Bird - David Mathre Photography

Wednesday (14-April-2010) — California

Gone to See America 2010. Big Sur Photography Workshop with Michael Mariant. Day 0: Piedras Blancas Beach.

I arrived in San Simeon on the California coast the day before the Big Sur Workshop. After dinner, I drove 7 miles north to the Elephant Seal view-point on Piedras Blancas beach. There are hundreds of Elephant Seals just being lazy and making a lot of noise. The young males are mock fighting, but not doing much damage. This was an image rich environment.

Click on the image to view the whole set.

Friday (18-December-2009) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 3: Haleakala National Park.

I left the meeting early to get to the Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park for sunset. When I got to the parking lot I saw this bird, which I later identified as a Chukar. The elevation is about 10,000 feet, and as the sun went down it got windy and cold fast. The thermometer on my GPS indicated 30°F, and I only had a light windbreaker. I didn’t think to carry cold weather gear for the trip to Hawaii. I did get several great images of the sunset over the nearby Haleakala Air Force Satellite tracking station and observatories.

Chukar, Haleakalua National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu'U'Ula'Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre) — Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)

Sunset Panorama over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu'U'Ula'Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunset Panorama over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (27-November-2009) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Canada goose flapping its wings. Many of the Canada geese no longer migrate, but rather spend their winter here in New Jersey. Every fall and spring they join up and fly in circles for a couple of weeks ending up where they started. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens.

Canadian Goose in a Lake at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lens. (David J Mathre)

31-October-2009

Halloween 2009

For Halloween I went to St. Petersburg Florida for the wedding of Lars (my brother) and Valerie. The day began with a sunrise photo shoot at Fort De Soto Park with Kari and Elise. When we got to the park we found out that we would not be able to get to the east tip turnaround because of the Florida Halloween Halfathon race. We ended up at the fort itself to view sunrise. After that we shot some pictures of folks in costume doing the race, and then went for a walk down the beach. I have images of both Kari working a sea urchin, and Elise working a shell. Ft. De Soto is always a target rich environment for birds.

Later that afternoon the extended family attended the wedding of Lars and Valerie. I am not a wedding photographer, but I did take some snapshots.

The following images were taken with a Nikon D3x or D700 with a 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye, 35 mm f/2, 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E, or 70-300 mm VR lens.

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D3x and 45 mm PC-E (ISO 100, f/16, 1/160 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 300 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec)

Darth Vader running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec)

Princess running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec)

Hawaiian Tourist running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec)

Fairy running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 320, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec)

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 300 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 75 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 85 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Elise chimping her image of a shell at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 140, 155 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec).

Sunrise Pelican in flight at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 230 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec).

One eyed Tern at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec).

Sandpiper at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

American Oystercatcher at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Young Blue Heron at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Snowy Egret at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Black-hooded Parakeet?? (not native) at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. There were at least 50 of these birds at this location. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec).

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Wednesday (18-February-2009) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Black-capped Chickadee.

I found this small bird trying to keep warm in my front doorway. It looked like it was trying to make a nest in an old spider web.

Black-capped Chickadee trying to keep warm. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, flash). (David J Mathre) — Black-capped Chickadee trying to keep warm. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, flash).