Nine-Years Ago (25-February-2010) — California

Photography Workshop “Yosemite in Winter: A Season of Contrast” with Michael Mariant. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

I was the last person to occupy this cabin in Curry Village while attending the Nikonians ANPAT 8 (Annual Nikonians Photo Adventure Trip) in October of 2008 — Led by Michael Mariant. On that day, just after lunch we heard a loud noise. It first sounded like thunder or a very loud freight train, but the noise  continued and kept getting louder. The sky was clear when we were at lunch so I knew it couldn’t be a freak winter thunderstorm. Michael in the cabin next to me yelled “rock slide, run”.  The next thing we knew, Yosemite Valley was enveloped in a cloud of rock dust. Eighteen months later, the cabin still exists but stands empty in a closed area of Curry Village.

Curry Village Cabin #228. Nikonians 2010 Yosemite Winter Workshop Day 1. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)
Curry Village Cabin #228.  Yosemite Winter Workshop Day 1. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/100 sec).
Curry Village 2008 Glacier Point Rockfall Notice. Nikonians 2010 Yosemite Winter Workshop Day 1. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Curry Village 2008 Glacier Point Rockfall Notice.  Yosemite Winter Workshop Day 1. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/400 sec).

Twelve-Years Ago (23-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 3: Bergen and Embarkation on the Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald.

When we woke in Bergen, the sky was clear and there was new snow on the ground. The locals said that it had been raining for the last 50 days. I think many took the day off to enjoy the sun and snow. The Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald would not be departing until later that night, so we had the day to visit Bergen. As part of our travel package, we had a one day Bergen Card for transportation and various attractions. After spending some time outside around the Bergen harbor and Bergen Fish Market, we took the Fløibarnen Funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. We also visited the art museum to see some of Edvard Munch’s paintings. Finally, as it started to get dark we made our way to the Hurtigruten terminal. I’ve included a fisheye view of my cabin and the stateroom at the front of the ship. As we learned later in the voyage, rooms near the front (or rear) of the ship move the most in heavy seas. Since then I always request a cabin near the middle of a ship for any voyage that may experience heavy seas.

Early Morning Fish Market in Bergen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 800, 10.5 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Fish Market in Bergen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 800, 10.5 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Bergen Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 800, 12 mm, f/4, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter View of Bergen from the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 10.5 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter View of Bergen from the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 10.5 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter View of Bergen from the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 10.5 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter View of Bergen from the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 10.5 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Troll at the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D fisheye lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/2, 1/1250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Troll at the top of Mount Fløyen. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 35 mm f/2D fisheye lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/2, 1/1250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Bird in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/6, 1/160 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Bird in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/6, 1/160 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Female Statue in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Female Statue in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Statue of a Young Boy. Winter Art in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5, 1/100 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Statue of a Young Boy. Winter Art in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5, 1/100 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Bench and Phone Booth in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Bench and Phone Booth in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Lutefisk in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Lutefisk in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 35 mm f/2D lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Hurtigruten Waiting Area in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/10 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Hurtigruten Waiting Area in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/10 sec) (David J. Mathre)
M/S Kong Harald from the Hurtigruten Waiting Area in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/8 sec) (David J. Mathre)
M/S Kong Harald from the Hurtigruten Waiting Area in Bergen, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/8 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of My Cabin on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/15 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of My Cabin on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/15 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of Erik's Stateroom on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of Erik’s Stateroom on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of Erik's Stateroom on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/10 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Fisheye View of Erik’s Stateroom on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon Dxs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 400, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/10 sec) (David J. Mathre)