Category: Photo Techniques

Five-Years Ago (04-November-2007) — Colorado

Autumn Road Trip in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park.

  1. Panorama at Storm Pass Trail head in Rocky Mountain National Park (along the road to Bear Lake). Composite of 8 images taken with a Nikon D2xs and  28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/11, 1/20 sec). Image processed using DxO, AutoPano Giga, and Photoshop CS5.
  2. Steller’s Jay in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec). Hand held, VR works! This was a new type of blue jay for me.
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)

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Five-Years Ago (03-November-2007) — Colorado

Autumn Road Trip in Colorado: Great Sand Dune National Park.

I drove from Boulder to southwestern Colorado to visit Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. It was late in the season and very dry, so not many birds remained. I then traveled to Great Sand Dunes National Park. The sky was clear and blue. I took some panorama images of the sand dunes and the dry Medano creek bed. Most of the other folks visiting the park that day were there to climb and slide down the large sand dunes. I need to revisit both locations in the spring to see the migrating birds at the wildlife refuge, and  to see Medano creek with water flowing.

  1. Great Sand Dunes Panorama taken from the Visitor Center. Composite of 7 images taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 1/80 sec). Processed using DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5. 2.
  2. Walking to the dunes with sleds. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).
  3. Walking to the dunes with sleds. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec).
  4. Panorama of the dry Medano creek bed, sand dunes, and Crestone peaks. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/11, 1/40 sec). Processed using DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5.
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes NP; Alamosa NWP (David J Mathre)
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes National Park (David J Mathre)
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes NP; Alamosa NWP (David J Mathre)
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes NP; Alamosa NWP (David J Mathre)
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes NP; Alamosa NWP (David J Mathre)
Colorado Fall Nature; Grand Sand Dunes NP; Alamosa NWP (David J Mathre)
Medano Creek Panorama, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. (David J Mathre)
Medano Creek Panorama, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. (David J Mathre)

Friday (02-November-2012) — New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: Day 4 — Power Still Out.

Before the power can be restored, there is a lot of cleanup work that needs to be done. One of the transformers that went down has been leaking oil for several days. It is not known if the oil contained PCBs. A PSE&G truck was sent out to put absorbent down to clean up the oil. Unfortunately, at least one driver (in the last image) had been giving the PSE&G worker a hard time because he wasn’t being allowed to drive through the oil and under the downed power lines. The PSE&G folks are working 16 hour days to restore power and need to be acknowledged – not hassled.

Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Transformer Oil Cleanup. Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 4. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)

Thursday (01-November-2012) — New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: Day 3. Power Still Out.

Power went out again. PSE&G says it could be a week or more before everyone has power restored. I’ve moved back into my RV (White Ram). I should have enough diesel and propane for several days. I also have about 40 gallons of water. Before I retired, the Safeway stores in PA closed and I bought a lot of food for an emergency. Looks like I will get to use it.

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath in Skillman New Jersey Day 3. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera. (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (07-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 3: Yosemite National Park.

Rock Slide at Curry Village.  After our morning session, we ate lunch at Curry Village. Michael Mariant was going to do an IR photography workshop in the afternoon. On the way to the workshop, we stopped by our cabins. As we were leaving the cabins there was this loud noise. At first it sounded like thunder — but the sky was blue with no clouds. The noise got louder, and Michael yelled “run for your lives — rock slide” We all ran from our cabins to the parking lot. Since I drove, I was one of the few  that had cameras and lenses available. Most of the folks left their gear in the cabin for the IR workshop. I took the  following images  during and just after the rock slide. Luckily, there were no injuries since most everyone was out of Curry Village visiting other parts of Yosemite  when the rock slide occurred. Later in the afternoon, a Park Service helicopter with a USGS geologist surveyed the rock slide site and declared things safe. Only then were we permitted to return to our cabins. A school group was also staying at Curry village. That evening the Elementary school age children moved to a different campsite. The Middle and High school students remained at Curry Village. The crisis counselors told the students that a large rock falls in Yosemite Valley on average every 9-10 days, so they would be safe for the rest of the trip. Little did they know that Murphy was listening!!!!