Category: Skyscape

Views of the sky. Sunrise, sunset, clouds, and weather

Five-Years Ago (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Daytona Beach.

Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec).

Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island and Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse.

Before starting my drive back to New Jersey, I spent the morning on Merritt Island. First for sunrise at Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, then for a drive through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge — both along Biolab Road and Black Point Wildlife Drive. The previous day there was heavy fog in the morning so I didn’t go to Playalinda beach. This beach is favored by surf fishermen. While driving north I also stopped at the Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida.

Rather that using the big telephoto lenses, all of the images on this day were taken with a Nikon D700 with a 28-300 mm VR lens, a Leica X2, or a Nikon 1 V2 and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens. All hand-held, no tripod.


Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 40 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 40 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lighthouse Replica at the Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill. It is right across the street from the real Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/13, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lighthouse Replica at the Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill. It is right across the street from the real Ponce de Leone Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/13, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 5: St. Petersburg and Merritt Island.

I started the day at Fort De Soto park for sunrise. There is a small beach at the end of the road where you can watch the sun rise under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I then drove across the state to Merritt Island to spend a couple of days at the National Wildlife Refuge.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunrise from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dawn from the East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 160, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Hawk on a Palm Tree in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 and 180 mm f/2.8D lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). FOV = 486 mm. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/2.8. 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (06-January-2008) — Colorado

Gone to See America 2008: Wintertime in Rocky Mountain National Park.

One of the benefits when I was working part-time (two weeks a month) in Boulder, Colorado was that Rocky Mountain National Park was only an hour drive. I got to see and take pictures in the park during all four seasons. A winter storm was approaching, so I only spent a few hours in the park.

Lone Tree with a Winter Storm Approaching. Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lone Tree with a Winter Storm Approaching. Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)