Tag: Clouds

Nine-Years Ago (06-November-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Night Sky in New Jersey.

Sometimes the clouds come in and you can’t do star trail images.

Moon behind a cloud layer blocking the night sky. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 15 sec). (David J Mathre)
Moon behind a cloud layer blocking the night sky. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/2.8, 15 sec). (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (04-November-2006) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Night Sky Over New Jersey: Star and Jet Trails.

Learning from mistakes. It took a while to figure out how to make star trail images with a digital camera. My first attempts to do long exposures ran into problems with digital sensor noise, the length of time the shutter could remain open, and camera battery life — especially on cold nights. The camera had an option for “long exposure noise reduction”, however this required taking a second exposure with the shutter closed and then subtracting the sensor closed image from the sensor open image. The result is missing every other exposure needed for a smooth composite star trail image.

Star trails looking southeast from my backyard. Composite of 27 images taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/2.8, 28 sec). (David J Mathre)
Star trails looking southeast from my backyard. Composite of 27 images taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 17 mm, f/2.8, 28 sec). (David J Mathre)

Other than the Big Dipper, Orion was probably the second constellation I learned to recognize.


Six-Years Ago (09-September-2009) — Alaska

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 19: Denali National Park, Alaska. (Day 5: Nikonians ANPAT 9).

We separated into four groups, and our group of eight road one of the Park Service buses on the only road into the National Park. We stopped several times since Mount Denali was visible through the clouds. Not as many animals as yesterday.

Road to Denali. Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens. (David J Mathre)
Road to Denali. Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens. (David J Mathre)
Denali and US Flag from Eielson Visitor Center. On the Park Road in Denali National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/10, 1/250 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Denali and US Flag from Eielson Visitor Center. On the Park Road in Denali National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/10, 1/250 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Caribou Antlers and Denali. Composite of four images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 400, 45 mm, f/16, various). (David J Mathre)
Caribou Antlers and Denali. Composite of four images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 400, 45 mm, f/16, various). (David J Mathre)
Denali National Park Panorama. Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 110 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Denali National Park Panorama. Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 110 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Denali National Park Panorama (Surrealistic Version). Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 110 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Denali National Park Panorama (Surrealistic Version). Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 110 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (05-August-2014) — At Sea

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 66: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Baltic Sea.

Summer Baltic Dawn Panorama from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Voyage. Composite of 32 images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Lightroom, Autopano Giga Pro, Capture One, Define, and Photoshop CC.

Summer Baltic Dawn Panorama from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Composite of 32 images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Lightroom, Autopano Giga Pro, Capture One, Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Summer Baltic Dawn Panorama from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Composite of 32 images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Lightroom, Autopano Giga Pro, Capture One, Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (30-July-2014) — Baltic Sea

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 60: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. At Sea.

Summer Evening at Anchor on the Baltic Sea near Sweden.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro Nik Define, and Photoshop CC.

Summer Evening at Anchor on the Baltic Sea near Sweden.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro Nik Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Summer Evening at Anchor on the Baltic Sea near Sweden.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 800, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro Nik Define, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)