Two-Years Ago (25-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 20:  Yokohama.

It was clear, but cold when I woke up. The full moon was setting over Yokohama. What I didn’t notice the day before was Mount Fuji. I could see and take pictures of the mountain right out my cabin window. Before the sun rose, the sky above the mountain was lit up with the unique blue colors of the earth shadow, and pinks of the “Belt of Venus”.  Shortly after breakfast I was part of a  group that departed for the Hakone, Hiroshima, and Kobe Overland Field Trip. We would rejoin the ship in three days in Kobe.



Larger individual images in this slideshow can be viewed here.

Two-Years Ago (24-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 19: Arrival in Yokohama, Japan.

After a long 10 days crossing the Pacific Ocean, the MV World Odyssey arrived in Yokohama, Japan. It was a cold morning, but many students were up on deck to watch the arrival. Dawn and sunrise images were taken from the deck of the ship. After breakfast, we disembarked and proceeded through customs & immigration. We were told that everyone had to go through the process before we could return to the ship. I took a camera,  travel tripod, warm jacket and gloves. It was cold, and there were some snow flurries. I felt safe walking around the Osanbashi Pier (and in Japan in general) with a camera since there were so many locals with cameras out taking pictures. I did several 360° degree image sequences using a Mindarin Astro rotating tripod head. These were then used to create Little Planet and Mirror Ball views of Yokohama and the ship from the Osanbashi Pier.

The MV World Odyssey about to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge as we arrived in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
The MV World Odyssey about to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge as we arrived in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Anticipating Japan after a Long 10 days Crossing the Pacific Ocean on the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Anticipating Japan after a Long 10 days Crossing the Pacific Ocean on the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)



Later in the afternoon I made two 360° time-lapse videos. The first of people enjoying the day at the Yamashita Park along the Yokohama harbor, and the second from a park with a view of view of the Osanbashi Pier and the MV World Odyssey. The images were taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera that was controlled by a Mindarin Astro 360° rotating head on a tripod. The time-lapse videos were then created using Photoshop CC and Premiere Pro CC.

Yamashita Park Time-Lapse Video

Osanbashi Pier Time-Lapse Video

Two-Years Ago (23-January-2016) — North Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 18: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

I woke up to a dreary cloudy dawn sky. This was the final day crossing the North Pacific from Hawaii to Japan. You could tell we were getting closer to land as more seabirds were flying around the ship.

Dreary Dawn Panorama from the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey. Crossing the North Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Japan. Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dreary Dawn Panorama from the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey. Crossing the North Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Japan. Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)


Preparing for Japan. View from the deck of the MV World Odyssey crossing the North Pacific Ocean. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 156 mm, f/4.5, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Preparing for Japan. View from the deck of the MV World Odyssey crossing the North Pacific Ocean. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 156 mm, f/4.5, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (22-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 17: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

I woke up at 05:00. We experienced heavy wind and waves all night. The aft deck was open, and even though it was still dark I could see some color in the clouds developing. Dawn and sunrise turned out to be “Some Kind of Wonderful”

Colorful Dawn Panorama at Sea from the Aft Deck of the MV World Odyssey While Crossing the Pacific Ocean. Composite of 10 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 23 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Colorful Dawn Panorama at Sea from the Aft Deck of the MV World Odyssey While Crossing the Pacific Ocean. Composite of 10 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 23 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)


Sunrise, sunburst, crepuscular rays, and clouds over the Pacific Ocean from the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)
Sunrise, sunburst, crepuscular rays, and clouds over the Pacific Ocean from the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)


Larger views of the images in the slide-show are available at my gallery.

Sunday (21-January-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Colorful Contrails and Clouds at Dawn.

More of the clouds were contrails this morning. It was a lot warmer this morning with most of the snow gone. The deer ran off as soon as I got outside (barely visible below the tree).

Dawn Morning Contrails and Clouds. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Composite of 8 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Dawn Morning Contrails and Clouds. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Composite of 8 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Dawn Morning Clouds, Contrails, and Birds. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Composite of 7 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Dawn Morning Clouds, Contrails, and Birds. Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Composite of 7 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)