Three-Years Ago (16-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Blue Grosbeak at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Blue Grossbeak in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Blue Grossbeak in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec) (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (16-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Bronzed Cowbird and Reflection at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 220, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).

Bronzed Cowbird and Reflection at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 220, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bronzed Cowbird and Reflection at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 220, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (16-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Male Northern Cardinal feeding breakfast to a young Cardinal at a private ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec.

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Vandas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec. (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal  in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec. (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (16-May-2013) — Netherlands

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 20: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The M/V Explorer arrived in Amsterdam, Netherlands early in the morning. I signed up for the field trip to the Tulip festival at Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in nearby Lisse with my parents. The Tulip festival at Keukenhof gardens is only open for a short time every spring, and this was one of the last days. When we arrived there already were many tourist buses in the parking lot. The sky was grey with some off and on light rain. The flower gardens were beautiful, although there were a few “ugly tourists” that walked right into the flower gardens. There was also a wedding party where the photographer had the full entourage stand in the middle of a patch of tulips. I don’t know how many flowers got trampled.

Joan and Loren at the Lily arch. Tulip festival at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
Joan and Loren at the Lily arch. Tulip festival at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

One-Year Ago (15-May-2016) — New Jersey.

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I think this is a broad-tailed hawk. The hawk and a crow kept chasing each other most of the morning. I took this image through a double-paned window, which I think is responsible for the strange bokeh.

Broad-winged Hawk (?) in Flight. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Broad-winged Hawk (?) in Flight. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)