Ten-Years Ago (09-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 5: Yosemite National Park.

The Park Service recovered all of our belongings from the tent-cabins in Curry Village. We then checked into various Yosemite hotels and lodges (gratis). Much higher end lodging than the sparse tent-cabins. Before dinner, Michael Mariant as a special treat after all the weeks commotion took us for a walk along a quiet and peaceful section of the Merced river. The diffuse and sublime lighting made for some great images.


Merced River Walkabout (Color Version)


Merced River Walkabout (Monochrome Version)


Merced River Walkabout (Photographer Ghosts)

Five-Years Ago (08-October-2013) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2013. Nikonian Annual Photography Adventure Trip. Day 3: Sedona to Williams, Arizona.

Prior to leaving Sedona, we spent the morning photographing the morning sun lighting up the red rock buttes. I set up a Nikon D4 camera and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens to record a time-lapse video. I managed to walk in front of the camera a few times.

Eleven-Years Ago (08-October-2007) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Monarch Butterfly. Eleven-years ago while driving home from work I saw purple wild flowers on the side of the road at an abandoned golf course in Hillsborough. I pulled over to see if there was a picture. The purple wildflowers attracted dozens of Monarch butterflies providing more colors.  I took this image with my favorite 80-400 mm telephoto zoom lens. The hard part was working at the minimum focus distance for the lens (~ 7 feet). I needed to keep stepping back to get the image in focus. One more reason I always have a camera with me.

Every year after that I would check the place at the same time of the year, but never saw as many wildflowers or Monarch Butterflies. The last several years the place became a construction site for a highway bypass and interchange. Now that the construction is complete and the bypass open, it looks like wildflowers may come back. We will see if the Monarch Butterflies come back in the future.

Monarch Butterfly. Late Fall Nature in Central New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Monarch Butterfly. Late Fall Nature in Central New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Five-Years Ago (07-October-2013) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2013. Nikonian Annual Photography Adventure Trip. Day 2: Gold King Mine and Ghost Town.

After Jerome, we visited the “tourist attraction” of Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Or how to make money off a dump. Lots of derelict old cars and mining equipment, along with displays for paying tourists visiting a ghost town. It even boasts an old-time desert rat riding a Harley Davidson (for a fee).

Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Junk Yard and Tourist Trap. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Junk Yard and Tourist Trap. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
No Peein" Sign and Water Bottles at Gold King Mine and Ghost Town near Jerome, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/2.2, 1/320 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 13. (David J Mathre)
No Peein” Sign and Water Bottles at Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/2.2, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)


Political Message at Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Junk Yard and Tourist Trap. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Political Message at Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Junk Yard and Tourist Trap. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)


Kavanaugh Supporter Having a Beer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/2 lens (David J Mathre)
Nikonian Kavanaugh Supporter Having a Beer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/2 lens (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (07-October-2013) — Arizona

Gone to See America 2013. Nikonian Annual Photography Adventure Trip. Day 2: Jerome.

Our van spent the morning in Jerome, a historic copper mining town. We then spent some time at the nearby King Mine and Ghost Town.  The mines are no longer active, with tourism supporting the economy of the region.

Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vinyards Sign in Jerome, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/2.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vinyards Sign in Jerome, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/2.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Simplex E-7 Movie Projector. Jerome, Arizona. Gone to See America 2013. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/4.5, 1/1250 sec). Image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro 7. Nikonians ANPAT-13. (David J Mathre)
Simplex E-7 Movie Projector. Jerome, Arizona. Gone to See America 2013. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/4.5, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gallery Sign on a Rusted Wall in Jerome, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). Nikonians ANPAT 13. (David J Mathre)
Gallery Sign on a Rusted Wall in Jerome, Arizona. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 160, 32 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). Nikonians (David J Mathre)