Tuesday (15-September-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Out working on the patio, I harvested the Broccoli Rabe and Radishes in the Grow Towers. This opened up light for the Basil and Pepper plants. I also distributed worms in to the composting tubes in each Grow Tower. I used the Ricoh Theta Z1 360 degree camera to make time-lapse Little Planet videos of the work on the patio. Same workflow as yesterday: Theta Z1 Camera set to record images using program auto mode (shutter, aperture, white-balance, JPG + RAW (DNG) every 10 seconds. Camera mounted on a tripod just above head level. The camera collected ~ 360 images (~ 1 hour) before running out of internal storage space. The DNG dual fisheye images were processed with Capture One Pro, saved in TIF format. Then converted to 360 degree equirectangular pano images with PTGUI (batch process). The Little Planet time-lapse video was created using PhotoShop CC (image converted to 1:1 format (7430 x 7430), rotated 180 degrees, converted to polar coordinates, then exported as a MP4 video (1920 x 1920, 10p). Rotation to the video was added using Premiere Pro.

Daily Electric Energy Used (39.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (52.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More sun. A surplus of 12.4 kWh.

Sunday (18-November-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

I thought there may be some colors at dawn and sunrise so set up the Garmin VIRB-360 camera about half an hour before sunrise. I also went out at sunrise with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Backyard Sunrise Panorama. Composite of 10 images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Backyard Sunrise Panorama. Composite of nine images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 16 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (16-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 2: Lisbon, Portugal.

I slept well after the Portuguese Bacalhau dinner last night. It was a bit salty, so I drank a lot of water. I woke up early (04:00) to select and process images for the afternoon image review session. This morning only my left big toe was sore but the foot was still swollen so it was difficult getting my walking boots on. The sky was overcast so I didn’t go out to shoot sunrise. I recorded breakfast using the Garmin VIRB-360 camera. This time with three of the other workshop folks.

Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of Breakfast at the Bessa Hotel. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

The first photography activity for the morning was a tour of  Lisbon in Tut-Tut vehicles. My sore foot was happy that I wouldn’t  be walking right away. I mounted the Garmin VIRB-360 camera on the Tut-Tut vehicle. I chose to use the Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens for street photography while riding the Tut-Tut to give some reach. My best shot during the ride was the inspection of  a Police Guard in formal uniform.

Police Guard Inspection. Morning tut-tu ride. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Police Guard Inspection. Morning tut-tu ride. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of Tut-Tut Tour of Lisbon. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.


We were dropped off in the Castelo district of Lisbon. I mounted the Garmin VIRB-360 camera on a shout pole mounted on my backpack. Before going on a walkabout, I took a series of images for rooftop panoramas overlooking the Alfama district with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. We then wandered around the area before heading to the castle (Castelo de S. Jorge). Afterwards we walked back to the hotel for lunch and our second classroom/image review session. Fortunately, there were a couple of elevators to bring us down to sea level. My left foot hurt, and I was barely able to keep up with the group.

Morning Panorama Over Lisbon. Composite of 10 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)
Morning Panorama Over Lisbon. Composite of 10 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)


Morning Panorama Over Lisbon. Composite of 17 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)
Morning Panorama Over Lisbon. Composite of 17 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite generated with AutoPano Giga. (David J Mathre)



Time-Lapse Video (360 degree Pano, Tunnel View and Little Planet View) of the Morning Photo Walkabout. Images recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

After the class we went out for an afternoon walkabout through Mouraria (old Lisbon). The area includes a large population of immigrants. Even though I mounted the Garmin VIRB-360 camera, I forgot to confirm that it started shooting. Now on my checkoff list — watch that the light on the camera starts to flash (two green, then one red). Since my foot hurt, I traveled light with only the Nikon 1 V3 camera and 10-30 mm lens. At one point I sat down on a bench to rest my foot, and just watched the local residents. On the walk back to the hotel I switched to the 70-300 mm lens to get some pictures of seagulls on statues/monuments and then of some kids on skateboards doing tricks.




Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed/purchased here.

Sunday (14-October-2018) — Portugal

Gone to See Portugal. Street Photography Workshop with Steve Simon. Day 0: Lisbon, Portugal.

The TAP flight from Newark arrived in Lisbon early, before 05:00. Lisbon is one of the airports where international passengers deplane outdoors, and then bussed to the terminal. We climbed the stairs in the terminal as the escalators were not running yet, then waited for the customs & immigration folks to set up for the morning. Other than some homeless folks sleeping on the benches, the airport terminal was deserted. I took a taxi from the airport to the Bessa Hotel. It was still dark out as the sun wouldn’t rise until 07:44. The air was clear and cool. The driver told me that they had a bit of wind and rain from Hurricane Leslie the day before — but no real damage in Lisbon. Apparently, the storm hit further up the coast. The hotel didn’t have a room ready, but did allow me to check in early and leave my luggage, computer, and camera bag in a locked room. I had a quick breakfast at the hotel restaurant (opened at 07:00). Other than the scrambled eggs being undercooked and watery the breakfast was good, especially the selection of fresh fruit. I ate fast since I wanted to get to the Tagus river to catch sunrise. I took my Fuji X-T3 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens for my morning walkabout. I’ve visited Lisbon twice before while on Semester at Sea voyages, so had some memory of the city layout. I arrived at the Tagus river near the twin columns (Cais das Colunas) at one of the large squares (Praça do Comércio) just in time for sunrise. For an early Sunday morning a lot of activity was going on in the square. TV crews setting up cameras, city workers picking up trash and cleaning the streets, and construction workers setting something up for a large crowd. Then I remembered that the taxi driver said the Lisbon Marathon was happening today with the finish line in the square. During an earlier visit to Lisbon I remembered the square set up with a large video screen for a crowd to watch World Cup playoffs.  I walked along the river down to where the Semester at Sea MV Explorer docked during my previous visit. I got there too late to see the Lux nightclub close, but saw lots of bottles and glasses from the previous nights party on the street. I returned to the hotel just as Steve Simon arrived from the airport. While waiting for our rooms  we went to a local Starbucks for coffee. Steve seems to know the location of  Starbucks in any city. I walked around a bit more and when I returned to the hotel my room was ready. I unpacked, and downloaded the mornings images before going out again. This time with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera mounted on my walking stick. I walked part of the marathon route watching the runners and later on the slower walkers pass down the road. I picked up some fresh fruit and a sandwich for lunch. By this time my feet were sore from all the walking and the jet lag caught up with me. I took a short nap, then joined Steve and Don for dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant. I used the Garmin VIRB-360 camera to capture images for a “little planet” and “inverse little planet/tunnel view” time-lapse video of the dinner.






Individual Images from the slideshows can be viewed here.

Afternoon Walkabout in Lisbon during the Marathon. Little-planet time-lapse video (Garmin VIRB-360).

Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Little planet and Tunnel View time-lapse video (Garmin VIRB-360)

Tuesday (02-October-2018) — New Jersey

Home Cooking. Garlic Bread.

For something different, I decided to make a loaf of garlic bread. I set up a Garmin VIRB 360 camera to record the process. I am getting to like the Garmin camera better than the other 360 degree cameras I’m evaluating.

Garlic Bread Recipe: Sprouted Wheat Flour (1 1/2 cup); Bread Flour (1 1/2 cup); Flax Seed (1/4 cup); Chia Seed (2 Tbs); Poppy Seed (2 tbs); Celery Seed (2 tbs); Garlic powder (2 tbs); grated Parmesan cheese (2/3 cup); dry milk (1/3 cup); dried onion flakes (2 tbs); dried chives (2 tbs); flax oil (2 tbs); honey (1 tbs); egg (1 large); water (1 1/4 cup). Above ingredients added to Panasonic Bread Bakery. Yeast (2 tsp) added to yeast hopper and the unit set for white bread (Rapid) and started. The bread maker warms the ingredients for 15 minutes before adding the yeast, then starts mixing the ingredients. After the first bit of mixing, there was still a bit of dry ingredients. I added an extra 1/4 cup of water. Three hours later, the loaf of bread was removed and allowed to cool. The entire house smells of garlic — warding off any evil spirits.

Garmin VIRB camera. Garlic Bread, Little Planet Time-Lapse Video.

Garmin VIRBvcamera. Garlic Bread, 360 Panorama Time-Lapse Video.