Two-Years Ago (09-February-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: New Snow.

First snow in New Jersey the winter of 2017 that didn’t disappear within a day. The day before it was 65°F (18°C). Ultimately, we got about 6 inches (15 cm) of a heavy wet snow. It was enough that I needed to shovel part of my driveway. Snow covered the solar panels — reducing power generation to nothing. It took a couple of days for the snow to avalanche off the solar panels. You don’t want stand under where it slides off. So far this year only minor dusting.

First snow in New Jersey this winter that didn't disappear within a day. The day before it was 65°F (18°C). Ultimately, we got about 6 inches (15 cm) of a heavy wet snow. It was enough that I needed to shovel part of my driveway. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
First snow in New Jersey this winter that didn’t disappear within a day. The day before it was 65°F (18°C). Ultimately, we got about 6 inches (15 cm) of a heavy wet snow. It was enough that I needed to shovel part of my driveway. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath statue standing on a bench covered with snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/7, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath statue standing on a bench covered with snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/7, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath statue standing on a bench covered with snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/7, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Birdbath statue standing on a bench covered with snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/7, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
First snow in New Jersey this winter that didn't disappear within a day. The day before it was 65°F (18°C). Ultimately, we got about 6 inches (15 cm) of a heavy wet snow. It was enough that I needed to shovel part of my driveway. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
First snow in New Jersey this winter that didn’t disappear within a day. The day before it was 65°F (18°C). Ultimately, we got about 6 inches (15 cm) of a heavy wet snow. It was enough that I needed to shovel part of my driveway. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/9, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Road looking east, covered with snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are out, but still waiting on the snow plows to do a second pass. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Road looking east, covered with snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are out, but still waiting on the snow plows to do a second pass. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Road looking west, covered with snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are out, but still waiting on the snow plows to do a 2nd pass. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Road looking west, covered with snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are out, but still waiting on the snow plows to do a 2nd pass. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (08-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013. Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 11: Tromsø.

On our first night in Tromsø, Anna – a local photographer and her husband took us to a couple of locations to view northern lights. The first place, Telegrafbukta is not far (maybe 45 minutes walking) from the center of Tromsø along the fjord. I got many great images of the northern lights. I am not exactly sure what the walkway going into the cold water is for, unless they have a polar bear swimming club. This is obviously a favorite place for locals to view northern lights on a Friday night. There were at least a dozen folks just up the hill. I’ve reprocessed the images, and used them to create a star trails image, and a time-lapse video.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Lights from Telegrafbukta Beach in Tromsø Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Lights and Star Trails from Telegrafbukta Beach in Tromsø Norway. Composite of 68 images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and PhotoShop CC (statistics, maximum) (David J Mathre)

Last year I was contacted by Condé Nast to use one of these images in a publication about European beaches. I told them that they could use the image if they downloaded it from my PhotoShelter Image Gallery and paid the appropriate rate (depends on size and publication circulation). I guess they didn’t like the rate suggested…

We then went to Kvaløya (Whale) Island for the 2nd image. The mountain on the right is lit up with a yellow color from sodium lights at the home near the water. It was a lot easier to photography the northern lights when on solid ground with a tripod. On the ship, even with a tripod you get the motion of the ship.

Early Morning (00:02 AM) Northern Lights on Kvaløy Island near Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec).. (David J Mathre)
Early Morning (00:02 AM) Northern Lights on Kvaløy Island near Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Sunrise at Playalinda Beach, then spent the day roaming Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Early morning spider web, lots of birds, and an alligator sunning. Many of the birds had captured a fish.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Surf Fishing at Dawn. Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-3 00 mm VRlens (ISO 500, 85 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Spider Web Coated with Early Morning Dew. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)


Individual images from the slide show can be viewed here.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Alligator Sunning Along a Canal at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 250, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (03-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 3: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Birds and Sunset From Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

Sunset From Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 260 mm, f/16, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset From Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 260 mm, f/16, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (02-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013 Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 5: Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Trondheim and Rørvik).

On the second full day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the ship only stops in two ports: Trondheim (06:00-12:00) and Rørvik (20:30-21:15). Having six hours in Trondheim allowed us to spend some time to see the city. Our first stop was at Nidaros Cathedral. The exterior of the cathedral is a target rich environment for religious statues and gargoyles. But it was cold outside. The last time I was here in 2007 I said I would love to go back with a perspective control lens to record all sides of the exterior of the cathedral. Well, I didn’t bring that lens along, so had to do with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and an older 180 mm f/2.8 lens. It was cloudy and still relatively dark in the morning, so the images are noisy. The statues can be identified here. After leaving Trondheim, we passed the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse.

Lonely bench in the snow. Trondheim overlook. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lonely bench in the snow. Trondheim overlook. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual images from the slide show can be viewed here.

Kjeungskjær Lighthouse in Norway on a Cold Windy Rainy Winter Day from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 400, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec).Kjeungskjær Lighthouse (David J Mathre)
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse in Norway on a Cold Windy Rainy Winter Day from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 400, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec).Kjeungskjær Lighthouse (David J Mathre)