Landscape - David Mathre Photography

Thursday (13-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 18: Detained as Political Prisoners in Puerto Natales.

We are still sitting in a hotel in Puerto Natales. The roads continue to be blocked, and we have no idea when we will be able to get to the airport in Punta Arenas. In essence we are being held political prisoners since we are not able to leave this small town and this country. Does anyone remember “Missing”.

Update as of 3 PM local. We were looking at an option to return to Argentina and fly back from Calafate. A bus would bring us to the road block and we would have to walk across with our entire luggage. Another bus would pick us up on the other side. The protesters told the driver we could walk across the line, but they would then destroy the bus. So we are probably spending another night in Puerto Natales. The harbor was also closed due to the strike, so that also was not an option.

Update at 5 PM Local. We just checked back into the Hotel.

Fishing Boat in Pureto Natales Harbor. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (David J Mathre)

Hotel Australis in Pureto Natales overlooking the "Fjord of Last Hope." Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (David J Mathre) — Hotel Australis in Pureto Natales overlooking the “Fjord of Last Hope.” Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (David J Mathre)

22-January-2011 edit: Check out Thom Hogan’s blog about being held hostage in southern Chile.

Tuesday (11-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 16: Hike and Equitrekking in Torres del Paine National Park.

The trip is coming to an end. Today we rode horses and hiked to Mirador Los Torres from the Las Torres Hotel. I actually didn’t make it to the end of the trail, and only made it as far as the last big climb to the glacial lake because I rode a horse. This cold/respiratory infection appears to be getting worse. Our guide, Robert Noonan took one of my Leica point and shoot cameras to get some images from the top. Unfortunately, the peaks were hidden in the clouds.

Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 9.1 mm, f/3.9, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre) — Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 9.1 mm, f/3.9, 1/125 sec).

Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4.5, 1/80 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4.5, 1/80 sec.).

Woods in B&W. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Woods in B&W. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec.).

White Orchid. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec.). (David J Mathre) — White Orchid. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec.).

White Orchid. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 4.1 mm, f/3.3, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre) — White Orchid. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 4.1 mm, f/3.3, 1/50 sec).

Forest. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Forest. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec.).

Torres del Paine. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Torres del Paine. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec.).

Mirador Las Torres. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 4.1 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Image taken by Robert Noonan. (David J Mathre) — Mirador Las Torres. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 Camera (ISO 80, 4.1 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Image taken by Robert Noonan.

Tree Root in B&W. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Tree Root in B&W. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec.).

Guide. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/2, 1/200 sec.). (David J Mathre) — Guide. Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/2, 1/200 sec.).

Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 Camera (ISO 125, 7.5 mm, f/3.2, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre) — Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 Camera (ISO 125, 7.5 mm, f/3.2, 1/400 sec).

Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 Camera (ISO 80, 7.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — Hike and Equitrekking from Hotel Las Torres to Mrador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 Camera (ISO 80, 7.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec).

Monday (10-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 15: Hosteria Lago Grey.

Early Morning Rainbow from Hosteria Lago Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Composite of two images from a Nikon D3x and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec) combined using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (09-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 14: Hosteria Lago Grey.

Our first full day in Torres del Paine National Park. I got up early to check out the colors that can be amazing in Patagonia at sunrise and sunset. I was not disappointed. The wind was very strong as we hiked on a sandbar in the morning. Our guide Rob, did some wire-walking. In the afternoon, we took a boat ride to view the glacier up close. I’ll share those images in the future.

Early Morning Colors in Patagonia. Hosteria Lago Grey, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 75 mm, f/5.6, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre)

Glacial Ice on Lago Grey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 120 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (07-January-2011) — Argentina/Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 12: Calafate, Argentina to Estancia Lazo, Chile.

A long day on the road as we traveled from Argentina to Chile. On the way we stopped at a sheep ranch (Estancia). After going through customs/immigration at the Chilean border we traveled to Lazo Estancia right next to Paine National Park.

Bienvenidos (Welcome) Wagon Wheel Along a Wood and Barbed Wire Fence at an Estancia in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Fido Waiting to Chase Sheep in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sheep shearing demonstration at an Estancia in Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/2, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Photographer Working the Windmill at Lazo Estancia in Patagonia. Near Paine National Park and Lago Verde. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 28 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 1/80 sec).120 (David J Mathre)

Red Hot Poker Flower (Kniphofia uvaria) at Mirador del Payne Hosteria in Estancia Lazo. This is right next to Torres del Paine National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24-120 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 38 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). It is hard to believe it is so light out at 11 PM. (David J Mathre)