Category: Landscape

Views of the land around the world

Wednesday (11-May-2009) –Utah

Gone to See America 2009 Road Trip. Day 4: Crystal Geyser in Green River Utah.

Before leaving Green River for Cedar City, I made a stop at the nearby Crystal Geyser. The cold geyser is near an abandoned Air Force missile testing facility, and is right next to the Green River. The geyser is now accessible via a dirt road on Bureau of Land Management land. I was fortunate to arrive this time when the geyser erupted. The geyser is unique in that the water is cold, and powered by carbon dioxide — not heat. The geyser is the result of drilling for gas (petroleum) many years ago. When the place was under Air Force control, the geyser was off-limits for visits.  The eruptions are irregular, and you need to be lucky or very patient to see an eruption happen. In this image there is someone meditating while the eruption occurred.  The water coming out of the geyser rises over 20 feet in the air — and unlike Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, the water from Crystal Geyser is cold to the touch. The water is mineral rich, and deposits building the crystalline Travertine terrace as the water flows to the river.

Meditation at Crystal Geyser outside of Green River, Utah. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Meditation at Crystal Geyser outside of Green River, Utah. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Sunday (18-January-2009) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

We had a bit of snow last night. I went for a short walk in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. When I got home I found this young deer eating my shrubs.

Winter Winding Road. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Winding Road. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec).
Winter Grass with Snow. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 95 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Grass with Snow. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 95 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Grass with Snow. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Grass with Snow. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Yearling Deer Eating my Shrubs in the Snow. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/6.3, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)
Yearling Deer Eating my Shrubs in the Snow. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/6.3, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)

Friday (02-January-2009) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Afternoon Walkabout.

Holly tree and red berries after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 230 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
Holly tree and red berries after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 230 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
Lone pine cone after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)
Lone pine cone after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)
Rhododendron bush after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 230 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
Rhododendron bush after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 230 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
Lone male red cardinal after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Lone male red cardinal after a light snow. Images taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Saturday (27-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 6: Birds and Reptiles at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

This was the first time that I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is right next to (and is part of the John F. Kennedy Space Center). The wildlife viewing road can be closed during launches. Black Point Wildlife Drive is a target rich environment for viewing Florida wildlife. I have included a few images of birds (White Ibis, White Egret, Anhanga) and alligators. There was also a viewing station with telescopes set up to see a pair of American Bald Eagles building a nest.

White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).  White Egret Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).


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