Thursday (25-October-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

I woke up at 05:30. It was cold out, right around freezing and the sky clear with no clouds. I set up the Garmin VIRB-360 camera to record dawn and sunrise as practice for a day that I may get some colorful clouds. I used the camera again as I picked the remaining hot peppers (still green). The plants are pretty much dead after several nights when the temperatures dipped below freezing. I haven’t decided if I will use the remaining peppers for a salsa or will just dry them. Later in the afternoon I watched the ever busy squirrels hiding their acorns. This year the deer are also competing for acorns.

Time-Lapse Video: Tunnel View — Dawn and Sunrise. Garmin VIRB-360 Camera.

Time-Lapse Video: Little Planet View — Picking Green Hot Peppers. Garmin VIRB-360 Camera.


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Tuesday (23-October-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

I woke up early after returning from a week of photography in Lisbon, Portugal. Last night there was an intense orange glow at sunset, and I was hoping for the same at sunrise. I set up a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens to capture images for a dawn sky time-lapse video. Unfortunately, the light was not as extreme. After it warmed up a bit, I recorded mowing the lawn and harvesting the remaining vegetables from the patio garden with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera. Even though the temperatures went below freezing at least once last week while I was in Portugal, there were orange bell  peppers, red-hot peppers, green tomatoes, onions, carrots, and Swiss chard in the garden. All that remain are some hot peppers that are still green. I used much of what I harvested along with some Garbanzo beans, roasted tomatoes, and olives to make a hearty vegetable stew in an Instant Pot.

Dawn clouds over New Jersey. Time-lapse video.  Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens.

Mowing the lawn. Little planet time-lapse video taken with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Patio garden autumn harvest. Tunnel view time-lapse video taken with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Preparation of an autumn harvest vegetable stew.  360 Degree time-lapse video taken with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Saturday (20-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 6: Lisbon, Portugal.

We had free time in the morning to go out and shoot on our own. After a quick breakfast, I headed down to the river to catch the sun rising over the Tagus river. I made it just in time. Police blocked access to the; main square for more movie filming. This time for real, not practice and rehearsal. I managed to catch a bit of the motorcycle action from a block away before being chased off. The new Fuji X-T3 camera stayed focused on the motorcycles even though the security guy with the orange vest kept waking toward me. I spent the rest of the morning getting high-resolution images using the Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens for high-resolution 360 degree panorama, little-planet view, and tunnel view; images. I only had time (and the computing horsepower) to process a few of these while in Portugal. The locations included areas I passed on the long walk from the subway station on Wednesday. I also found a large indoor farmers market in the Time Out building. After lunch we reviewed yesterday’s images, then attended a dinner with Fado performance. I nearly fell down the narrow stairs at the restaurant but was saved when Sean grabbed my shoulder. There were several signs in the restaurant forbidding photos and videos. I didn’t record the dinner or Fado performance. Funny thing, at least six other folks at other tables did record the Fado performance with their smartphones.

Sunrise Panorama over the Tagus River in Lisbon. Composite of eight images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise Panorama over the Tagus River in Lisbon. Composite of eight images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)


Movie Crew Filming Motorcycle Action. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Movie Crew Filming Motorcycle Action. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)


Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.






Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Friday (19-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 5: Lisbon, Portugal.

Miguel took us out for our morning walkabout so Steve could sleep in and allow the antibiotics to work their magic. I took my small Leica CL camera with the 23 mm f/2 lens and the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. We went through an area with many bars with lots of empty bottles and plastic cups from the night before. The only activities were a few locals on their way to work, and the some city workers picking up the bottles and cleaning the streets. I wandered off on a side street and came upon a film crew with motorcycles and police cars doing practice runs. I got a picture of the movie director viewing the activity. We then walked back to the hotel for lunch and our afternoon image review session. Just before getting to the hotel, a woman with a bright orange dress walked by a street beggar in blue.

Movie Motorcycle Practice Run. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Movie Motorcycle Practice Run. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Movie Director. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Movie Director. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Color Contrasts. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Color Contrasts. Morning Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

For our afternoon session, we rode a couple of taxis to the LX Factory. I took the Nikon D850 camera with an 8-15 mm fisheye lens. The LX Factory is a tourist attraction with many arts and craft shops and restaurants. “Kiss the Cook”  a Portuguese cooking class that I attended during the 2014  Semester at Sea voyage is located in the LX Factory.. A commercial photographer didn’t want we to take any images of his model. In addition to the street photography, I also took a series of images for a high-resolution composite 360 degree panorama and little planet view. I wish we stayed at the LX factory for dinner, and not return to the hotel. The 2nd taxi took a long time to return, so four of us went to a local Italian restaurant for dinner.

Commercial Photographer. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Commercial Photographer. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Model. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Model. Afternoon Street Photography in the LX Factory. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon LX Factory Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

LZ Factory Back Street - 360 Degree Panorama. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
LX Factory Back Street – 360 Degree Panorama. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
LZ Factory Back Street - Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
LX Factory Back Street – Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
LZ Factory Back Street - Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)
LX Factory Back Street – Little Planet View. Composite of 25 images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 110, 15 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and stitched together with AutoPano Giga. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of Dinner. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Thursday (18-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 4: Sintra, Pena Palace, and Cascais, Portugal.

Miguel, our local photography guide hired a van for a road trip to Sintra, Pena Palace, and Cascais. We departed a little after 07:30. I was a bit late because I wanted to take a different camera kit for the day trip. We still arrived in Sintra at 08:30 before the big tour buses. A rainbow helped guide the way to Sintra. By arriving early we had time to wander around the town to see the locals at work before being overrun by tourists. I used a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens while in Sintra. Afterwards, the van took us to the park entrance to Pena Palace. Just after leaving Sintra, I notices a photographer taking images of a model on the side of the road. We hiked the trail to Pena Palace. From a previous visit, I knew there was a bus that would drive folks up to the Palace for those that couldn’t make the walk — but it wasn’t running yet. I did the walk slowly since my left foot big toe still hurt. I also remembered to start the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. Since I visited Pena Palace twice before while on Semester at Sea trips, my main focus was the Triton guarding the entrance to the Palace. For this I used a Nikon D850 camera and 19 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (Images for another post). Low clouds/fog covered the Fairy Tail castle as we arrived. I really liked the subdued lighting for the series of images I took of the Triton. Rather than tour the Palace, I sat in one place and enjoyed the view. I collected several images of other folks taking pictures of the Triton. After walking back to the van, we went to Cascias — a fishing and tourist village on the Atlantic ocean. We had a great lunch then walked down to the small harbor. Steve was able to find a doctor and pharmacy for his  respiratory infection. I switched to my Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm lens in Cascias. A great camera for working at a distance, and catching images of people in motion (and in focus) with its high-speed burst ability.

Rainbow Leading the Way to Sintra. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Rainbow Leading the Way to Sintra. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Model. Morning Street Photography in Sintra. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Model. Morning Street Photography in Sintra. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the hike up to the Pena Palace. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.


Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the the Pena Palace Entrance. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Triton over the Pena Castle Entry. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Triton over the Pena Castle Entry. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the hike down from the Pena Palace. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Cook Cleaning a Fish. Street Photography in Cascias. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Cook Cleaning a Fish. Street Photography in Cascias. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Fish Lunch in Cascias. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Acrobatics on the Beach. Afternoon Street Photography in Cascias. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Acrobatics on the Beach. Afternoon Street Photography in Cascias. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Afternoon Walkabout in Cascias. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Snapshot from the Vanl. Afternoon Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Snapshot from the Van. Afternoon Street Photography in Lisbon. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)