Three-Years Ago (29-December-2014) — Antarctica

Gone To See Antarctica 2014/5. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 13: South Shetland Islands.

The south Atlantic seas and wind calmed considerable overnight. The skies were clear and bright blue. In the morning I was able to tour the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. As we approached Elephant Island I got this panoramic image using the in camera pano feature of the Fuji X-T1 camera. Since it was so calm, the captain of the ship allowed us to take the small Polarcirkel boats to land at Point Wild on Elephant Island. This was the desolate rocky beach where Ernest Shackleton’s crew survived for 4 months in 1916 while Shackelton managed to sail to South Georgia and ultimately assure their rescue. I assume that the Sheathbill’s and the Penguins would have been on the menu for the sailors during this time.

View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)


Six-Years Ago (28-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore

I spent one final day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Playalinda beach at Canaveral National Seashore.

Sunrise at Playalinda Beach on Merritt Island in Canaveral National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise at Playalinda Beach on Merritt Island in Canaveral National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)


Wednesday (27-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 7: Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park.

I began the day early at Fort De Soto park with my brother to watch the sun rise under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The sky was just starting to show some signs of light when we arrived. There was a line of clouds above the Skyway bridge, and it looked promising for the sun to come up under the clouds. I set up two cameras, one with a 16 mm wide-angle lens, and one with a 500 mm telephoto lens to do  time-lapsed sequences of sunrise.

Cameras set up to photograph the sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Cameras set up to photograph the sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (David J Mathre)


Six-Years Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Birds (American Avocet, Great Egret, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and an unknown bird) and Reptiles (Rat Snake, Turtle, and Alligator) along Black Point Wildlife Drive or Biolab Road in the National Wildlife Refuge.

Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)



Eleven-Years Ago (27-December-2006) — New Jersey

Winter Walkabout in New Jersey: Backyard and Sourland Mountain Preserve

Northern mockingbirds in the backyard, then tall grass and a lonely lawn chair at the Sourland Mountain Preserve

Northern Mockingbird on a Vine. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 70-200 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/750 sec) (David J Mathre)
Northern Mockingbird on a Vine. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 70-200 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/750 sec) (David J Mathre)