Saturday (09-February-2019) — New Jersey

Winter in New Jersey. Backyard Maple Syrup Production.

I helped a neighbor with the first maple syrup boil down this year. The temperatures have been weird and we were not sure enough maple sap would be collected this season. Rather than multiple cameras I just used a Garmin VIRB-360 camera to record the activity for the day. I used the images to produce time-lapse videos (1 hour in 30 seconds) in 360 degree panorama, tunnel view, and little planet view.

9 AM

10 AM

11 AM

 

Six-Years Ago (08-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013. Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 11: Tromsø.

On our first night in Tromsø, Anna – a local photographer and her husband took us to a couple of locations to view northern lights. The first place, Telegrafbukta is not far (maybe 45 minutes walking) from the center of Tromsø along the fjord. I got many great images of the northern lights. I am not exactly sure what the walkway going into the cold water is for, unless they have a polar bear swimming club. This is obviously a favorite place for locals to view northern lights on a Friday night. There were at least a dozen folks just up the hill. I’ve reprocessed the images, and used them to create a star trails image, and a time-lapse video.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Lights from Telegrafbukta Beach in Tromsø Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Lights and Star Trails from Telegrafbukta Beach in Tromsø Norway. Composite of 68 images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and PhotoShop CC (statistics, maximum) (David J Mathre)

Last year I was contacted by Condé Nast to use one of these images in a publication about European beaches. I told them that they could use the image if they downloaded it from my PhotoShelter Image Gallery and paid the appropriate rate (depends on size and publication circulation). I guess they didn’t like the rate suggested…

We then went to Kvaløya (Whale) Island for the 2nd image. The mountain on the right is lit up with a yellow color from sodium lights at the home near the water. It was a lot easier to photography the northern lights when on solid ground with a tripod. On the ship, even with a tripod you get the motion of the ship.

Early Morning (00:02 AM) Northern Lights on Kvaløy Island near Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec).. (David J Mathre)
Early Morning (00:02 AM) Northern Lights on Kvaløy Island near Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/2, 8 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (06-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013 Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 9: Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Båtsfjord to Kirkenes) then Southbound (Kirkenes to Berlevåg).

On the seventh and final day of the northbound Hurtigruten Norwegian coastal voyage, the MS Nordkapp stops in four ports: Båtsfjord (00:30-01:00); Vardø (04:00-04:15); Vadsø (07:30-08:00); and Kirkenes (09:45-12:45). After spending 3 hours in Kirkenes, the ship turns around and begins the southbound voyage stopping at three ports: Vardø (16:00-17:00); Båtsfjord (20:00-20:30); and Berlevåg (22:15-22:30).

During the stop in Kirkenes, I took the bus tour which includes a stop at the Russian border.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Bus Tour of Kirkenes and the Russian Border. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)



Just before midnight there were some faint northern lights. I had to increase the ISO to 6400 to get this image. You can clearly see some red in addition to the green color.

Northern Lights While Sailing North on the Hurtigruten MV Nordkapp. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 6400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Northern Lights While Sailing North on the Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 6400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 4 sec). (David J Mathre)

Eleven-Years Ago (02-February-2008) — Colorado

Outdoor Winter Nature in Colorado: Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

During a winter visit to Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, I observed these two folks out in the middle of the frozen lake. What do you think that they are doing? To give you a hint, they are not ice fishing, but it does have to do with fish under a frozen lake. Please reply if you think you know what they were doing.

Winter Under Ice Dissolved Oxygen Level Measurement at Lilly Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter at Lily Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Under Ice Dissolved Oxygen Level Measurement at Lilly Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 300 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter at Lily Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 300 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (01-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013 Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 4: Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Florø to Kristandsund).

In addition to transporting passengers, the Hurtigruten ships carry freight, mail, automobiles, and fresh food between several ports along the Norwegian coast. Many of these stops occur during the night, and only last for short (15 minutes to 1 hour) periods of time. The schedule for the first full day of the northbound voyage stops at the following ports: Florø (04:30-04:45); Maløy (06:45-07:30); Torvik (10:20-10:45); Ålesund (12:00-15:00); Molde (17:30-18:30); Kristandsund (22:00-23:00).

We were able to spend a bit of time for a walkabout in Ålesund. It was snowing so I didn’t have a chance to climb Mount Aksla for a view of the harbor like I did in 2007. We did hear the drone in the sky that the German TV crew was using follow us as we walked through the city. I was surprised that they would fly it with limited visibility.





Cargo stop in Molde. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera. (David J Mathre)
Cargo stop in Molde. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera. (David J Mathre)

Individual images in the slide shows can be viewed here.