Three-Years Ago (26-November-2014) — Florida

Moon, Palm Tree Silhouettes, and Orange Contrail Clouds at Sunset.

Another case of “the best camera is the one with you”. I’d never seen contrails lined up like this before with the added bonus of happening just after sunset. View from the Old Northeast section of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Moon, Palm Tree Silhouettes, and Orange Contrail Clouds at Sunset in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (ISO 400, 18 mm, f/6.4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Moon, Palm Tree Silhouettes, and Orange Contrail Clouds at Sunset in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm wide-angle zoom lens (ISO 400, 18 mm, f/6.4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (25-November-2015) — Cuba

Gone to See Cuba 2015: Departure.

While departing Cuba on an Eastern Airline flight from Havana International Airport, I noticed a DC-10 parked next to the runway. The plane was missing its engines, and looked like it had been in a fire. I wonder if it is a training prop for emergency drills?

DC-10 (shell) Parked at the Havana International Airport. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
DC-10 (shell) Parked at the Havana International Airport. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (25-November-2014) — Florida

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Black Point Wildlife Drive.

My only view of an alligator on that day was just as I was leaving. All that was visible was an eye and the tip of its snout. It was starting to rain, so I only got one loop on the wildlife drive. Some birds, but not as many as I have seen on previous visits to the National Wildlife Refuge.

Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)


Ten-Years Ago (22-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 5: Volcano National Park.

Peridot Crystals (Pele’s Tears). Image taken with D2xs camera and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, f/22, 1/60 sec, flash). Thom was curious what I was taking macro images of in my hotel room while waiting for dinner.

I have always been fascinated by crystals. Before I retired I learned to solve chemical structures using single-crystal x-ray images. I love whenever I ever find a crystal in nature.

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Peridot Crystals (Pele’s Tears). Image taken with D2xs camera and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, f/22, 1/60 sec, flash). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (22-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 5: Volcano National Park.

While we were out on our morning photography composition lesson outside of Volcano National Park, I found this black volcanic rock with yellow-green sparkles. I brought it back to the lodge where I had a macro lens, and spent the afternoon trying to get some pictures of the crystals. Later on I discovered that the crystals were a semi-precious gem known as Peridot (Pele’s Tears).

Peridot Crystals (Pele's Tears). Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, f/22, 1/60 sec, flash). (David J Mathre)
Peridot Crystals (Pele’s Tears). Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, f/22, 1/60 sec, flash). (David J Mathre)