Landscape - David Mathre Photography

Six-Years Ago (22-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 2: Oslo to Bergen.

On Day 2 we herded the group and all of the luggage to the train station using public transportation. We then boarded the Bergen Railway high-speed train from Oslo to Bergen. All of these images were taken while on the train. The train stops at the highest point on the line at Finse (1222 meters above sea level). When we got to Bergen there was a bit of a glitch. The hotel where we were supposed to be staying didn’t have any records of our reservation. The hotel knew they had a problem with 20+ folks with luggage sitting in the lobby. After several hours of discussions and phone calls rooms were found for everyone. By then it was too late to see much of Bergen.

Train Conductor Signaling the Oslo to Bergen Train to Go. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Church Steeple from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 310 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Winter View from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4.8, 1/90 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Steam Rising. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Snow Making Machine. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/6.3. 1/160 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Winter Cabin in Norway. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Conductor on the Bergen Railroad at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Bergen Railroad Engine at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 ens (ISO 100, 28 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Winter Stream in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)

As I mentioned at the beginning of this series of posts, I am getting ready to revisit Norway. At the time of the 2007 trip I only had a DSLR for about 6 months. There were many things about it I didn’t know – I was very early in the learning curve. By reviewing and analyzing the old images, I learn from my mistakes. When I look at the images that I took during that trip I cringe knowing that I could have done a better job – composition, exposure, focus, etc. I typically include camera settings with the description to help when I analyze the images. Since then cameras have improved significantly. Likewise the software used to process the images has improved. The new software lets me fix or improve the older images, and in some cases I have reprocessed the images. One of my goals for this upcoming trip is to take fewer, but better images. Comments and criticisms about these images are welcomed.

Six-Years Ago (21-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 1: Oslo.

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Norway, I am going to do several posts revisiting a family trip to Norway in 2007. Some of images have been posted before, and some will be new. The trip started in Oslo. I flew in from New Jersey, and the rest of the family flew in from Florida. All together, I think there were 22-24 in the group. On this first day, we toured Oslo. At the end of the day we had pizza with Arnie. It took a fisheye lens to get the whole group in one image. During this trip, I was using a Nikon D2xs camera with 7 lenses (10.5 mm fisheye, 12-24 mm, 28-70 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 80-400 mm, and 85 mm). For my upcoming trip, I want to travel lighter.

National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Nobel Peace Center. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Artillery Guarding Oslo at the Akeshus Fortress. Winter in Oslo Norway. (David J Mathre)

Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Family in Norway, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Glass Menagerie, National Theater, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Orchids, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Thursday (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island.

Before starting my drive back to New Jersey, I spent the morning on Merritt Island. First for sunrise at Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, then for a drive through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge — both along Bio Lab Road and Black Point Wildlife Drive. The previous day there was heavy fog in the morning so I didn’t go to Playalinda beach. This beach is favored by surf fishermen.

Rather that using the big telephoto lenses, all of the images on this day were taken with a Nikon D700 camera with a 28-300 mm VR lens, a Leica X2 camera, or a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens. All hand-held, no tripod.

Tern and Two Fisherman at Sunrise. Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/1000). (David J. Mathre)

Great Blue Heron on One Leg in the Early Morning Sun. Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — Great Blue Heron on One Leg in the Early Morning Sun. Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Only the Eyes and Snout of the Alligator are Visible View on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre) — Only the Eyes and Snout of the Alligator are Visible View on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)

Can You Find the Alligator? Reflections on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000). (David J Mathre)

Florida Alligator Waiting for the Morning Sun to Get Warm in a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre) — Florida Alligator Waiting for the Morning Sun to Get Warm in a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)

Great Blue Heron on a Cedar. Looking Up Through the Sunroof. Black Point Wildlife Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — Great Blue Heron on a Cedar. Looking Up Through the Sunroof. Black Point Wildlife Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (06-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 3: Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg.

When I woke up this morning and looked out from the balcony of my room at the Vinoy hotel it was foggy. I couldn’t even see the St. Petersburg Pier that I had been taking images for a time-lapsed video the previous night. I had hoped to go to Fort De Soto park for both sunrise and bird photography today — but it was way too foggy. Initially I could barely see the palm trees. At 11 AM, I still couldn’t see the Pier.

Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg from a Balcony at the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (02-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 7: Night Sky in Patagonia.

I got up really early before dawn to see the night sky in the southern hemisphere. I’ve wanted to see the Southern Milky Way and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. This was the first time that I saw the Orion constellation upside down. I don’t recognize many of the other stars and southern constellations. Images while staying at Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten in Argentina.

Night Sky in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/4, 30 sec) (David J Mathre)

Night Sky in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16-35 mm f/4 lens (ISO 400, 28 mm, f/4.5, 58 sec) (David J Mathre)

Night Sky in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/4, 58 sec) (David J Mathre)

Night Sky in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/4.5, 58 sec) (David J Mathre)

Southern Hemisphere Milky Way. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 50 sec) (David J Mathre)

Night Sky in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G (ISO 12800, 50 mm, f/2, 1/15 sec) (David J Mathre)