Tuesday (25-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 4: A Busy Christmas Day.

Early morning sunrise and night-time photography at the Vinoy Hotel.  Wildlife photography at the Weedon Island Nature Preserve. Lots of birds, a crab spider, and how often do you see, let alone catch a “flying fish” in midair. Then the extended Mathre family Christmas Day celebration.

Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)



Monday (24-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 3: Fort De Soto Park.

I drove to Fort De Soto Park to find some birds to try out a 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2.0x teleconverter. Other than this turkey vulture that wanted to pose, the rest of the birds seemed to be on a siesta and were in hiding. I should have gone earlier in the morning…

Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)


Sunday (23-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 2: Family & Friends in St. Petersburg.

Images of a brown anole lizard, house sparrow (?), mosquito, bright red flower, and paparazzi all in the family garden. Then the full moon, St. Petersburg Pier, and holiday lights from the Vinoy Hotel.

Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5" telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5″ telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)



Friday (07-December-2007) — Colorado

Final Sirna Boulder Site 2007 Holiday Celebration.

Snapshots taken during the final Merck-Sirna Boulder site Holiday Celebration at the St. Julien Hotel. The Sirna Boulder site was scheduled to close the following summer after operations were transferred to California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Sirna/Merck Boulder Site 2007 Christmas/End of Year Holiday Celebration. This was our final year in Boulder. (David J Mathre)
Sirna/Merck Boulder Site 2007 Christmas/End of Year Holiday Celebration. This was our final year in Boulder. (David J Mathre)
Sirna/Merck Boulder Site 2007 Christmas/End of Year Holiday Celebration. This was our final year in Boulder. (David J Mathre)
Sirna/Merck Boulder Site 2007 Christmas/End of Year Holiday Celebration. This was our final year in Boulder. (David J Mathre)


Sunday (02-December-2007) — Colorado

Winter in Rocky Mountain National Park

Although the season is officially still Autumn, at the higher elevations of Colorado it is winter. I drove to Rocky Mountain National Park on a sunny Sunday morning. It is only an hour from Boulder, Colorado. The first stop was to get a picture of the “Chapel on the Rock” with Mt. Meeker in the background. Then it was into the park to get more pictures. Winter view of the Big Thompson River in Moraine Park; Winter Trail to Storm Pass along road to Bear Lake; and a Winter Panorama of Longs Peak taken along Colorado Highway 7

Saint Catherine Chapel and Mt. Meeker, Rocky Mountain National Park. (David J Mathre)
Saint Catherine Chapel and Mt. Meeker, Rocky Mountain National Park. (David J Mathre)
Big Thompson River, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with Nikon D300 an 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 20 mm, f/22, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Big Thompson River, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with Nikon D300 an 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 20 mm, f/22, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Trail to Storm Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with Nikon D300 an 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/22, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Trail to Storm Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with Nikon D300 an 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/22, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Longs Peak Panorama from Colorado Highway 7 View Area, Rocky Mountain National Park. Composite of 4 horizontal images taken with a Nikon D300 and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/22, 1/60 sec) processed with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Longs Peak Panorama from Colorado Highway 7 View Area, Rocky Mountain National Park. Composite of 4 horizontal images taken with a Nikon D300 and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/22, 1/60 sec) processed with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)