Nature - 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.

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)

Saturday (05-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 2: St. Petersburg.

While visiting my parents in St. Petersburg, I found this Crab Spider on her web. I had never seen a crab spider during all the years that I lived in Florida. The first one I saw, eating a fly was at Selby Gardens a few years ago 26-December-2006. Now it seems that I see one every time I visit Florida.

Underside of a Crab Spider on its web. Urban garden nature in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 105 mm f/2.8G VR macro lens + SB-910 flash (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (01-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 6: Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Laguna Torre, Parque Nacional Los Glaciaries.

Some images of a female Magellanic woodpecker taken while on the trail to Laguna Torres in Parque Nacionals Glaciares back in January (01-January-2011). We saw several of the these woodpeckers while going through a wooded area. This one was calm enough to pose and let several photographers take her picture.

Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre) — Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec)

One-Year Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Roseate Spoonbill in Flight. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec).