Two-Years Ago (20-November-2015) — Cuba

Gone to See Cuba 2011 People to People Cultural Exchange. Day 2 of a Street Photography Workshop led by Steve Simon.

The group went for morning, afternoon, and nighttime photography walkabouts in Old Havana.

Cuban Cigar. Morning Walkabout in Old Havana. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 camera. (David J Mathre)
Cuban Cigar. Morning Walkabout in Old Havana. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 camera. (David J Mathre)




Ten-Years Ago (18-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 1: Kailua Kona.

Ten years ago, I arrived in Hawaii to attend a photography workshop with Thom Hogan. It was hard to believe the day before I was in Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in northern Colorado. At that time, I had only been taking pictures with a DSLR camera for just over one year. Soon after getting the camera, I found Thom’s web site which became a very helpful resource as I was learning to use the camera (much more useful than the Nikon manual provided with the camera). I purchased his guides for the D200 (and subsequently the guides for all of the new Nikon cameras I have used. These guides are by far the best resource for understanding the capabilities of the Nikon digital cameras. I saw a note in Thom’s web site that there was a late opening for his Hawaii workshop over Thanksgiving week. I signed up right away since I knew that there was a lot more that I needed to learn to become a better photographer. The first evening in Hawaii, we went down to the beach for sunset. I took these two pictures of boats with the sun setting behind them. Little did I know, it would become a contest between some friends on a Semester at Sea voyage to get images of boats or ships in front of the setting sun.

Sunset and Sailboat off Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Day 1 of Thom Hogan's 2007 Hawaii Photography Workshop. Image taken with Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset and Sailboat off Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Image taken with Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset of Kailua Harbor from Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii. Day 1 of Thom Hogan's 2007 Hawaii Photography Workshop. Image taken with Nikon D2xs and 12-24 mm DX lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/9, HDR 9 images 1/800 to 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset at Kailua Harbor from Kona Beach, Big Island Hawaii.  Image taken with Nikon D2xs and 12-24 mm DX lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/9, HDR 9 images 1/800 to 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (17-November-2007) — Colorado

Colorado Autumn Road Trip: Big Horn Sheep.

I saw several Big Horn Sheep along Colorado 14 while driving back to Boulder from Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Soon after I stopped and started taking pictures with a big lens, several other vehicles also stopped. As soon as the crowd started getting out the Big Horns all turned around and showed their rear ends. Hard to believe, but one day later I was in Hawaii attending a workshop run by Thom Hogan.


Big Horn Sheep Along Colorado 14 near Sheridan in Roosevelt National Forest. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/8, 1/750 sec) (David J Mathre)
Big Horn Sheep Along Colorado 14 near Sheridan in Roosevelt National Forest. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/8, 1/750 sec) (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (10-November-2016) — Cape May

Road Trip to Cape May.

Canadian 43′ Ketch SV Maitre “D” at anchor off the Coast Guard Station in Cape May. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm lens.

Canadian 43' Ketch SV Maitre "D" at anchor off the Coast Guard Station in Cape May. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 276 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Canadian 43′ Ketch SV Maitre “D” at anchor off the Coast Guard Station in Cape May. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 276 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Canadian 43' Ketch SV Maitre "D" at anchor off the Coast Guard Station in Cape May. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 347 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
Canadian 43′ Ketch SV Maitre “D” at anchor off the Coast Guard Station in Cape May. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm lens (ISO 200, 347 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (18-October-2016) — New Jersey

Travel Souvenirs and Selfie

I saw this sand painting while visiting the temples in Bagan, Burma (Myanmar).  I am not often tempted to purchase souvenirs, but the birds on the tree reminded me of a Navajo “Tree of Life” wool rug. We were only part way through the Spring 2016 Semester at Sea voyage when I purchased the sand painting and I wasn’t sure it would make the trip without being damaged . Two months later when I finally got home, the painting  was still in good condition.  I had it framed  locally using non-reflective glass, and it is now next to the Navajo “Tree of Life” wool rug.

Birds on a tree. Sand painting from Burma. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 sec) (David J Mathre)
Birds on a tree. Sand painting from Burma. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 sec) (David J Mathre)
Troll and "Tree of Life". Composite of 72 stacked images using Helicon Focus. Images taken with a Nikon D800 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec) with 3 SB700/800/900 flashes. (David J Mathre)
Troll and “Tree of Life”. Composite of 72 stacked images using Helicon Focus. Images taken with a Nikon D800 and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec) with 3 SB700/800/900 flashes. (David J Mathre)

Every Year or so, the Beard Falls Off

Self image without the beard. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/8, 2.3 sec). (David J Mathre)
Self image without the beard. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16-55 mm f2.8 lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/8, 2.3 sec). (David J Mathre)