Friday (03-January-2014) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Snow Play in New Jersey.

It started snowing last night, and was still snowing when I got up. The temperature stayed cold enough to keep the snow as a very fine, light powder. The high winds kept the snow from building up on the tree limbs. Several of my trolls went out to play in the snow — reminding them of their home in Norway.  Later in the day I dug my car out and made a path from the house to the street. Not too much of a problem since the snow was so light.

Troll out Skiing in my Backyard. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 58 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 900, 58 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7 and Nik Color Efex 4. (David J Mathre)
Troll out Skiing in my Backyard. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 58 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 900, 58 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7 and Nik Color Efex 4. (David J Mathre)
Trolls Playing in the Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 58 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 2200, 58 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)
Trolls Playing in the Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 58 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 2200, 58 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (03-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 8: Hosteria El Pilar.

We stayed several days at Hosteria El Pilar near El Chaltén in Argentina.  With the constant wind and extreme weather, the trees in Patagonia take on some unique shapes. After a long hike, there was a rainbow visible from the back porch at the Hosteria.

Tree in Patagonia taken during a hike to Mirador and Laguna Torre from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/4.5, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tree in Patagonia taken during a hike to Mirador and Laguna Torre from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/4.5, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
If a Tree in Patagonia is Attacked by a Magellanic Woodpecker Did Anyone Hear It? Hike from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten to El Mirador and Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
If a Tree in Patagonia is Attacked by a Magellanic Woodpecker Did Anyone Hear It? Hike from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten to El Mirador and Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Remains of a Tree Struck by Lightning in Patagonia. Hike from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten to El Mirador and Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/11, 1/8 sec). Day 7 of a Photography workshop in Patagonia workshop with Thom Hogan. . (David J Mathre)
Remains of a Tree Struck by Lightning in Patagonia. Hike from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten to El Mirador and Laguna Torre. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/11, 1/8 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hike to El Mirador and Laguna Torre in Patagonia from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hike to El Mirador and Laguna Torre in Patagonia from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Horses Grazing under a Rainbow in the Backyard of Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina - Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Horses Grazing under a Rainbow in the Backyard of Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina – Patagonia. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

 

Three-Years Ago (02-January-2011) — Argentina

Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 7: Hosteria El Pilar.

We stayed several days at Hosteria El Pilar near El Chaltén in Argentina. I start with an image of a bee hovering near a pink lupine. While reviewing other images from the day, I found several of Mount Fitz Roy at dawn and dusk. There were no clouds in the morning, but at sunset a very unique and colorful cloud developed while we were eating dinner. Desert had to wait until the show was over.

Bee Approaching a Pink Lupine in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bee Approaching a Pink Lupine in Patagonia. Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Patagonia Dawn from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 82 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Patagonia Dawn from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 82 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Reflection of Fitzroy in the Morning with a Horse. Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec). Patagonia workshop with Thom Hogan, Day 7. (David J Mathre)
Reflection of Fitzroy in the Morning with a Horse. Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec). Patagonia workshop with Thom Hogan, Day 7. (David J Mathre)
Patagonia Dawn and Reflection from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16-35 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 2.5 sec). (David J Mathre)
Patagonia Dawn and Reflection from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 16-35 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 2.5 sec). (David J Mathre)
Silhouette of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia at Dusk with Glowing Orange Clouds from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 80, 19.2 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)
Silhouette of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia at Dusk with Glowing Orange Clouds from Hosteria El Pilar in El Chalten, Argentina. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 80, 19.2 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (01-January-2014) — New Jersey

Happy New Year 2014: May the Light Be With You.

Image of me in Colorado taken by Jason Odell with an IR converted Nikon 1 V1 camera
Image of me in Colorado taken by Jason Odell with an IR converted Nikon 1 V1 camera

Let’s see if I can get back to posting something new to my “Image of the Day Photoblog” each and everyday. Last year I traveled a bit (or should I say a lot), and as a result fell back to just having my Google+ posts reposted on the Photoblog. I began the year in January with a quick road trip to Florida to visit family and then some time at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. At the end of January, I flew to Bergen, Norway and then embarked on a voyage on the Hurtigruten  MS Nordkapp from Bergen to Kirkenes and then back to Bergen. On the return voyage I stopped in Tromsø for a week to meet up with some friends to experience and photograph the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In April, I went back to Florida to join my parents for an extended Semester at Sea Spring Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. We flew from Tampa to Barcelona (via Gatwick in England). Over the next 52 days we visited 19 countries (Spain, Monaco, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, England, Norway, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany). I must have been getting bored, so at the end of July into August decided to spend 10 days in Iceland to attend a Photo Safari with Mike Hagen and Tim Vollmer. In September, I started my annual “Gone to See America” 27 day road trip. This year I started on a northern route (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan). I spent some time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, then continued west (Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado). While in Colorado, I spent in and around Buena Vista for a Colorado Photo Safari with Jason Odell. We were supposed to have spent the time in Rocky Mountain National Park, but had to change the location due to the severe flooding along the Front Range in Colorado. I then continued west and south (Utah and Arizona) to join up for a week with the Nikonians ANPAT-13 (Annual Nikonians Photo Adventure Trip) in Arizona. Due to the Government shutdown, we were not able to visit many of the planned locations in the National Parks or National Forests. On the day I departed the Nikonians group, I was fortunate to travel through Grand Canyon National Park. The park was re-opened that day after the Governor of Arizona agreed to pay for basic operations until the Government shutdown was resolved. I then spent a couple of days in New Mexico, but unfortunately White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks were still closed. Guadalupe Mountain and Big Bend National Parks in Texas were also closed, so decided to hightail it back home (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey). Since returning home, I have been spending a lot of time going through my images, and upgrading the computer server and storage space for the images. In early December, I spent four days in Philadelphia attending workshops with Steve Simon (Nikon D4, D800, and the Passionate Photographer). In all I took nearly 300K images during the year, which is double the number I took in 2012. New photography equipment for 2013 included a Nikon Df camera body, a 58 mm f/1.4G lens, a 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens and two lenses for the Nikon 1 bodies – a 18.5 mm f/1.8 and 32 mm f/1.2 lens.

I really wanted to sign up for the Semester at Sea Spring 2014 round the world voyage but the stars were not aligned and I didn’t get my act together in time. The round the world Semester at Sea voyage will have to wait until 2016, since I have already committed to another trip to Patagonia with Thom Hogan in the spring of 2015. Other trips for 2014 include a Birding Photo Safari in Texas with Jason Odell and the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque with Winston Hall. I’ve not decided yet on either the Semester at Sea Spring 2014 Enrichment voyage (includes Iceland) and/or the Semester at Sea Summer 2014 voyage (Europe).

Three-Years Ago (01-January-2011) — Argentina

Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 6: Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten, Laguna Torre, Parque Nacional Los Glaciaries.

Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec)

Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)
Female Magellanic Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (David J Mathre)