Category: Travel

Travels around the world

Four-Years Ago (16-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Blue Grosbeak in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Blue Grossbeak in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Blue Grossbeak in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (15-May-2018) — Japan

Gone to See Japan. Travel New Jersey to Tokyo.

The direct flight from New Jersey to Tokyo was long. I’ve never been on a 12+ hour flight before, and upgraded so I would have more leg room. I selected a window seat since the polar route was going over Canada, Alaska, and Russia — and hoped to take some images of the ground (weather permitting). Unfortunately, my “window seat” didn’t have a window. ARRG! One interesting note is that the seats on the plane had shoulder seat belts that we were supposed to wear during takeoff and landing. Once we arrived at the Narita Airport, the queues through immigration and customs were quick and efficient. It appeared that women got an extra metal detecting hand wand exam looking for gold bullion while passing through customs. I got a limo-bus ticket from Narita to the Keio Plaza hotel in the Shinjutu district of Tokyo (3100 Yen). The bus ride took a little over 1 hour. After arriving and checking in at the hotel I did a short walkabout where I saw many Azalea flowers in bloom. I used to have Azalea shrubs and flowers around my house, but the deer ate them to death.


Red Azalea Flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
Red Azalea Flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (14-May-2011) — Belize

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 18: Belize.

Pair of Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec).

Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (11-May-2008) — Colorado

Gone to See America. May 2008 Colorado Road Trip. Day 2: Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.

American Bittern Hunting at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Early Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec).

American Bittern Hunting at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Early Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
American Bittern Hunting at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Early Spring. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (10-May-2008) — Colorado

Gone to See America. May 2008 Colorado Road Trip. Day 1: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Black-Billed Magpie at Medano Creek in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Images taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens.

Black-Billed Magpie in Medano Creek. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black-Billed Magpie in Medano Creek. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black-Billed Magpie in Flight at Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black-Billed Magpie in Flight at Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)