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 (09-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 14: Hosteria Lago Grey.

Our first full day in Torres del Paine National Park. I got up early to check out the colors that can be amazing in Patagonia at sunrise and sunset. I was not disappointed. The wind was very strong as we hiked on a sandbar in the morning. Our guide Rob, did some wire-walking. In the afternoon, we took a boat ride to view the glacier up close. I’ll share those images in the future.

Early Morning Colors in Patagonia. Hosteria Lago Grey, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 75 mm, f/5.6, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre)

Glacial Ice on Lago Grey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 120 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Saturday (08-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 13: Estancia Lazo to Hosteria Lago Grey.

We stopped for a few minutes at the entrance to Torres del Paines National Park while our guide paid the entrance fee. There were a number of Guanaco (South American Camels) milling around. All of a sudden two males started chasing each other. I caught this one as it ran right through our group.

Guanaco Running at the Entrance to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (07-January-2011) — Argentina/Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 12: Calafate, Argentina to Estancia Lazo, Chile.

A long day on the road as we traveled from Argentina to Chile. On the way we stopped at a sheep ranch (Estancia). After going through customs/immigration at the Chilean border we traveled to Lazo Estancia right next to Paine National Park.

Bienvenidos (Welcome) Wagon Wheel Along a Wood and Barbed Wire Fence at an Estancia in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Fido Waiting to Chase Sheep in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sheep shearing demonstration at an Estancia in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/2, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Photographer Working the Windmill at Lazo Estancia in Patagonia. Near Paine National Park and Lago Verde. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 28 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 1/80 sec).120 (David J Mathre)

Red Hot Poker Flower (Kniphofia uvaria) at Mirador del Payne Hosteria in Estancia Lazo. This is right next to Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 38 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). It is hard to believe it is so light out at 11 PM. (David J Mathre)

Thursday (06-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 11: Depart Los Notros, Travel to Calafate.

Today we traveled back to Calafate. We had the afternoon and evening off to visit the city and find a local restaurant for dinner. I used most of the time to catch up on images. This was the first place I had reasonable internet access, so used the time to start filling in the missing days in this Photoblog. Tomorrow we leave Argentina and travel to Chile. We will be spending the rest of the trip in Paine National Park (Lago Verde, Torre Mountains, Paine massif, Lago Grey) before returning from Punta Arenas (on the shores of the Strait of Magellan).

Checking in at the Kau Yatun hotel in Calafate. (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (05-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 10: Los Notros Resort, Boat ride and Hike on Perito Moreno Glacier.

This morning we took a boat across to the Perito Moreno Glacier. There after some history of the glacier by the local guides we hiked to the glacier where we were fitted with ice crampons. These were a relatively old style crampon that fit any boots. The guide then took us for an 1.5 hour hike on the glacier. This was a great photo opportunity to see the deep blue ice and all of the features on the glacier up close. At the end of the hike, we had a drink with glacial ice. Even though I only took one DLSR and one lens, I got many great images on this hike. During the afternoon, I started working on some images from the early part of the trip.

Glacier Calving. Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 f/1.4 mm lens (ISO 200, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thom Hogan climbing Perito Moreno Glacier without any ropes. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)