Monday (01-January-2018) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 12: Big Cypress National Preserve.

It was a very quiet New Year’s Eve at Clyde Butcher’s retreat. Before checking out I got a few more images. Great Egret, what I think is a Black-whiskered Vireo [corrected in 2020 — Palm Warbler], one of the baby (one-year old) Alligators, and all of the tennis shows drying after a Swamp Walk. I hope to visit again someday.

Great Egret above the pond at Clyde Butcher's Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1500). (David J Mathre)
Great Egret above the pond at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1500). (David J Mathre)
Black-whiskered Vireo above the pond at Clyde Butcher's Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640). (David J Mathre)
Palm Warbler above the pond at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640). (David J Mathre)
Baby (one-year old) Alligator at the pond at Clyde Butcher's Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 165 mm, f/5.6, 1/220). (David J Mathre)
Baby (one-year old) Alligator at the pond at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 165 mm, f/5.6, 1/220). (David J Mathre)
Tennis shoes and waders drying at Clyde Butcher's Retreat. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Tennis shoes and waders drying at Clyde Butcher’s Retreat. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)


Three-Years Ago (01-January-2015) — Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 16: Antarctic Peninsula.

Iceburg in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Composite of three images taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11, various) Raw image processed with Lightroom, Nik HDR Efex 2, Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Iceberg in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Composite of three images taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11, various) Raw image processed with Lightroom, Nik HDR Efex 2, Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Panorama of Paradise Harbor and Brown Station (Estación Científica Almirante Brown) in Antarctica from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 image takens with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, Photoshop CC 2015, and AutoPano Giga Pro (David J Mathre)
Panorama of Paradise Harbor and Brown Station (Estación Científica Almirante Brown) in Antarctica from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 image takens with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, Photoshop CC 2015, and AutoPano Giga Pro (David J Mathre)


Gentoo Penguin on its Rock Nest Built with Pebbles. Underneath are a New Years Chick that Just Hatched, and a Second Egg Where the Beak Just Appeared. Next to Bransfield House, Port Lockry in Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Gentoo Penguin on its Rock Nest Built with Pebbles. Underneath are a New Years Chick that Just Hatched, and a Second Egg Where the Beak Just Appeared. Next to Bransfield House, Port Lockry in Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/11.3, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Northern Entrance to the Lemaire Channel in the Southwest Antarctic Peninsula. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. In camera panorama taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec). Jpg image processed with Capture One Pro 8 and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Northern Entrance to the Lemaire Channel in the Southwest Antarctic Peninsula. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. In camera panorama taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec). Jpg image processed with Capture One Pro 8 and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Zodiac Leading an Antarctic Cruise Ship Through the Lemaire Channel. I had never seen clouds this color blue before, and they were that color blue. I am guessing it is blue light reflecting off the glacier. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/40 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Zodiac Leading an Antarctic Cruise Ship Through the Lemaire Channel. I had never seen clouds this color blue before, and they were that color blue. I am guessing it is blue light reflecting off the glacier. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 31 mm, f/11, 1/40 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (01-January-2009) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Night Sky: Star Trails and Night Sky Videos.

Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 222 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 15 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 222 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 15 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 129 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/2.8, 25 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 129 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 15 mm, f/2.8, 25 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 279 images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 20 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 279 images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 20 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 215 images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/4, 30 sec) (David J Mathre)
Star, Moon, and Jet Trails + Clouds. Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey Looking South. Composite of 215 images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/4, 30 sec) (David J Mathre)

Sunday (31-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 11: Big Cypress National Preserve.

The trees are too close together at Clyde Butcher’s retreat to get a good view of the full sky for sunrise or sunset. I found a nearby location near the northern entrance of the Loop road for sunset last night, so I returned for dawn and sunrise. I was not disappointed as the colors in the clouds developed just before sunrise.

Inverse Little-Planet View of Colorful Dawn Clouds. Begining of the Loop road through Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Composite of 21 mages taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite generated using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Inverse Little-Planet View of Colorful Dawn Clouds. Begining of the Loop road through Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Composite of 21 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite generated using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

I went back to Clyde Butcher’s “Swamp Bungalow” for breakfast. The baby (one-year old) alligators were out next to the pond. Then it was back to the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve, with two goals — more birds and alligators, and pictures of the Cypress swamp. The swamp pictures were taken with a Leica T camera and then converted to B&W.





Thirteen-Years Ago (30-December-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Fisheye View

My fourth Nikon lens was a 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. I had never used a fisheye lens before, so these were some early experiments with the lens.

Red Ivy Berries. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red Ivy Berries. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec). (David J Mathre)
Large Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Large Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)