Category: Fine Art

Views of art from around the world

Sunday (07-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Butterflies, Bees, and Clearwing Hummingbird Moths. Today, the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly was missing its tails and some of its rear wing. The Black Swallowtail Butterfly (NJ State Butterfly) was also missing one of its tails. I also saw a Red Admiral and Painted Lady Butterfly. One of the Clearwing Hummingbird Moths showed up. It spent most of its time feeding on the Pink Cosmos and Pink Zinnia flowers


Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.


Daily Power Use (59.1 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (64.15 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out long enough to generate more power than the geothermal HVAC system needed to keep the house cool.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Wednesday (03-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Another hot summer day. Red-bellied Woodpecker at the bird feeder. It likes the sunflower seeds, and is aggressive enough to keep the Blue Jay and Cardinal away. A doe walked by covered with black flies. Some wide views of the wildflower gardens and meadows. Then closeup, macro images of the flowers and wildflowers: Red allium, Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Cosmos, Creeping Daisy, Five spots, Forget-me-not, Godetia, Italian clover, Larkspur, Leopard’s bane, Love-in-a-mist, Phlox, Poppy, Sunflower, Yucca, Zinnia, and several I have not identified. Since it is hotter on the patio where I have my garden towers, the hot peppers are already turning red.

Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.


Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (61.6 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (55.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The outside temperatures were high, so the geothermal HVAC system was working hard and I ended up using more energy that the solar panels could produce. You can see in the graph that there were clouds that reduced the solar energy production.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (02-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Rainbow in New Jersey.

While eating dinner, it started getting dark outside with the rumble of thunder. I was happy when the rain started since it had been hot out, and all of my garden towers on the patio and the wildflower meadows needed water. A bit later when looking out the kitchen window while doing the dishes saw a rainbow. I dropped everything and first ran out with my Leica CL camera with the 11-23 mm wide-angle lens. After taking a bunch of pictures, I returned with a Nikon D810a camera with the 8-15 mm fisheye lens. I really like the Leica CL camera for travel, but the Nikon D810a camera has a  larger (full frame) and more sensitive sensor with greater dynamic range. Just compare the two images of the rainbow above my backyard weather station.  I then took a bunch of images to make a 360 degree panorama, little planet view, and inverse little planet view of the rainbow.

Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Evening Rainbow over the Weather Station. After the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard 360 Panorama View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard 360 Panorama View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Inverse Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Inverse Little Planet View of an Evening Rainbow. After the Thunderstorm. Composite of 46 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 200, 8 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (54.9 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (66.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The outside temperatures were high, so the geothermal HVAC system was working hard.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Thursday (20-June-2019) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The rain continues… It stopped for a bit a little after noon. Went on a walkabout with my Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens. Lots of Poppies and Cosmos flowers. Also some Forget-Me-Not, Bee Balm, Blue Flax, Marigold, Zinnia, and Yellow Prickly Pear Cactus flowers.

Troll looking at a Poppy Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Dizzy Troll looking at a Poppy Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)



Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Thursday (20-June-2017) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

It seems that “Nibbles” the Bunny Rabbit is moving in near my Kitchen Wildflower Garden. I’m letting him or her stay for the time being. So far it is not eating the Poppies.

Bunny Rabbit Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Bunny Rabbit Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)




Bunny Rabbit Behind the Electric Fence. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Bunny Rabbit Behind the Electric Fence. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather