Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec).

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec).

Almost in -- Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (25-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 20: Hakone,  Japan.

Smelts and Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop in Hakone while waiting for the “pirate ship” ride on Lake Ashi. The waitress at the restaurant kept asking if I knew what Smelts were, and did I really want them… I tried to explain I grew up in Minnesota, and my Grandfather got us Smelts from Lake Superior. It was Number 14 on the menu. I would go back, the bowl was empty when I was done.

Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (24-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 19: Arrival in Yokohama, Japan.

Sunrise and early morning from the deck of the MV World Odyssey docked at the Osanbaski Pier in Yokohama. We had to wait for immigration officials before we could leave the ship. Click on the image to see a wider view.

Yokohama Skyline Panorama at Dawn from the Deck of the MV World Odyssey while Docked at the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of six images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Yokohama Skyline Panorama at Dawn from the Deck of the MV World Odyssey while Docked at the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of six images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Sun peaking out from behind the clouds. From the deck of the MV World Odyssey docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun peaking out from behind the clouds. From the deck of the MV World Odyssey docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun rising above the clouds. From the deck of the MV World Odyssey docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun rising above the clouds. From the deck of the MV World Odyssey docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Statue catching the sun in a bowl on the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey while docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Statue catching the sun in a bowl on the aft deck of the MV World Odyssey while docked in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (24-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 19: Arrival in Yokohama, Japan.

After 10 days long days crossing the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii and taking classes every day it was good to see land. The MV World Odyssey arrived at the port of Yokohama early in the morning and docked at the Osanbashi Pier.

Anticipating Japan after a Long 10 days Crossing the Pacific Ocean on the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Anticipating Japan after a Long 10 days Crossing the Pacific Ocean on the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
The MV World Odyssey about to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge as we arrived in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
The MV World Odyssey about to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge as we arrived in Yokohama, Japan. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Yokohama Skyline Panorama at Dawn from the Deck of the MV World Odyssey while Docked at the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of six images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Yokohama Skyline Panorama at Dawn from the Deck of the MV World Odyssey while Docked at the Osanbashi Pier. Composite of six images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)