Skyscape - David Mathre Photography

Five-Years Ago (27-August-2007) — Colorado

Summer Nighttime Sky Over Colorado.

Self Portrait while photographing a lunar eclipse in Boulder, Colorado.

Accidental Ghostly Self Portrait Taken During a Lunar Eclipse. Boulder Colorado, 28-August-2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 14 mm, f/2.8, 30 sec). (David J Mathre) — Accidental Ghostly Self Portrait Taken During a Lunar Eclipse. Boulder Colorado,. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 14 mm, f/2.8, 30 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (26-August-2007) — Colorado

Summertime Nature in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park.

Reflections at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. When ever possible, I stop at Lily Lake. It is part of Rocky Mountain National Park, but outside the paid access part of the park along Colorado Highway 7. There is a mother duck and eight ducklings sleeping in the shadows on the far side of the lake in the first panorama image. I have also included a closer view of the ducks through a telephoto lens.

Summer Morning Reflections at Lilly Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/22, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre) — Summer Morning Reflections at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/22, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)

Mother Duck and Eight Ducklings Resting in the Middle of Lilly Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre) — Mother Duck and Eight Ducklings Resting in the Middle of Lily Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (25-August-2009) — North Dakota

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 04: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

Sunrise and Big Horn Sheep Silhouette. I got up early and drove out of the fog at the campsite in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There was a great sunrise view above and looking over the fog covered Little Missouri River. One of the things that Winston Hall taught us was to always look behind, because there may be a better/different image. Sure enough I saw this Big Horn Sheep, and caught a silhouette image of it in mid-air.

Sunrise Over a Fog Covered Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/22, 1/100 sec). (David J. Mathre) — Sunrise Over a Fog Covered Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/22, 1/100 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Sheep in Midair. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre) — Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Sheep in Midair. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Friday (24-August-2012) — At Sea

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 02: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

The main activity for the first full day at sea was an all-day orientation for the students in the Union. There are 477 undergraduate students attending the Fall Semester this year. In addition there are 47 Life Long Learners (30 full voyage and 17 partial voyage), 36 Faculty, 37 Staff & Family, and 181 Crew on board the MV Explorer for this voyage.

Halifax Sunrise, MV Explorer Departure, Sunset at Sea (David J. Mathre) — Orientation for Students in the Union (David J. Mathre)

Students Waiting for Sunset (David J. Mathre)

Sunset at Sea on the M/V Explorer. Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunset at Sea on the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (23-August-2012) — Canada

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 01: Embark and Depart from Halifax, Canada.

The students boarded the MV Explorer in shifts beginning at 08:00. It was an efficient process, and most everyone was onboard by 11:00. We were told that after lunch that there would be a mandatory evacuation drill. Everyone was supposed to get their life-jacket and report to their evacuation station wearing long pants, long shirt, shoes, and a hat. Once we got to our station, the ship staff did a roll call to make sure everyone was accounted for and present. The drill is required before the ship can leave port. After the drill was completed, we were ready to leave at 17:00. Most everyone lined up on the open decks to watch the departure. The parents and relatives that came were all lined up on the roof of the port terminal. Michael Mariant was set up to take a series of images from Deck 7 that will be combined into a time-lapsed video for the entire Fall 2012 Voyage.

Weather permitting I plan to take an early morning image during dawn or sunrise, and an evening image at sunset or during dusk. I did this exercise during the previous two Enrichment voyages on the MV Explorer, and got images with great colors.

Sunrise over the Lighthouse Island in Halifax Harbor from the M/V Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10-30 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 16.3 mm, f/4.2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunrise over the Lighthouse Island in Halifax Harbor from the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10-30 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 16.3 mm, f/4.2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sailboat and Lighthouse in the Halifax Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 93.5 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Watercolor effect applied using a Topaz Simplify/Painterly filter. (David J Mathre)

Evacuation/Lifeboat Drill. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera (ISO 400, 4.3 mm, f/4, 1/15 sec) (David J Mathre)

M/V Explorer Departure from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre) — MV Explorer Departure from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunset Day 1 Fall Semester at Sea Voyage from Deck 7 of the M/V Explorer in the Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunset from Deck 7 of the MV Explorer in the Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)