Three-Years Ago (25-December-2014) — South Georgia Island

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/5 Day 10: Christmas Day on South Georgia Island

The Hurtigruten MS Fram arrived at South Georgia early in the morning. We were ferried from the ship to the island on Polarcirkel boats (a more comfortable version of the Zodiac boats). We then hiked across the island to Grytviken — an abandoned whaling village to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church. This is reported to be the southern most church. It was prefabricated in Norway, and dedicated 104 years ago on Christmas Day. The Christmas service was performed in Norwegian, German, and English. The church has a foot-pumped organ that the ship’s musician used to play Christmas music (as well as “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum). We then spent the remainder of our time on shore investigating the remaining whaling buildings in Grytviken and visiting a King Penguin rookery just outside of the village.

Hikers from the Hurtigruten MS Fram going to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church at Grytviken in South Georgia. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Hikers from the Hurtigruten MS Fram going to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church at Grytviken in South Georgia. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)



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Ten-Years Ago (25-December-2007) — Florida

Extended Mathre Family Celebration: A Busy Christmas Day

Early morning sunrise and night-time photography at the Vinoy Hotel.  Wildlife photography at the Weedon Island Nature Preserve. Lots of birds, a crab spider, and how often do you see, let alone catch a “flying fish” in midair. Then the extended Mathre family Christmas Day celebration.

Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)



Eleven-Years Ago (25-December-2006) — New Jersey

Winter in New Jersey: Christmas Day Walkabout in the Neighborhood

Abandoned wood and stone building (ice house?) along Hollow road in Skillman, New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D200 camera and 17-55 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
Abandoned wood and stone building (ice house?) along Hollow road in Skillman, New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D200 camera and 17-55 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)


Ten-Years Ago (23-December-2007) — Florida

Views from the Vinoy Hotel: St. Petersburg Pier and Holiday Lights



Three-Years Ago (22-December-2014) — Falkland Islands

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/5 Day 7: Hurtigruten MS Fram visiting the Falkland Islands

The first thing I did when in Stanley, was to look for a camera store (or somewhere that sold cameras). My Nikon Df camera failed a couple days earlier (shutter buckled), the battery charger for the Fuji X-T1 camera was acting up, and the Leica T camera was having issues with cold temperatures. No luck, since everything has to be shipped to the island. No option for Amazon next day delivery. I was going to have to do without a camera with a big telephoto lens. Fortunately, I found someone on the ship with a different Fuji camera that used the same batteries that allowed me to borrow the battery charger. I did have some time to walk around the town and take some pictures.

Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Poppies and Lupines at at a Flower Garden. Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Poppies and Lupines at at a Flower Garden. Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)