Five-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 5: St. Petersburg and Merritt Island.

I started the day at Fort De Soto park for sunrise. There is a small beach at the end of the road where you can watch the sun rise under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I then drove across the state to Merritt Island to spend a couple of days at the National Wildlife Refuge.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-January-2015) — Argentina

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 19: Beagle Channel on the way to Ushuaia and Debarkation.

Although everyone was celebrating late into the night, I still got up early to check out the clouds at dawn. I knew we were approaching the southern part of Patagonia, and I was not disappointed. Even better, I was the only one out on the upper deck, and didn’t have to worry about the rude passengers from China with their bigger lenses walking in front of me while I was taking pictures. Shortly thereafter, the spotter for the Chinese tour group showed up and got on the walkie-talkie telling folks to come up. By the time they got on deck the colors were gone, but I had my picture.

Final Dawn Clouds, Beagle Channel on the way to Ushuaia from the Upper Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Final Dawn Clouds, Beagle Channel on the way to Ushuaia from the Upper Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (03-January-2015) — Drake Passage

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 18: At Sea Crossing the Drake Passage.

This was our last full day on the Hurtigruten MS Fram as we proceeded north toward South America. Food and Final Celebration. A long-range view of Cape Horn, an Albatross in flight, and clouds with colors that reminded me of Patagonia.

Hurtigruten MS Fram Brass Bell. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hurtigruten MS Fram Brass Bell. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)



Three-Years Ago (02-January-2015) — Drake Passage

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 17: At Sea Crossing the Drake Passage.

Cloudy, but at least the seas were calm while crossing the infamous Drake Passage. Plenty of time to work on images.

Crossing the Drake Passage on a Cloudy Day. View from the forward deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Crossing the Drake Passage on a Cloudy Day. View from the forward deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Anchor on the forward deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Anchor on the forward deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (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)