Eight-Years Ago (14-May-2011) — Belize

Gone to See Central America and the Panama Canal. Semester at Sea Spring 2011 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop II with Michael Mariant. Day 18: Belize.

Pair of Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec).

Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black Vultures in Flight in Belize. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (12-May-2013) — France

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 16: Paris, France.

Capoeria Performance in Parc de Bercy.  Late Spring Photowalk with the Photographer Thomas Paris in Paris.


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Three-Years Ago (27-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 22: Hiroshima.

I am not going to say much here. We visited the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum. I just wish we could learn from the past and not be two minutes left on the Doomsday Clock. Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock.

Little Planet View of the Display of Ground Zero at the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Composite of 19 image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Little Planet View of the Display of Ground Zero at the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Composite of 19 image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 23 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual Images from the slide show can be viewed here.

Three-Years Ago (26-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 21: Hiroshima.

Our local guide in Hiroshima recommended that we try “Okonomiyaki“, a traditional Japanese savory pancake for dinner. We found a restaurant/grill that had room for a dozen of us to sit on stools facing the grill. With a bit of translation, we selected the toppings for each of our creations (pork, beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, oysters, octopus, or vegetarian). The very efficient cook turned preparation of the okonomiyaki into a performance. It started with the pancake, followed by chopped cabbage, sprouts, cheese, the selected meat or tofu, noodles, another pancake with fried egg on the top. Finally, some chopped green onions. Everyone’s eyes were wide-open realizing how big a meal each one of the creations had become. While enjoying the meal, the cook picked up a guitar and did a Elvis serenade for the students at the far end of the grill.



Individual images from the slide show can be viewed here.

Six-Years Ago (20-September-2012) — Portugal

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 28: Sintra, Portugal.

I joined a field trip to see the Pena National Palace and Castle in Sintra. The Pena Palace is on the top of a hill overlooking Sintra. The following panorama shows the palace. Is was really intrigued by the sculpture above the entrance  “Allegoric Gate to the creation of the World” or “Arch of the Triton.” It appears to be King Neptune sitting in a giant clam shell looking down.

Panorama from the Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Composite of 19 images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Panorama from the Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Composite of 19 images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 50 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
“Allegoric Gate to the creation of the World” Arch of the Triton entryway to the Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
“Allegoric Gate to the creation of the World” Arch of the Triton entryway to the Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.