Six-Years Ago (21-December-2006) — New Jersey

Winter Solstice: Birds in the Backyard.

I caught this white-throated sparrow eating a red berry in my backyard. The Nikon 80-400 mm VR lens is probably my most used lens. It is light enough to be hand held, and gives the reach to get images of small birds.

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White-throated sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/6, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (12-December-2012) — New Jersey

Late Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Turkey Vulture in a tree waiting to warm in the morning sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). I think I am going to like this camera.

Turkey Vulture in a Tree Waiting to Warm in the Morning Sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a Tree Waiting to Warm in the Morning Sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thanksgiving (22-November-2012) — New Jersey

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This is an image of three young wild turkeys in my backyard earlier this year.

Young Wild Turkeys. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Young Wild Turkeys. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (19-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 2: Kailua Kona.

One of the first pictures I took while attending a workshop with Thom Hogan in Hawaii five-years ago was this small yellow bird in a palm tree. The workshop group was sitting outside at the hotel getting an orientation for the next few days. Ultimately, I was able to identify this bird as a Saffron Finch — which turns out not to be native to Hawaii.

Saffron Finch in a Palm Tree. Kona, Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Saffron Finch in a Palm Tree. Kona, Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)

 

Five-Years Ago (04-November-2007) — Colorado

Autumn Road Trip in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park.

  1. Panorama at Storm Pass Trail head in Rocky Mountain National Park (along the road to Bear Lake). Composite of 8 images taken with a Nikon D2xs and  28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/11, 1/20 sec). Image processed using DxO, AutoPano Giga, and Photoshop CS5.
  2. Steller’s Jay in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec). Hand held, VR works! This was a new type of blue jay for me.
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)
Panorama at Storm Pass Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (David J Mathre)