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.

Six-Years Ago (17-November-2007) — Colorado

Autumn Wildlife in Colorado.

Eight Tundra Swans on a Windy November Day at Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec).

Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (03-November-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey: Trees that Stay Green.

Pine cones in the afternoon sun. Images taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens.

Pine cones in the afternoon sun. Backyard autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 250 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pine cones in the afternoon sun. Backyard autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 250 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pine cones in the afternoon sun. Backyard autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 250 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pine cones in the afternoon sun. Backyard autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 250 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (23-October-2009) — California

Gone to See California. SIRNA Business Meeting in San Francisco.

Sunset Panorama View of the Moon, Night Sky, Oakland and San Francisco from the Berkeley Hills. Composite of three images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/5, 0.5 sec).

Sunset view of San Francisco and Oakland from Berkeley Hills (David J Mathre)
Sunset view of San Francisco and Oakland from Berkeley Hills (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (17-October-2012) — New Mexico

Gone to See America 2012 Road Trip. Day 11: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Roswell, New Mexico.

Waxing Crescent Moon and Pair of Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec).

Moon and Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 12. (David J Mathre)
Moon and Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunset. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 125, 50 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 12. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (15-October-2012) — New Mexico

Comparison of RAW Digital Image Processing Programs.

Both Phase One and DxO have released new versions of their RAW digital image processing software (DxO Optics Pro 8, and Capture One Pro 7). The following image of a horse in an open-air horse trailer outside of Taos, New Mexico was taken from within a van during ANPAT 12. The image was processed as follows: 1) The imbedded jpg image extracted using Color Bits “Photo Mechanic”; The RAW image converted to jpg using Nikon View NX2; 3) The RAW image processed with Nikon Capture NX2; 4) The RAW image processed with Adobe Lightroom 4 (using the Adobe RAW engine); 5) The RAW image processed with Phase One Capture One Pro 7; and 6) The RAW image processed with DxO Optics Pro 8. There is a tint in the window of the van, so adjusting the white balance is tricky. Some of the RAW processors do better than others adjusting and correcting the white balance. Most RAW image processors have the ability to correct for lens distortion. DxO Optics Pro 8 has the largest collection of profiles for lens distortion correction. Capture One Pro 7 only has lens correction profiles for a few (high end/Pro) lenses, and did not have the profile for the camera/lens used for this image.

Let me know which version you like or dislike (either reply to the blog post or e-mail).

Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Imbedded JPG extracted with Photo Mechanic. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Imbedded JPG extracted with Photo Mechanic. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). View NX2 JPG image. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). View NX2 JPG image. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Nikon Capture NX2 (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Nikon Capture NX2 (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Adobe Camera Raw - Lightroom 4. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Adobe Camera Raw – Lightroom 4. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with DxO Optics Pro 8. (David J Mathre)
Horse in an Open Air Horse Carrier on the Highway into Taos, New Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 30 mm, f/3.8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with DxO Optics Pro 8. (David J Mathre)