Saturday (26-July-2014) — Russia

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 56: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Kronstadt Island, Russia.

Fort Alexander is a naval fortress on an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland near Kronstadt. It was built between 1838 and 1845 and named after Emperor Alexander I. In 1899–1917, the fort housed a research laboratory on plague and other bacterial diseases. Composite of 3 images taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, NIK HDR Efex Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

I was not able to visit the Fortress that day because of another “government function” taking place at the fort — but all I saw were a couple of fisherman.

Fort Alexander is a naval fortress on an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland near Kronstadt. Composite of 3 images taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, NIK HDR Efex Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Fort Alexander is a naval fortress on an artificial island in the Gulf of Finland near Kronstadt. Composite of 3 images taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/11). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, NIK HDR Efex Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Thursday (24-July-2014) — At Sea

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 54: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Gulf of Finland Approaching Russia.

Reflection of a Noctilucent Creature invading my cabin on the MV Explorer while crossing the Gulf of Finland. Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec).

Reflection of a Noctilucent Creature Invading My Cabin on the MV Explorer -- Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec). (David J Mathre)
Reflection of a Noctilucent Creature Invading My Cabin on the MV Explorer — Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday Ago (24-July-2014) — At Sea. 

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 54: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Gulf of Finland.

Ship Passing Under Electric Blue Noctilucent Clouds on the Gulf of Finland. Early morning from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Noctilucent Clouds over the Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec). (David J Mathre)
Noctilucent Clouds over the Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (23-July-2014) — Baltic Sea

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 53: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. At Sea.

Communication/Navigation Tower at Sunset on Gogland (Hogland, Гогланд)  Island in the Baltic Sea/Gulf of Finland from the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 120 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC.

Communication/Navigation Tower at Sunset on Gogland (Hogland, Гогланд;)  Island in the Baltic Sea/Gulf of Finland from the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 120 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Communication/Navigation Tower at Sunset on Gogland (Hogland, Гогланд;)  Island in the Baltic Sea/Gulf of Finland from the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 120 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Communication/Navigation Tower at Sunset on Gogland (Hogland, Гогланд;)  Island in the Baltic Sea/Gulf of Finland from the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 120 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Cropped View: Communication/Navigation Tower at Sunset on Gogland (Hogland, Гогланд;)  Island in the Baltic Sea/Gulf of Finland from the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 120 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Friday (18-July-2014) — At Sea

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 48: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. At Sea.

Eendracht — Holland’s Largest Three Mast Schooner. Tall Ship Sailing from Fredrikstad to Bergen. Viewed from the MV Explorer while crossing the North Sea. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

Eendracht -- Holland's Largest Three Mast Schooner. Tall Ship Sailing from Fredrikstad to Bergen. Viewed from the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Eendracht — Holland’s Largest Three Mast Schooner. Tall Ship Sailing from Fredrikstad to Bergen. Viewed from the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)