Friday (24-May-2016) — New Jersey

I’m Back in the Printing Game.

My last printer, a HP Photosmart B8190 recently died and the model was discontinued a few years ago so I have been on the lookout for a replacement for making Fine Art Prints. This Epson Stylus 4900 arrive last night from B&H. Four guys had to unload it from the delivery truck. The instructions state that two people need to lift the printer from the shipping crate. It was really heavy, and difficult to do by myself. Once I got it up onto the desk (morning long project) I ran through the setup, loaded all of the inks, and got it configured on my network. The colors in the initial test prints look great, even if I am using up some remaining HP paper from the last printer. Image of “Blue Eyes” taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, fill flash).

Epson P4900 Printer. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (indoors, computer and printer) (David J Mathre)
Epson P4900 Printer. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (indoors, computer and printer) (David J Mathre)

Thursday (19-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

The new Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR telephoto lens arrived this afternoon. It was not available before the Semester at Sea voyage. I took it out for a few shots while the sun was still out. My initial impression is favorable. The Fuji X-T1 camera and new lens is about 1 kg lighter than a corresponding Nikon D4 and 80-400mm VRII lens. The Fuji lens does not focus as fast as the Nikon lens, but the focus appears to accurate. I will take it out to the Sourland Preserve this weekend for some field testing. I do want to see if the focus will be fast enough to catch birds in flight.

Cluster of rhododendron flowers. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/14, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Cluster of rhododendron flowers. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/14, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (17-May-2015) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Cluster of Rhododendron Flowers after an early morning rainstorm. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec).

Cluster of Rhododendron Flowers after an early morning rainstorm. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camer and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Cluster of Rhododendron Flowers after an early morning rainstorm. . Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (17-May-2013) — Netherlands

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 21: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Vincent is Back. Van Gogh Exhibit at the Kröller-Müller Museum.


Click on the above image to access the individual images in slideshow at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Three-Years Ago (16-May-2013) — Netherlands

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 20: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Field Trip to Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. We were lucky as this was the last day of the season that the gardens were open. We got there early and there were already many bus loads of tourists that arrived before us. The gardens are large enough that it was not too crowded once we got inside. I will have to say that there were some “ugly tourists” that walked right into the flower gardens. There was also an Indian wedding party where the photographer had the full entourage stand in the middle of a patch of tulips. I don’t know how many flowers got trampled. ARRG!!!


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.