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.

Friday (01-July-2011) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Morning Walkabout at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Wildflowers: Queen Anne’s Lace, Black Eyed Susan, Daisy, others.

Black Eyed Susan. Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Black Eyed Susan. Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Flying Ant in a Queen Anne's Lace Flower at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Flying Ant in a Queen Annes Lace Flower at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5
Black Eyed Susan. Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Black Eyed Susan. Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Daisy - Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Daisy – Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Summer Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 205 mm, f/6, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.

Friday (01-July-2011) — New Jersey

Early Summer Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Morning Walkabout at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Bullfrogs in the Pond.

Bullfrog at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Bullfrog at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Bullfrog at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Bullfrog at the Sourland Mountain Reserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.

Friday (01-July-2011) — New Jersey

Early Summer Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Morning walkabout at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve. Insects: Dragonfly, Butterflies, and Grasshopper.

Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Milkweed Flowers in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Milkweed Flowers in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Dragonfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Dragonfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Butterfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Butterfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Green Grasshopper in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Green Grasshopper in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Butterfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Butterfly in Sourland Mountain Reserve. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.

Thursday (30-June-2011) — New Jersey

Summer in New Jersey: Independence Day Fireworks.

Montgomery Township in New Jersey typically has their Independence Day Fireworks celebration a few days before the 4th of July. This year it will be tonight. I have a great location to view the fireworks just down the road from my house. It is on a hill that looks down on the high school where the main event occurs.

Winston Hall  has published an online guide for Photographing Fireworks with a DSLR camera.

I set up one camera set to do time-lapsed images (D3x with 180 mm f/2.8 lens), and a second camera do DSLR Video (D3x with 85 mm f/1.4 lens). The following 12 images were from the D3x and 180 mm lens. I haven’t used the 180 mm f/2.8 prime lens for some time and forgot how sharp this lens can be.

Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6. (David J Mathre)
Montgomery Township Independence Day Fireworks 2011. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/11, 4 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6.

Four Years Ago (30-June-2007) — Colorado

Summer in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park.

Four years ago I drove the recently opened Trail Ridge Road to the pass. At that time I took 5 vertical images with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens to be combined into a panorama. At that time the software to combine images for a composite panorama image were just starting to be available (including manually moving layers in Photoshop CS3), and don’t have the capabilities of the programs available today. The first panorama is the composite of 5 raw images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5. The second panorama used Auto Pano Giga with the Neutralhazer plugin (to reduce the effect of long distance haze). The folks from Kolor that created the dehazer claim that the program reduces the effect of light traveling through long distances of air. The third panorama adds the Topaz Detail (Color Jump) filter to the above. Let me know what you think about the three versions.

Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5. Additional processing with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5. Additional processing with Photoshop CS5.
Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5 and the DeHaze Plugin. Additional processing with Focus Magic, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5 and the DeHaze Plugin. Additional processing with Focus Magic, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5.
Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5 and the DeHaze Plugin. Additional processing with Focus Magic, Nik Define, Topaz Detail (Color Jump), and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Rocky Mountain National Park Panorama on Trail Ridge Road. Images taken with a Nikon D200 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). Composite of five images using Auto Pano Giga 2.5 and the DeHaze Plugin. Additional processing with Focus Magic, Nik Define, Topaz Detail (Color Jump), and Photoshop CS5.