Category: Travel

Travels around the world

Three-Years Ago (25-December-2014) — South Georgia Island

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/5 Day 10: Christmas Day on South Georgia Island

The Hurtigruten MS Fram arrived at South Georgia early in the morning. We were ferried from the ship to the island on Polarcirkel boats (a more comfortable version of the Zodiac boats). We then hiked across the island to Grytviken — an abandoned whaling village to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church. This is reported to be the southern most church. It was prefabricated in Norway, and dedicated 104 years ago on Christmas Day. The Christmas service was performed in Norwegian, German, and English. The church has a foot-pumped organ that the ship’s musician used to play Christmas music (as well as “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum). We then spent the remainder of our time on shore investigating the remaining whaling buildings in Grytviken and visiting a King Penguin rookery just outside of the village.

Hikers from the Hurtigruten MS Fram going to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church at Grytviken in South Georgia. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Hikers from the Hurtigruten MS Fram going to attend Christmas Service at the Whalers Church at Grytviken in South Georgia. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)



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Six-Years Ago (25-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Fort De Soto Park

Osprey and Great Blue Herons kept me busy on Christmas Day at Fort De Soto Park.

Osprey in Flight at Fort Desoto Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey in Flight at Fort Desoto Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)



Ten-Years Ago (25-December-2007) — Florida

Extended Mathre Family Celebration: 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)



Three-Years Ago (24-December-2014) — South Atlantic Ocean

Gone to See Antarctica 2014/5:  Day 9 – At Sea on the Hurtigruten MS Fram in the South Atlantic Ocean

Dawn colors from the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram between the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and South Georgia Island. Views like this are why I get up early to view the sky at dawn while at sea. This is a composite of 16 image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera.

Colorful Clouds at Dawn over the South Atlantic Ocean from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and composite panorama created with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Colorful Clouds at Dawn over the South Atlantic Ocean from the Deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Composite of 16 images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and composite panorama created with AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

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Six-Years Ago (24-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Fort De Soto Park

Sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County Florida. Later in the morning a male Osprey protecting its mate and nest.

Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort Desoto County Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto County Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Top Gun Protecting His Mate and Nest. Osprey Aerial Battle. Fort Desoto County Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Top Gun Protecting His Mate and Nest. Osprey Aerial Battle. Fort Desoto County Park in St Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)