Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Spring is Coming!!!
When I got home today, I noticed that these Purple Crocuses were in bloom across the street. I think that this is the earliest that I have seen these blooming. In addition, some of the Daffodils are also starting to bloom.
For those wondering why I have not posted recently, things have been busy at work.
Early Purple Crocuses — Spring is Coming. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 10 mm lens (ISO 100, 10mm, f/3.2, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)Early Purple Crocus — Spring is Coming. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 10-100 mm lens (ISO 100, 100 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Early Purple Crocuses — Spring is Coming. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 10-100 mm lens (ISO 100, 53 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Early Purple Crocuses — Spring is Coming. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 10-100 mm lens (ISO 100, 58 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 2: Oslo.
This was the beginning of the extended family winter vacation in Norway. Our first full day was in Oslo. Some of the children in the group had never seen snow before. A long day with many things to see and do as well as adjust to the time difference.
Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)National Theater and Ibsen. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Nobel Peace Center. Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Artillery Guarding Oslo at the Akeshus Fortress. Winter in Oslo Norway. (David J Mathre)Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Roald Amundsen. Arctic Museum, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Family in Norway, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Glass Menagerie, National Theater, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)Orchids, Winter in Oslo Norway (David J Mathre)
Colorado Wildlife — Migrating Tundra Swans and Big Horn Sheep.
I drove to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge near Walden Colorado. It is a long drive, but the pass through Rocky Mountain National Park was still open. I knew it was late in the year and didn’t expect to see many migrating birds, but hoped to see some Pronghorn Elk or Moose. While driving through the refuge on the Auto Tour route, I saw eight large white birds across one of the lakes. I took some images, first with a 80-400 mm VR lens, and then with 200-400 f/4 VR lens. It was rather windy, so used the car to block the wind to minimize motion with the big lenses. Even on a tripod this was hard. It looks like these are Tundra Swans which the bird list for the wildlife refuge list as being rare (once every 2-5 years). I guess I was lucky. I also didn’t see anyone else while visiting the reserve.
Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)Tundra Swans. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D2XS and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens + TCE-II 20 teleconverter (ISO 400, 800 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS5, Nik Define, Nik Color Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
While returning from the reserve I came upon several Big Horn Sheep along Colorado Highway 14.
Big Horn Ram Huddle. Along Colorado 14 near Sheridan in Roosevelt National Forest. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See American 2008 Road Trip. Driving from Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument to Bryce National Park.
Double Rainbow in Utah. While driving between Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and Bryce National Park on Utah Highway 12 I saw a rainbow in my rear view mirror. I quickly pulled over just outside of Cannonville Utah and started taking some images. Before the rainbow was gone, many other cars pulled over to admire the view.
Double Rainbow in Utah. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Topaz Define (Color Jump), Topaz DeNoise, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Gone to See California: Point Reyes National Seashore.
I drove out to Point Reyes National Seashore to photograph the Lighthouse. I’ve tried to photograph this lighthouse on several previous occasions, but it was always shrouded in fog. I got there early in the morning, and this time it was very clear. In one image, the moon is above the lighthouse. Remembering my mentor Winston Hall telling us to always look behind you for a better picture, I turned around and saw this buck on a ridge in the early morning sunlight.
Moon over Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 24 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Morning Light at Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Early Morning Buck on a Ridge at Point Reyes National Seashore. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)