Friday (26-September-2014) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Update — Hungry Warrior. Praying Mantis. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec).

Praying Mantis. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (26-September-2014) — New Jersey. 

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I went out for a walk in the Sourland Mountain Preserve this morning looking for butterflies. This Painted Lady was the only one I saw. There were lots of dragonflies, and praying mantis laying in wait for a butterfly. The real comment is that I took this image with a hand-held camera that weighs 1/10 and costs 1/10th of the kit I have used before. The image may not be as good what I could get with the full kit – but easily good enough. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).

Painted Lady Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Painted Lady Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (26-September-2014) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I saw hundreds of these alien looking warriors today massing at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec).

Sourland Mountain Preserve (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (22-September-2007) — Wyoming

Gone to See America 2007 Road Trip. Seventh Annual Nikonians Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Grand Teton National Park.

Why are nine large birds flying north past the Grand Tetons in late September? At this distance I can’t tell if they are geese, cranes, or swans. My guess is Sandhill Cranes.  Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8,, 1/180 sec).

Why are nine large birds flying north past the Grand Tetons in late September? At this distance I can't tell if they are geese, cranes, or swans. My guess is Sandhill Cranes. Grand Teton National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8,, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)
Nine large birds flying north past the Grand Tetons in late September Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8,, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (19-September-2014) — New Jersey

Late Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 500, 56 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec).

Out of the camera jpg because Capture One doesn’t recognize the RAW/DNG file created by the Leica T camera at this time. By the end of the afternoon, the birch trees were gone along with several other dying trees. I have lost over 30 trees due to storms, disease, and vines over the last 4 years.

Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. (David J Mathre)
Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. (David J Mathre)