Travel - David Mathre Photography

Sunday (31-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 11: Big Cypress National Preserve.

The trees are too close together at Clyde Butcher’s retreat to get a good view of the full sky for sunrise or sunset. I found a nearby location near the northern entrance of the Loop road for sunset last night, so I returned for dawn and sunrise. I was not disappointed as the colors in the clouds developed just before sunrise.

Inverse Little-Planet View of Colorful Dawn Clouds. Begining of the Loop road through Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Composite of 21 mages taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite generated using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre) — Inverse Little-Planet View of Colorful Dawn Clouds. Begining of the Loop road through Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Composite of 21 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the composite generated using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

I went back to Clyde Butcher’s “Swamp Bungalow” for breakfast. The baby (one-year old) alligators were out next to the pond. Then it was back to the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve, with two goals — more birds and alligators, and pictures of the Cypress swamp. The swamp pictures were taken with a Leica T camera and then converted to B&W.

Three-Years Ago (31-December-2014) — Antarctica

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 15: Antarctic Peninsula.

I’ve never been this close to a whale before!!! It kept coming right up to and under our Polar Cirkel boat in Neko Bay.

Floating Ice in Antarctica from the Deck of the MS Fram. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (© 2014 David J Mathre)

Minke Whale Swimming Under Our Polar Cirkel Boat in Neko Bay, Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Catpure One Pro 8, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CC 2104. (David J Mathre)

Saturday (30-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 10: Big Cypress National Preserve.

I was told that the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve was only partially opened. I still tried it, and it turned out to be open all the way around. There was one section near the southern end that had some water on the road, but not all the way across. The first thing I came across was a Turkey Vulture blocking the road. There were alligators, more birds, and butterflies along the road. And not many other vehicles, which was good since most of the time it is a dirt road. When I got back to Clyde Butcher’s place, there was a Copperhead snake and some Spiders and Webs. Later on I found five Baby (or maybe year old) Alligators sunning themselves on the side of the pond. “Moma” was in the middle of the pond keeping watch. I went back to the start of the Loop Road for sunset.

Turkey Vulture blocking the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (30-December-2010) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/11. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 4: Estancia Helsingfors.

This was our first full day at Estancia Helsingfors. I am adding some images taken that day. And I still have many more to share.

Gaucho Crossing Stream Near Lago Viedma at Estancia Helsingfors in Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 28-120 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Friday (29-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 9: Big Cypress National Preserve.

I traveled down to southern Florida to visit Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades. My base for next three days is Clyde Butcher’s “Swamp Bungalow” behind his Gallery in Ochopee. I stayed here once before, and during that visit did a guided swamp walk. 10-February-2014.

I arrived mid-afternoon, and after checking in at the Gallery walked back to the pond next to the “Swamp Cottage”. “Moma” the alligator was still there, but I didn’t see any of the babies near her. After cooking dinner, I walked back to the Gallery to access the WiFi. There was another alligator in the pond next to the parking lot that had just caught a big catfish for its dinner.

Alligator ("Moma") at Clyde Butcher's Gallery and Swamp Cottage. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre) — Alligator (“Moma”) at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery and Swamp Cottage. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)