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.

Sunday (05-May-2012) — New Mexico

ANPAT 12 — New Mexico

ANPAT (Annual Nikonians Photography Adventure Trip) 12 was announced yesterday. It will be in New Mexico this October. I previously attended ANPAT 7 (Grand Teton & Yellowstone), ANPAT 8 (Yosemite), and ANPAT 9 (Denali) but missed the last two ANPAT 10 (Olympic Pacific Northwest) and ANPAT 11 (Utah Bryce & Zion). I look forward to seeing old friends again, little sleep, and lots of photography.

New Mexico Official Scenic Historic Marker for the Trinity Site. Image taken with a Nikon D200 and 18-70 mm kit lens (ISO 400, 62 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (28-April-2007) — Colorado

Gone to See America 2007. Springtime in Colorado.

While visiting Rocky Mountain National Park five years ago, I found this butterfly warming itself in the sun on a pile of snow and ice. I was surprised to see a butterfly out this early at a high elevation.

Butterfly Warming in the Sun on Snow and Ice. Early Spring in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D200 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (27-March-2012) — New Jersey

Early Spring Night Sky over New Jersey. NASA ATREX Mission. Early Morning Sky Lit Up By Five NASA Sounding Rockets.

Early this morning NASA launched five sounding rockets from Wallops Island, Virginia over a seven minute period to study the jet stream in the upper atmosphere at the edge of space. Once the rockets reached the thermosphere they were set to release trimethyaluminum that would react to create a cloud of aluminum oxide. This mission has been canceled several times waiting for clear skies from New Jersey to South Carolina. I set up a Nikon D3x camera with a 14-24 mm f/2.8 wide angle lens and pointed it south-east to capture an image every minute starting just after midnight to see if I could to catch something from the mission. The rockets were launched starting just before 5 AM (EDT).

The following is a composite of 40 images combined using the startrails program showing the release from all 5 rockets. You see the star trails, a couple of jet trails, all five of the ATREX rocket cloud releases and as a bonus a meteor trail.

NASA ATREX Jet Stream Study Lights up The Night Sky. Composite of 40 images taken with a Nikon D3x and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec) processed using DxO Pro, and Startrails. (David J Mathre)
NASA ATREX Jet Stream Study Lights up The Night Sky. Composite of 40 images taken with a Nikon D3x and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec) processed using DxO Pro, and Startrails. (David J Mathre)