Twelve-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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)

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.

Three-Years Ago (21-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 16: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

“Charlie’s Angels” or “The Sunrise and Breakfast Club Photography Group” portrait taken while waiting for the sun to rise. The dawn colors are gone, and it is still 27 minutes until the sun is up. I normally don’t do people pictures, so they took me out of my comfort zone during the voyage to include people in my images. Composite of two images taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 500, 90 mm, f/4.4, 1/200 sec). You might ask, why is it a composite image? Rookie mistake doing people pictures. One image they all have their eyes open, but I cut off the feet. The other image they don’t all have their eyes open, but I did have the feet. There still are some artifacts from merging the images that need to be fixed.

Sunrise and Breakfast Club. Composite of 2 images taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 500, 90 mm, f/4.4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise and Breakfast Club. Composite of 2 images taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 500, 90 mm, f/4.4, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual Images from the slide show can be viewed here.

Twelve-Years Ago (21-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 1: Oslo.

The trip started in Oslo. I flew in from New Jersey, and the rest of the family flew in from Florida. All together, I think there were 22-24 in the group. On this first day, we toured Oslo. At the end of the day we had pizza with Arnie. It took a fisheye lens to get the whole group in one image. During this trip, I was using a Nikon D2xs camera with 7 lenses (10.5 mm fisheye, 12-24 mm, 28-70 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 80-400 mm, and 85 mm). For my upcoming trip, I want to travel lighter.

Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Nobel Peace Center. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Nobel Peace Center. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Artillery Guarding Oslo at the Akeshus Fortress. Winter in Oslo Norway. (David J Mathre)
Artillery Guarding Oslo at the Akeshus Fortress. Winter in Oslo Norway. (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Family in Norway, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Family in Norway, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Glass Menagerie, National Theater, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Glass Menagerie, National Theater, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Orchids, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Orchids, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (17-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 12: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

Every morning the sunrise breakfast team kept enlarging. The yoga group reaching for the sun, and levitation practice in the sun.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Panorama of the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean from the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey. Composite of two images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)



alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Outdoor breakfast after shooting dawn and sunrise on the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/7, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)


alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Concentration during levitation practice — Harry Potter would be proud. On the forward deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 100, 135 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Eight-Years Ago (15-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 20: Puerto Natales, Chile. Hostage Day 4.

Day four in Puerto Natales. The Chilean Red Cross and Military organized safe passage out of Puerto Natales for the departure for all of the tourists being held against their will in southern Chile. We first had to get to the Red Cross refuge center that was set up in the E3 elementary school to register. Then it was a lot of waiting as the Red Cross tried to organize lists and priorities to depart. There were nearly 1000 folks in the refuge center. A doctor gave me some antibiotics for my upper respiratory infection (that was turning into walking pneumonia. This also moved me up the list so I was with the 2nd group to depart. While at the refuge center, we got a certificate from the Gubernator of Southern Chile stating that we had been detained against our will. This is a series of snapshots taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera documenting the day. Freedom at last. I ended up sleeping in the Punta Arenas airport lobby before getting the first commercial plane to Santiago the next morning. The road between Santiago, and the Santiago International Airport were still being blocked by the protesters. I have to thank Thom Hogan, Rob Noonan, Wilderness Travel, the Chilean Red Cross, and the Chilean Air Force for getting us out safely.



Individual images from the slide-show can be viewed here.