[Update from the post last year. While visiting a neighbor across the street I noticed a wind-chime that used the same type of spoons. I wonder if a crow took one and dropped it off in my backyard???]
I was out in the backyard using a rototiller to prepare a new section for the expanding wildflower meadow. The land had been a farm years ago, but this section had become overgrown with brush. The brush was cleared last year, and this summer the section was covered with a black tarp to solarize the soil (kill the weeds, especially the invasive “mile-a-minute” vine). The rototiller found lots of rocks, and roots from the brush. At one point, I noticed something silver being thrown back by rototiller. It turned out to be a spoon. The rototiller blades did a bit of damage to the spoon. I brought it inside, and washed it off. The only identification of the spoon was an imprint on the back of the handle “Oneida Silversmiths”. After doing some research online, I think I identified the design of the spool as Oneida silverplate “Clairhill-Fairhill (1978). One site had it on sale for less than eight dollars. So, not an antique đ . The house was built around that time, but how the spoon got 200 feet behind the house is a mystery.
Oneida Silversmiths Spoon. Backyard Archaeology in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/3 sec) (David J Mathre)Oneida Silversmiths Spoon. Backyard Archaeology in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/3 sec) (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Cuba 2011 People to People Cultural Exchange. Day 5 of a Street Photography Workshop led by Steve Simon.
The group spent the morning at the Cuban Ballet School. Not for a performance, but practice. It was in an old run down, but once majestic building. We were told the students from Cuba attended for free, but those from other countries paid tuition, which paid some of the bills. The director was looking for donations of costumes and dance shoes.
Ballet School in Old Havana. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 1000, 18 mm, f/5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 1: Kailua Kona.
After checking into our hotel, a few of us walked down to the beach for sunset. I hoped to see the “Green Flash” like I did the last time I was in Hawaii. The conditions were not right, but I did get some good sunset images. I processed these images using newer, current tools. You can see earlier versions here.
Sunset at Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Image taken with Nikon D2xs camera and 12-24 mm lens (ISO 100, 12 mm, f/9, 1/90 sec). (David J Mathre)Sunset and Sailboat off Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Image taken with Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)Sunset and Sailboat off Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Image taken with Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)Sunset and Sailboat off Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Image taken with Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 7: Lisbon, Portugal.
Following a final review of our “best images” the group walked to the Time Out Market for lunch. My foot didn’t hurt, and I found myself walking faster than everyone for the first time all week. One person made a comment that the hurting foot was all an act — it wasn’t. The Time Out Market was much busier than when I was there on Saturday, but the adjoining fish, meat, vegetable, and fruit markets were all closed. The restaurant area was so crowded we couldn’t find a place to sit down together. At that point the group said our final goodbye and split up. Many of the restaurants had available seating on the corridor surrounding the main area which was much less crowded. I sat down at CAFĂ DE SĂO BENTO and had a Portuguese steak with a fried egg on top. I then walked back to the Bessa Hotel stopping at several places to get high-resolution 360 degree images with the Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens.
Lisbon Photographer. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 100, 15 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Street Photographers or Paparazzi?
Steak & Egg Lunch at Time Out in Portugal. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.5, 1/40 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout (Part 1). Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Individual images from the slideshows can be viewed here.
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout (Part 2). Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 5: Lisbon, Portugal.
Miguel took us out for our morning walkabout so Steve could sleep in and allow the antibiotics to work their magic. I took my small Leica CL camera with the 23 mm f/2 lens and the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. We went through an area with many bars with lots of empty bottles and plastic cups from the night before. The only activities were a few locals on their way to work, and the some city workers picking up the bottles and cleaning the streets. I wandered off on a side street and came upon a film crew with motorcycles and police cars doing practice runs. I got a picture of the movie director viewing the activity. We then walked back to the hotel for lunch and our afternoon image review session. Just before getting to the hotel, a woman with a bright orange dress walked by a street beggar in blue.
Movie Motorcycle Practice Run. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)Movie Director. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Color Contrasts. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
For our afternoon session, we rode a couple of taxis to the LX Factory. I took the Nikon D850 camera with an 8-15 mm fisheye lens. The LX Factory is a tourist attraction with many arts and craft shops and restaurants. “Kiss the Cook” a Portuguese cooking class that I attended during the 2014 Semester at Sea voyage is located in the LX Factory.. A commercial photographer didn’t want we to take any images of his model. In addition to the street photography, I also took a series of images for a high-resolution composite 360 degree panorama and little planet view. I wish we stayed at the LX factory for dinner, and not return to the hotel. The 2nd taxi took a long time to return, so four of us went to a local Italian restaurant for dinner.
Commercial Photographer. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)Model. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon LX Factory Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
LX Factory Back Street – 360 Degree Panorama. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)LX Factory Back Street – Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)LX Factory Back Street – Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of Dinner. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.
