Monday (11-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Why Are You Pointing That Big Black Lens At ME??? As usual there were several deer in my back yard this afternoon. I took this image hand held with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. It was 85°F (unusual for this early in the Spring) and I am sure that the deer wanted to stay in the shade. They obviously have forgotten the one they lost in my garden last winter.

Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

Three-Years Ago (09-April-2008) — Arizona

Page Arizona Photography Workshop with Winston Hall. Day 2: Upper Antelope Canyon.

Nik recently upgraded its Silver Efex Pro plug-in for Photoshop CS5 to version 2. The following images of the Upper Antelope Canyon were taken during a Page Arizona photography workshop lead by Winston Hall.  The raw images were processed with Capture One Pro, converted to tiff and transferred to Photoshop CS5, then converted to B&W using the new Silver Efex Pro plug-in. The conversion used the default “Fine Art #19” settings. Make a comment to this blog post, or send me an e-mail if you see the ghost in one of the images.

Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 1/4 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 1/4 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 15 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/16, 5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 48 mm, f/16, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 48 mm, f/16, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 8 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 8 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 29 mm, f/16, 2 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 29 mm, f/16, 2 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 25 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 25 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 30 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 6 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 3 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/16, 3 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 40. mm, f/16, 2.5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2 (David J Mathre)
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 40. mm, f/16, 2.5 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro. Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2

Three-Years Ago (08-April-2008) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2008. Page Arizona Photography Workshop with Winston Hall. Day 1: Lower Antelope Canyon.

Comparison of HDR Express Default Processing Modes. I recently obtained HDR Express (from United Color) as a new HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing program. The following are examples of the default processing modes provided in HDR Express. The images were taken on this day in 2008 while on a Nikonians Academy Photography Workshop in Page Arizona with Winston Hall. Additional images from this day are in the 08-April-2008 Blog.

The first two images are the initial single image processed with Capture One Pro. The first “as is” — note the amount of the image over exposed (clipped) near the top and second “optimized” using the Capture One Pro tools to better balance the exposure. The following 13 images are composites of 5 over and under exposed images processed with HDR Express using the default processing modes: Optimum, Linear, Natural, Vivid, B&W, B&W Grunge, Dreamy, Vintage Color, Soft & Cold, Artistic, Blogger’s Delight, Artistic, Grunge, Retina Burn.

Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/4 sec).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vivid Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vivid Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vintage Color profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Vintage Color profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Soft & Cold profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Soft & Cold profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Retina Burn profile) (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Retina Burn profile)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Optimal Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Optimal Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Natural Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Natural Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Linear Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Linear Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Grunge Profile) (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Grunge Profile)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Dreamy Profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Dreamy Profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Blogger's Delight profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Blogger
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W Grunge profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (B&W Grunge profile).
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Artistic profile). (David J Mathre)
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 0.1-0.6 sec). HDR composite processed from 5 images using United Color HDR Express (Artistic profile).

Thursday (07-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey. Life and Death.

The Forsythia and Cherry Trees are in bloom. While walking in my back yard I found the carcass of a young deer near my garden. It probably died during the long and snowy winter.

Forsythia Blooms. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 7.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Forsythia Blooms. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 7.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec)
Cherry Tree in href=
Cherry Tree in Bloom. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/3, 1/125 sec)
Forsythia Bloom. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 10.7 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)
Forsythia Bloom. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 10.7 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec)
Forsythia Bloom. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/50 sec) (David J Mathre)
Forsythia Bloom. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/50 sec)
Winter Death. Young Deer Caracas. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 7.5 mm, f/2.3 , 1/30 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Winter Death. Young Deer Caracas. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 7.5 mm, f/2.3 , 1/30 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.
Winter Death. Young Deer Caracas. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/3 , 1/25 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Winter Death. Young Deer Caracas. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 100, 14.9 mm, f/3 , 1/25 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

 (David J Mathre)

Friday (25-March-2011) — California

Gone to See California. Day 6: Death Valley Spring 2011 Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant.

We started the day before sunrise walking out to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park. The objective for this location was to focus on lines, shapes, and textures as the sun rose and the shadows moved across the dunes. The first image is of morning shadows on the sand dunes. The next two are the same image of the dunes taken by Michael Mariant using my Leica X1 camera. The first is the “out of the camera” jpg, the 2nd the raw (dng) image processed with Capture One Pro attempting to minimize the amount of the upper right being blown out.

Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 G lens (ISO 100, f/8, 1/500 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted for web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4 G lens (ISO 100, f/8, 1/500 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted for web with Photoshop CS5.
Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken by Michael Mariant with my Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/10, 1/60 sec). Out of the Camera jpg. (David J Mathre)
Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken by Michael Mariant with my Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/10, 1/60 sec). Out of the Camera jpg.
Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken by Michael Mariant with my Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/10, 1/60 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted for web with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Sand Dune Morning Shadows, Death Valley NP. Image taken by Michael Mariant with my Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/10, 1/60 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro.