Category: Photo Techniques

Sunday (30-December-2007) — New Jersey

Currency & Stamps: Micro-print.

One method I use to test the resolution of cameras and lenses is to see well the combinations perform. The US $50 bill has “The United States of America” printed using very small letters. A copy machine would have difficulty resolving something this small.

Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (28-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to see Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 7: Dawn over Tampa Bay.

I stayed at the Historic Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg. This was my last day in Florida, and I took a series of images of the dawn colors over Tampa Bay from my balcony. The Vinoy Hotel is a great place to stay and I want to return.

Colors at Dawn over Tampa Bay from a Vinoy Hotel Balcony in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens.. (David J Mathre)
Colors at Dawn over Tampa Bay from a Vinoy Hotel Balcony in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)


Wednesday (26-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 5: Selby Gardens in Sarasota.

We drove to Sarasota to visit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to view the Orchid show. The gardens do not allow the use of tripods in the conservatory, but did allow me to use my walking stick as monopod to stabilize the camera while taking pictures. I tried to work quickly so not to block other visitors to the gardens. It was a target rich environment. After visiting the conservatory we spent time wandering around in the outdoor gardens. It was there I got an image of a crab spider having a fly for lunch.

Orchid at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (David J Mathre)
Orchid at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (David J Mathre)


Crab Spider with a Fly for Lunch at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (David J Mathre)
Crab Spider with a Fly for Lunch at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (David J Mathre)



Monday (24-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 3: Fort De Soto Park.

I drove to Fort De Soto Park to find some birds to try out a 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2.0x teleconverter. Other than this turkey vulture that wanted to pose, the rest of the birds seemed to be on a siesta and were in hiding. I should have gone earlier in the morning…

Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)


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Sunday (23-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 2: Family & Friends in St. Petersburg.

Images of a brown anole lizard, house sparrow (?), mosquito, bright red flower, and paparazzi all in the family garden. Then the full moon, St. Petersburg Pier, and holiday lights from the Vinoy Hotel.

Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5" telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5″ telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)