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.

Saturday (07-March-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout looking for early flowers. Found Snow Drops without any snow, Daffodils, and Purple Crocus.

Snow Drops with no snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Snow Drops with no snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (65.9 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (63.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A deficit of 2.7 kWh.


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One-Year Ago (07-March-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day viewed from my backyard patio: White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Cardinal. The small brown bird are difficult to identify. Thom Hogan used to call them LBJ’s (little-brown jobs). It is amazing how different the female Red-winged Blackbird is from the male adding to the difficulty with identification.


Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Friday (06-March-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds at the bird feeder. Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, and House Finch.

Female Northern Cardinal eating sunflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal eating sunflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Mourning Dove. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Mourning Dove. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male and Female House Finch eating sunflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male and Female House Finch eating sunflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (72.6 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy all day. A deficit of 64.0 kWh.


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One-Year Ago (06-March-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day viewed from my backyard patio: Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Cardinal.

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Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Four Years Ago (06-March-2016) — Indian Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 61: Neptune Day while crossing the Indian Ocean.

Neptune Day celebration. Time-lapse video of the shellback initiation for those crossing the equator their first time. Over 50 of the students and life-long learners had their heads shaved.

I feel for the Semester at Sea voyagers this year as they miss several ports to avoid the COVID-19 virus. I wish them well, and hope the program is able to continue in the future.