Tuesday (07-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 3: Yosemite National Park.

Thistle Flowers in Yosemite Valley. Image taken in the morning on day 3 of our visit in and around Yosemite National Park. How peaceful it was in the morning before the 1st rock slide at Curry Village.

Thistle Flowers in Yosemite Valley. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/22, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Thistle Flowers in Yosemite Valley. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/22, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Monday (06-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 2: Bodie State Historic Park.

On day 2, our van visited Bodie State Historical Park. Bodie is one of the best preserved old mining ghost towns in California. It is kept in a state of static decay, and is a favorite place for photographers (and has been the location for filming several movies). There were lots, and lots of photographers in addition to our Nikonian group. Prior to visiting Bodie State Park, we were told not to show Nikonian labels and make sure that we leave well before sunset because of problems between one of the State Park Rangers and the group in the Nikonian van the previous day .


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Sunday (05-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. There were many photographers (in addition to the Nikonian group) lined up at the Tunnel View parking lot to photograph sunset. Many left thinking nothing was going to happen, then all of a sudden sunlight came in from the west under the clouds  to light up both sides of the valley with this incredible orange color. I think that the mist down in the valley is smoke from campers cooking dinner.

 (David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24 mm PC-E lens (ISO 800, f/16, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)

Saturday (04-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Yosemite National Park.

Red Headed Woodpecker. As I drove through Yosemite Valley on the way to Curry Village to join the Nikonians group for ANPAT 8, I noticed this Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker) on a dead tree. I stopped and realized that it was loading acorns into the tree for winter. I didn’t know that these woodpeckers also lived in California.

Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Loading acorns in a dead tree for winter in Yosemite Valley. (David J Mathre)
Red Headed Woodpecker (Northern Pileated Woodpecker). Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (01-Aug-2008) — From the Air

Flying Across the United States: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory From 35K Feet.

While flying from Denver, Colorado to Newark, New Jersey I saw the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory out my window. Sometimes it is amazing the images you can get out the window of a commercial jet at 35K feet.

FermiLab From 35K Feet. Flying from Denver, Colorado to Newark, New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 62 mm, f/5, 1/2000 sec). (© 2008 David J Mathre)
FermiLab From 35K Feet. Flying from Denver, Colorado to Newark, New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 62 mm, f/5, 1/2000 sec). (© 2008 David J Mathre)