Sunday (03-July-2011) — New Jersey

Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I got up early this morning to drive to the High Point monument in northern New Jersey. It was raining when I left, but I hoped that it would clear up by the time I got there. Just the opposite — heavy rain when I got there. Furthermore, the front gate was still locked. I gave up and drove back the long route along the Delaware River. Because of the rain there was very little traffic. I’ve used up most of my vacation this year between the Patagonia workshop with Thom Hogan and the Central America & Panama Canal Enrichment Voyage – Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. As such, I know that I am not going to be able to do a cross-country road trip this year so it was good to get a long drive in this holiday weekend.

When I got home there was a lull in the rain and I saw that the wild raspberries were starting to ripen. In order to get an image of a cluster of the berries in focus with everything else out of focus I took a series of images using a focus rail to adjust the camera to subject distance over a 3 cm distance with a macro lens. I then used Helicon Focus to make a composite image from the 20 images. The first image is the result. The next three images are the first (front focus), mid (middle focus), and last (back focus) images. Even though there was some (not much) movement due to wind, Helicon Focus did a great job adjusting the images so all of the composite images were correctly registered.

Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. Helicon Focus composite of 20 images. (David J Mathre)
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. Helicon Focus composite of 20 images.
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Wild Raspberry Cluster. Early Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6, 1/60 sec) with SB900 flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Saturday (25-June-2011) — New Jersey

Early Summer Nature in New Jersey.

Two views of a local farmer’s wheat field this morning. The sun was just coming out from behind some low clouds and there was still a bit of mist.

Wheat Field at Morning in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Wheat Field at Morning in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.
Wheat Field at Morning in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Wheat Field at Morning in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.

Friday (24-June-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Early Summer Nature in New Jersey.

Image of a Yellow Prickly Pear Cactus flower taken just after an early summer thunderstorm. Unlike the White Yucca flowers, the deer don’t appear to be interested in the Prickly Pear Cactus flower.

Yellow Prickly Pear Flower after Rain. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 80, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Yellow Prickly Pear Flower after Rain. Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 (ISO 80, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5.

.

One-Year Ago (03-June-2010) — Trididad

Gone to See the Caribbean Islands. Semester at Sea Spring 2010 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant. Day 8: Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Morning view of off-shore oil platforms from the deck of the MV Explorer.

Morning View of Off-shore Oil Rigs. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 135 mm, f/16, 1/1000 sec). Raw Image processed with DxO, Capture One 6 Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J. Mathre)
Morning View of Off-shore Oil Rigs. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 135 mm, f/16, 1/1000 sec). Raw Image processed with DxO, Capture One 6 Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5.

 

Monday (02-May-2011) — Guatemala

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 6: Guatemala.

We arrived at San Francisco de Sales, a small hamlet in Pacaya Volcano National Park. As soon as we got off the bus we were mobbed by children selling (or renting) wood walking sticks. The price started at $1 US per stick, and quickly dropped to 2/$1. Before starting the hike we had lunch (chicken or beef with rice and vegetables). We were also given the option to ride a horse for $10 US. I decided to take this option since I had a good experience riding horses earlier this year in Patagonia. Unlike the ride in Patagonia, each horse had guide lead the horse up the trail. My guide was Antonio, and the horse I rode was named “Champion”. Much of the trail was in the clouds. Each time the group stopped to rest, the horse guides without riders yelled “taxi taxi”. Rob soon decided that he needed a taxi. At one point it started to rain, and I got to wear an authentic poncho. Near the end of the trail, we got off the horses and did the remainder of the trail on foot. We went past some hot vents — warm enough for some of the folks to roast marshmallows. There was another large tunnel that the more adventurous entered. When we got back to San Francisco de Sales, the kids that had earlier sold the walking stick looked to get them back. There was a real pecking order, with the larger boys retrieving more of the sticks. Some of the passengers did take the walking sticks back to the ship. There was a concern that the kids guiding the horses and selling the walking sticks should have been in school.
.

Guarding the Pepsi. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 (ISO 200, 49.2 mm, f/4.9, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Guarding the Pepsi. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 (ISO 200, 49.2 mm, f/4.9, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Little Girl Watching the Volcano Hikers Arrive San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Little Girl Watching the Volcano Hikers Arrive San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales.. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 (ISO 800, 4 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales.. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 (ISO 800, 4 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Antonio Getting Champion Ready for the Trail to the Volcano in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Antonio Getting Champion Ready for the Trail to the Volcano in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Rob Documenting his Lunch in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Rob Documenting his Lunch in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
View of the Trail in the Mist from on top of Champion. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
View of the Trail in the Mist from on top of Champion. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Trees in the Mist on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Trees in the Mist on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Jenny on her Horse on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Jenny on her Horse on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Hiker taking an image of the lava in the mist. On the trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 320, 24 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Hiker taking an image of the lava in the mist. On the trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 320, 24 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Jenny entering a tunnel in the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 450, 24 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Jenny entering a tunnel in the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 450, 24 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Not really Glowing Lava. Wood Burning in Heated Lava Vent. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 125, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Not really Glowing Lava. Wood Burning in Heated Lava Vent. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 125, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Solar Starburst with Silhouette of Hikers on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Solar Starburst with Silhouette of Hikers on the Trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Silhouette of Jenny on the trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/800 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Silhouette of Jenny on the trail to the Volcano. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/800 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Champion After Completing the Trail to the Volcano back in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. . (David J Mathre)
Champion After Completing the Trail to the Volcano back in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Leica X1 (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. .
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Guardabosque (Park Ranger) in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 720, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Guardabosque (Park Ranger) in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 720, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 560, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 560, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 280, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Waking Stick Vendor in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 280, 24 mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec). Raw image processed and converted to B&W with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Outdoor Stairway in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 500, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Outdoor Stairway in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 500, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CS5.
Girl with Yellow Pants Running into Building with UNE Party Sign in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 280, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Viveza 2, Nik Define 2 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Girl with Yellow Pants Running into Building with UNE Party Sign in San Francisco de Sales. Pacaya Volcano National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 280, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Viveza 2, Nik Define 2 and Photoshop CS5.