Photo Techniques - David Mathre Photography

Four-Years Ago (24-September-2007) — Wyoming

Gone to See America 2007 Road Trip. Nikonians ANPAT 7 Day 3: Yellowstone National Park.

Elk and Bison. This was my first experience with a Nikonian ANPAT trip. I found out about Nikonians online after I got my first Nikon D200 camera while looking for information how take better pictures. It should be noted that they are not funded by Nikon, but rather is an organization of Nikon camera enthusiasts. Even though ANPAT trips are often sold out within days of being announced, there was a late cancelation in 2007 and I was able to sign up at the last minute. At the time I was working part time in Boulder, Colorado. It was an easy drive to Jackson, Wyoming to meet up with the group. This was not a workshop, but rather a get together of Nikon camera enthusiasts interested in travel, wildlife, and landscape photography. I learned a lot during the trip, met some great people, and it really became the turning point for deciding to learn more and become a better photographer. Subsequently, I’ve attended several photography workshops and ANPAT trips.

Elk Passing Gas. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs and 200-400 f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre) — Elk Passing Gas. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs camera and 200-400 f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Bison Resting. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs and 200-400 f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 290 mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre) — Bison Resting. Yellowstone National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2Xs camera and 200-400 f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 290 mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)

It has been a few days since I have posted anything. I’ve been very busy at work since getting back from San Francisco, it has also been raining for the last several days and predicted to rain for the next several days (more local flooding) and not many opportunities for new images other than some mushrooms :-). We also have also moved the site for this photoblog to a new server (Thanks Hans). Regarding the move, let me know if you have any issues accessing the site and images.

Three-Years Ago (19-September-2008) — Utah

Gone to See America 2008. Moab Utah Photography Workshop with Winston Hall. Day 5: Arches National Park.

Time-Lapse Video of a Hike down Park Avenue in Arches National Park. Winston Hall talked me into carrying a tripod on my shoulders so the DSLR camera would be above my head. We set the camera up with a fisheye lens and had it take images every 15 seconds. I used the ~900 images to make a time-lapse video of the hike.

Thanks to Jim Batey, I’ve added an image he took of me wearing the Tripod Headcam.

Tripod Headcam. Park Avenue Trail, Arches National Park. (Jim Batey)

Sunday (18-September-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Late Summer Nighttime Sky in New Jersey.

When the conditions are right, you can see the Milky Way in New Jersey. Two views, a 5 minute and 15 minute exposure.

Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 16 mm f/2.8 mm Fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/2.8, 300 sec). (David J Mathre)

Summer Night in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 16 mm f/2.8 mm Fisheye lens (ISO 400, 16 mm, f/2.8, 900 sec). (David J Mathre)

I am back in New Jersey after a short trip to San Francisco. I hate flying and this trip was bad. I spent 4 hours in the plane before taking off in Philadelphia (we did get back to the gate for a short stop to avoid the 3 hour federal regulation rules). Ultimately it took 12 hours from the time I left my office to get to the hotel in San Francisco. I hate flying, and would rather drive. For the return flight, the airline decided there were too many empty seats and substituted a smaller plane (and bumped 20+ passengers). ARRG! I just wanted to get home, and was not interested in a $400 future credit. Ultimately I got a seat on the original flight. It was a middle seat, and I had to force the armrest down to separate me from the over sized person next to me oozing into my seat. I hate flying. I hate flying. I hate flying.

Two-Years Ago (12-September-2009) — Canada

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 22: Anchorage to Burwash Landing on the Alaska-Canada Highway. Yukon, Canada.

Derelict Fishing Boat . Upon completion of ANPAT 9, I started my return trip from Anchorage Alaska through Canada along the Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) highway. The first night I stopped at a RV park in Burwash Landing, Yukon Canada. The RV park is right on the bank of Kluane Lake. I noticed this derelict fishing boat right behind my RV, and thought that it looked interesting. It was overcast, and starting to get dark so I bracketed the exposures. I processed the images with Photomatix Pro, and pushed the saturation to get a colorful autumn look. Even though this may be considered by some as a “highly distorted reality” HDR, I like the effect for this image. I have also included an unprocessed single exposure version for comparison.

Intersting note if you search the net for images in and around Burwash Landing and Lake Kluane you will find many images of this boat, and see how it has decayed over the years.

Derelict Fishing Boat HDR at Burwash Landing, Yukon Canada. On Kluane Lake along the Alaska Canada Highway. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3 and 14-24 mm lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/8). HDR Processed with Photomatix Pro. (David J Mathre) — Derelict Fishing Boat HDR at Burwash Landing, Yukon Canada. On Kluane Lake along the Alaska Canada Highway. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/8). HDR Processed with Photomatix Pro. (David J Mathre)

Derelict Boat at Burwash Landing, Yukon Canada. On Kluane Lake along the Alaska Canada Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 14-24 mm lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec) (David J Mathre) — Derelict Boat at Burwash Landing, Yukon Canada. On Kluane Lake along the Alaska Canada Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm lens (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec) (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (11-September-2009) — Alaska

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 21: Alaska Railroad – Anchorage to Spencer Glacier. (Day 7: Nikonians ANPAT 9).

On our final day, the ANPAT 9 group took the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier. The images I took with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm lens were combined into a time-lapse video (about 2.3 minutes in length). Some questions. Do viewers like this format, should I add music, or would a slideshow with just the best 20 images be better?