Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec).

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec).

Almost in -- Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (25-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 20: Hakone,  Japan.

Smelts and Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop in Hakone while waiting for the “pirate ship” ride on Lake Ashi. The waitress at the restaurant kept asking if I knew what Smelts were, and did I really want them… I tried to explain I grew up in Minnesota, and my Grandfather got us Smelts from Lake Superior. It was Number 14 on the menu. I would go back, the bowl was empty when I was done.

Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a  Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (24-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 19: Arrival in Yokohama, Japan.

Once we cleared immigration control, we had to remain off the ship until everyone was cleared. It was cold. I’m glad I was wearing a sweater, coat, wool hat, and had a pair of “hunting gloves” from Norway for using a camera in the cold. In addition to a camera, I brought a tripod with a Mindarin Astro 360° rotating head for the tripod. This rotating head controls the camera for doing rotating panoramas or rotating time-lapse videos. I did several sets of images while on the Osanbashi Pier, which were then processed with AutoPano Giga Pro to create Little Planet, Mirror Ball, and Panorama views of the MV World Odyssey and the Yokohama skyline. Click on the images for a wider view.

Little Planet View of the Yokohama, Japan Skyline from the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of 37 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Little Planet view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet View of the Yokohama, Japan Skyline from the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of 37 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Little Planet view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet view of the MV World Odyssey Docked at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama, Japan. Composite of 9 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Bower 8 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Little Planet view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet view of the MV World Odyssey Docked at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama, Japan. Composite of 9 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Bower 8 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Little Planet view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Mirror Ball view of the MV World Odyssey docked at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama, Japan. Composite of 9 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Bower 8 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Mirror Ball view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Mirror Ball view of the MV World Odyssey docked at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama, Japan. Composite of 9 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Bower 8 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) using a 360° Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the Mirror Ball view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Later in the afternoon I made two 360° time-lapse videos. The first of people enjoying the day at the Yamashita Park along the Yokohama harbor, and the second from a park with a view of view of the Osanbashi Pier and the MV World Odyssey. The images were taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera that was controlled by a Mindarin Astro 360° rotating head on a tripod. The time-lapse video was then created using Photoshop CC and Premiere Pro CC.

Yamashita Park Time-Lapse Video

Osanbashi Pier Time-Lapse Video

Thursday (19-January-2017) — New Jersey

Home Renovation Project: Bedroom Three.

Little Planet view of my third bedroom after renovation. Prior to this the room was only used for storage. The first view was created using 25 images taken in 15 degree intervals using a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec) with a flash pointing backwards. The second view was created using 70 images taken in 5 degree intervals using a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 16 mm, f/11, 1/15 sec) no flash. The raw images were processed with Capture One Pro, and the Little Planet view created using AutoPano Giga Pro. If you look closely, the second one includes a selfie.

Little Planet view of my third bedroom after renovation. Prior to this the room was only used for storage. The Little Planet view was created using 25 images taken in 15 degree intervals using a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec) with a flash pointing backwards. The raw images were processed with Capture One Pro, and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet view of my third bedroom after renovation. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet view of my third bedroom after renovation. Prior to this the room was only used for storage. The Little Planet view was created using 70 images taken in 5 degree intervals using a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 16 mm, f/11, 1/15 sec). The raw images were processed with Capture One Pro, and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Little Planet view of my third bedroom after renovation.(David J Mathre)