Six-Years Ago (27-August-2006) — Michigan

Gone to See America 2006 Driving Tour. Day 2: Northern Peninsula of Michigan.

Miners Rock at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. For the first two days I drove almost non-stop (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, then Michigan). I decided to stop at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior and take some pictures. Two days before the trip I got a Nikon D200 DSLR camera and two lenses, a 18-70 mm kit lens and a 80-400 mm VR telephoto lens. All I knew about using the camera was from what I read in the manual — not much. All images were recorded as jpg, not raw which limited future processing.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. Image taken with a Nikon D200 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4.5, 1/750 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. Image taken with a Nikon D200 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4.5, 1/750 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (26-August-2007) — Colorado

Summertime Nature in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park.

Reflections at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. When ever possible, I stop at Lily Lake. It is part of Rocky Mountain National Park, but outside the paid access part of the park along Colorado Highway 7. There is a mother duck and eight ducklings sleeping in the shadows on the far side of the lake in the first panorama image. I have also included a closer view of the ducks through a telephoto lens.

Summer Morning Reflections at Lilly Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/22, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)
Summer Morning Reflections at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/22, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mother Duck and Eight Ducklings Resting in the Middle of Lilly Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Mother Duck and Eight Ducklings Resting in the Middle of Lily Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (25-August-2009) — North Dakota

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 04: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

Sunrise and Big Horn Sheep Silhouette. I got up early and drove out of the fog at the campsite in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There was a great sunrise view above and looking over the fog covered Little Missouri River. One of the things that Winston Hall taught us was to always look behind, because there may be a better/different image. Sure enough I saw this Big Horn Sheep, and caught a silhouette image of it in mid-air.

Sunrise Over a Fog Covered Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/22, 1/100 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Sunrise Over a Fog Covered Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/22, 1/100 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Sheep in Midair. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Sheep in Midair. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Friday (24-August-2012) — At Sea

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 02: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

The main activity for the first full day at sea was an all-day orientation for the students in the Union. There are 477 undergraduate students attending the Fall Semester this year. In addition there are 47 Life Long Learners (30 full voyage and 17 partial voyage), 36 Faculty, 37 Staff & Family, and 181 Crew on board the MV Explorer for this voyage.

Halifax Sunrise, MV Explorer Departure, Sunset at Sea (David J. Mathre)
Orientation for Students in the Union (David J. Mathre)
Sunset (David J. Mathre)
Students Waiting for Sunset (David J. Mathre)
Sunset (David J. Mathre)
Student Waiting for Sunset (David J. Mathre)
Sunset at Sea on the M/V Explorer. Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset at Sea on the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (24-August-2009) — North Dakota

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 03: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

Bison Bulls Fighting. My first night sleeping in the RV in a campground at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. These two Bison Bulls were having an argument just outside my site. I was glad that I would sleeping in the RV, and not in a tent like the family just across the road.

Male Bison Fighting in the Campground at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm lens. (David J. Mathre)
Male Bison Fighting in the Campground at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm lens. (David J. Mathre)