Seascape - David Mathre Photography

Thursday (13-January-2011) — Chile

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 18: Detained as Political Prisoners in Puerto Natales.

We are still sitting in a hotel in Puerto Natales. The roads continue to be blocked, and we have no idea when we will be able to get to the airport in Punta Arenas. In essence we are being held political prisoners since we are not able to leave this small town and this country. Does anyone remember “Missing”.

Update as of 3 PM local. We were looking at an option to return to Argentina and fly back from Calafate. A bus would bring us to the road block and we would have to walk across with our entire luggage. Another bus would pick us up on the other side. The protesters told the driver we could walk across the line, but they would then destroy the bus. So we are probably spending another night in Puerto Natales. The harbor was also closed due to the strike, so that also was not an option.

Update at 5 PM Local. We just checked back into the Hotel.

Fishing Boat in Pureto Natales Harbor. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (David J Mathre)

Hotel Australis in Pureto Natales overlooking the "Fjord of Last Hope." Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (David J Mathre) — Hotel Australis in Pureto Natales overlooking the “Fjord of Last Hope.” Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (David J Mathre)

22-January-2011 edit: Check out Thom Hogan’s blog about being held hostage in southern Chile.

Thursday (23-December-2010) — Florida

Gone to See Florida — 2010 Road Trip. Day 3: Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park

Sunshine Skyway Bridge Panorama at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. St. Petersburg, Florida. Composite of 3 vertical images taken with an Nikon D3s and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 200, f/11, 0.5 sec). Images processed with DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5, and Topaz Define. (David J Mathre) — Sunshine Skyway Bridge Panorama at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. St. Petersburg, Florida. Composite of 3 vertical images taken with an Nikon D3s camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 200, f/11, 0.5 sec). Images processed with DxO, AutoPano Giga, Photoshop CS5, and Topaz Define. (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (22-December-2010) — Florida

Gone to See Florida –2010 Road Trip. Day 2: St. Petersburg Pier at Sunset.

It is much warmer in St. Petersburg. I took this image of the Pier from my balcony at the Vinoy Hotel. The lightweight Leica V-Lux 20 camera is a great travel camera, and I am looking forward to having it in my pocket while in Patagonia.

St. Petersburg Pier at Sunset from the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 49 mm, f/4.8, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (20-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 3: Beach at Waipi’o Valley.

Comparison of RAW image converters. Waipi’o Valley is located along the Hamakua Coast on the northeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. The image was taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Four different programs were used to render the RAW image: 1) Capture NX2, 2) Photoshop CS5 with Camera Raw 6.2, 3) Capture One Pro 5, 4) DxO 6.5. The images were rotated 2.6° to level the horizon, sharpened with Focus Magic, and then converted to jpg and sRGB with Photoshop CS5. I am interested in feedback regarding the different renderings.

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Thursday (15-April-2010) — California

Gone to See America 2010. Big Sur Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant. Day 1: Morning.

The group attending the Big Sur Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant was scheduled to meet for breakfast in San Simeon. I walked down to the shore along the Pico Creek before breakfast to get some early morning images. The first is of the succulent sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis) plant and its flower. It turns out that this is an invasive species. I then saw some tracks in the sand. I wondered if they were from a mountain lion, but since the nails were present — probably a dog. There was a lot of drift wood on the beach. Some to build a wind shelter. After breakfast, the group went to Piedras Blancas beach to view the Elephant Seals. The same place I was the previous evening. While Michael was beginning his workshop, I managed to catch a patrol of Brown Pelicans flying over in formation. Several more images of the Elephant Seals, including one with a Chipmunk on the sand. The final image includes the Piedras Blancas Rock and Lighthouse in the background (and a yawning Elephant Seal near the bottom right).

Sea Fig (Carpobrotus chilensis) near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/3.2, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sea Fig (Carpobrotus chilensis) near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/3.2, 1/250 sec).

Animal Tracks near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — Animal Tracks near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec).

Driftwood Shelter near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre) — Driftwood Shelter near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec).

Driftwood Shelter near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — Driftwood Shelter near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec).

Driftwood near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre) — Driftwood near Pico Creek, San Simeon, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec).

Brown Pelican Patrol, Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/14, 1/800 sec) (David J Mathre) — Brown Pelican Patrol, Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/14, 1/800 sec)

Brown Pelican Patrol, Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre) — Brown Pelican Patrol, Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec)

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec)

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec)

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec)

Elephant Seal at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seal at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 sec)

Chipmunk and Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre) — Chipmunk and Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec)

Elephant Seals and Driftwood at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 145 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seals and Driftwood at Piedras Blancas Beach, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 145 mm, f/11, 1/400 sec)

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach and Lighthouse, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 165 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre) — Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas Beach and Lighthouse, Central California Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 165 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec)