One-Year Ago (22-October-2016) — New Jersey

Home Renovation Project – Wall Print Mounting System

I was testing some ideas for a wall system for mounting fine-art prints in my house. The goal was a system where prints could easily be exchanged and moved around. I first tried using flexible 3M magnetic tape. The magnetic strength for the tape was not enough to hold up 13″ x 19″ prints. I then tried strips of cold-rolled steel (1″ x 0.125″ x 72″). This is the prototype system that I installed in my laundry room worked. Since then I made some modifications, and have installed seven (2 to 4 meter) sections  in other rooms as part of the home renovation project.

Prototype wall system for mounting prints. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO , 14 mm, f/2.8, 1/ sec) (David J Mathre)
Prototype wall system for mounting prints. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO , 14 mm, f/2.8, 1/ sec) (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (18-October-2016) — New Jersey

Travel Souvenirs and Selfie

I saw this sand painting while visiting the temples in Bagan, Burma (Myanmar).  I am not often tempted to purchase souvenirs, but the birds on the tree reminded me of a Navajo “Tree of Life” wool rug. We were only part way through the Spring 2016 Semester at Sea voyage when I purchased the sand painting and I wasn’t sure it would make the trip without being damaged . Two months later when I finally got home, the painting  was still in good condition.  I had it framed  locally using non-reflective glass, and it is now next to the Navajo “Tree of Life” wool rug.

Birds on a tree. Sand painting from Burma. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 sec) (David J Mathre)
Birds on a tree. Sand painting from Burma. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 sec) (David J Mathre)
Troll and "Tree of Life". Composite of 72 stacked images using Helicon Focus. Images taken with a Nikon D800 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec) with 3 SB700/800/900 flashes. (David J Mathre)
Troll and “Tree of Life”. Composite of 72 stacked images using Helicon Focus. Images taken with a Nikon D800 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec) with 3 SB700/800/900 flashes. (David J Mathre)

Every Year or so, the Beard Falls Off

Self image without the beard. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/8, 2.3 sec). (David J Mathre)
Self image without the beard. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/8, 2.3 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (10-October-2016) — New Jersey

Home Renovation — Installation of Solar Panels

The team to install the solar panels on my roof arrived. It only took a few days to install the panels and DC/AC inverter. It a lot more time before the building inspector approved the work to cross-connect the power generated by the sun to my house electric panel. To date, the solar panels have generated 65% of the electricity that I have consumed. I have also received nearly $1,600 in SREC credits which more than covers the 35% of the electricity I had to pay PSE&G. For two months this summer, I produced more electricity than I consumed.

Solar Panel Installation. Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (David J Mathre)
Solar Panel Installation. Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (David J Mathre)

 


Thursday (05-October-2017) — Ellis Island

Liberty State Park, Ellis Island National Monument, and Statue of Liberty.

A friend from Virginia stopped by on his way to the fall Nikonian ANPAT trip in Maine. We spent the day doing a pre-ANPAT visit to Liberty State Park, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty.

Little Planet View. Flag at half-mast and Manhattan skyline from Ellis Island. Composite of 33 images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 18-55 mm zoom lens (ISO 200, 18 mm, f/5.6, 1/4700 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet View. Flag at half-mast and Manhattan skyline from Ellis Island. Composite of 33 images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 18-55 mm zoom lens (ISO 200, 18 mm, f/5.6, 1/4700 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)


Individual Images in the Slideshow can be viewed here.

Saturday (12-August-2017) — North Carolina

August Road Trip to North Carolina.

I stopped at the Arthur Morgan school near Burnsville, North Carolina to pick up three friends that spent eight weeks attending the the 2017 Arete project. We traveled north on the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way back to New Jersey.

Tile dragon in the shower room at Arthur Morgan School near Burnsville, North Carolina. Composite of 5 mages taken with a Leica T camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Tile dragon in the shower room at Arthur Morgan School near Burnsville, North Carolina. Composite of 5 images taken with a Leica T camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Rest stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Rest stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (David J Mathre)


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.