip this year, I visited Carlsbad Cavern National Park again. This time with a Nikon D4 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens that does well in low light. I took a lot of images. Your first walk down into this big entrance going from bright light into the dark cavern. It takes a while for the eyes to adapt to the low-level of artificial lighting in the cave. At the end of the walk, you take an elevator back to the surface. Someday, I want to go back and do the extended tour where you need to wear a hardhat and headlamp.

Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)

Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/1.4, 1/80 sec) (David J Mathre)

Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern, Looking Out. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/1.4, 1/6400 sec) (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (10-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 6: Yosemite National Park.

On the last day of ANPAT 8, we did a walkabout in Yosemite Valley. First, we visited the smallest waterfall in the valley at Fern Spring. It is just off the road and in the shade. Well worth taking the time to visit and photograph. I also got some images of mushrooms/tree fungi. While I was busy with the mushrooms, the rest of the group tried to get a picture of a small brown bear running to the Merced river.

Fern Falls in Yosemite Valley. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 42 mm, f/16, 1/2 sec). (David J Mathre)

Yosemite's Smallest Waterfall at Fern Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/16, 5 sec). (David J Mathre) — Yosemite’s Smallest Waterfall at Fern Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/16, 5 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tree Fungus in Yosemite National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/16, 4 sec). (David J Mathre) — Tree Fungus in Yosemite National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/16, 4 sec). (David J Mathre)