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.

While riding the bus to the Pacaya Volcano we noticed what looked like a tornado just off the highway. The sky was cloudy, but no sign of thunderstorms. It turned out to be a large Dust Devil. I got the following images from the rear of the bus using a Leica V-Lux 20 point & shoot camera. For another view, check out Jenny’s shot from the front of the bus.

View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/4.4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/4.4, 1/500 sec)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 100, 29.9 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 100, 29.9 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 29.9 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 29.9 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/4.4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/4.4, 1/500 sec)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
View of a Dust Devil in Guatemala from a Bus along Highway CA9. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 20 camera (ISO 80, 19.5 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec)

Thursday (28-April-2011) — At Sea

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 2: At Sea.

We were out on deck early to catch the sunrise. There was a bit of confusion about what time sunrise would be since the ship changed to Central Mexican time zone overnight. Was the sun going to rise at 05:07 hr or 07:07 hr. It turned out to be 07:07 hr, which makes sense since we are on the west side of the time zone.  We then spent the day in class: “Welcome Orientation & Workshop Introduction”, and “Components to Travel Photography” taught by Michael Mariant. We are scheduled to arrive in Cabo San Lucas tomorrow morning. At the end of the day a fog bank came in just before the sun set.

Sunrise over Isla Cedros Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over Isla Cedros Mexico. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec).
Pacific Sunset in Fog off the Mexican Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pacific Sunset in Fog off the Mexican Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec).

[Posts will be limited while on the M/V Explorer due to narrow internet bandwidth.]

Monday (11-April-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Why Are You Pointing That Big Black Lens At ME??? As usual there were several deer in my back yard this afternoon. I took this image hand held with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg with Photoshop CS5. It was 85°F (unusual for this early in the Spring) and I am sure that the deer wanted to stay in the shade. They obviously have forgotten the one they lost in my garden last winter.

Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Why are you pointing that big black lens at me? Deer in my back yard. Spring in New New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

Monday (21-February-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Rabbit Tracks on Presidents Day.

We had a light covering of fresh snow this morning. Based on the new trails several deer and a lone rabbit must have passed through my front yard.

Rabbit Tracks in Fresh Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 250, 13.9 mm, f/2.9, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)
Rabbit Tracks in Fresh Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 250, 13.9 mm, f/2.9, 1/100 sec)

Wednesday (02-February-2011) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey: Freezing Rain.

The storm was forecasted. The township and the power company sent e-mail warnings for everyone to be prepared. When I woke up the power was going off and on, and finally at about 08:30 stayed off. I don’t know how long the power will be off and if I will be sleeping in the RV tonight where I have a propane heater. In the morning I  took a number of images with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera. Later as it warmed and turned to rain, ice and branches started falling. There will be a lot to clean up this spring.



Individual images from this slide-show can be viewed here.