Three-Years Ago (30-December-2014) — South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Gone To See Antarctica 2014/5. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 14: South Shetland Islands.

Dark clouds at dawn (02:48 AM) over King George Island. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dark clouds at dawn (02:48 AM) over King George Island. From the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sailboat Anchored Near the Argentine Research Station at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands off Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/10, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Sailboat Anchored Near the Argentine Research Station at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands off Antarctica. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/10, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Old Wooden Boat Stuck in the Snow on Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands (North of the Antarctic Peninsula). Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Old Wooden Boat Stuck in the Snow on Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands (North of the Antarctic Peninsula). Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 56 mm, f/16, 1/100 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014 (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 14: South Shetland Islands. (David Mathre)
Gone to See Antarctica 2014/2015. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 14: South Shetland Islands. (David 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)
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)





Thirteen-Years Ago (30-December-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Fisheye View

My fourth Nikon lens was a 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. I had never used a fisheye lens before, so these were some early experiments with the lens.

Red Ivy Berries. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red Ivy Berries. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec). (David J Mathre)
Large Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Large Pine Cones. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 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)




Three-Years Ago (29-December-2014) — Antarctica

Gone To See Antarctica 2014/5. Hurtigruten Christmas Voyage. Day 13: South Shetland Islands.

The south Atlantic seas and wind calmed considerable overnight. The skies were clear and bright blue. In the morning I was able to tour the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. As we approached Elephant Island I got this panoramic image using the in camera pano feature of the Fuji X-T1 camera. Since it was so calm, the captain of the ship allowed us to take the small Polarcirkel boats to land at Point Wild on Elephant Island. This was the desolate rocky beach where Ernest Shackleton’s crew survived for 4 months in 1916 while Shackelton managed to sail to South Georgia and ultimately assure their rescue. I assume that the Sheathbill’s and the Penguins would have been on the menu for the sailors during this time.

View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
View from the bridge of the Hurtigruten MS Fram. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 160, 23 mm, f/2. 1/80 sec) Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)
Panoramic view of Elephant Island. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). In camera panorama. (David J Mathre)