MV Explorer - David Mathre Photography

Monday (29-April-2013) — Italy

Gone to See Europe and North Africa. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 3: Livorno, Italy.

Antipasto at Tenuta Lenzini, a Villa and Winery in Tuscany near Lucca, Italy. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 6.7-13 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 13 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec).

Tuesday (02-October-2012) — New Jersey

Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Day 40: Back Home in New Jersey.

Back Home Blues. One of the great things while on the MV Explorer I didn’t need to deal with mundane things like laundry. On the ship, laundry was done any day we were at sea for $6/bag (more if you wanted anything ironed). Since we had been at port in Cadiz, Spain for the last several days of my trip, I ended up coming home with a large bag of dirty laundry 😉

Dirty Laundry Bag. Back in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera (ISO 400, 4.3 mm, f/3.3, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Monday (10-September-2012) — Belgium

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 18: Arrive in Antwerp, Belgium.

Belgium Waffles, Strawberries, and Chocolate in Brussels. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux-30 camera (ISO 200, 4.3 mm, f/3.3, 1/50 sec).

Friday (24-August-2012) — At Sea

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 02: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

The main activity for the first full day at sea was an all-day orientation for the students in the Union. There are 477 undergraduate students attending the Fall Semester this year. In addition there are 47 Life Long Learners (30 full voyage and 17 partial voyage), 36 Faculty, 37 Staff & Family, and 181 Crew on board the MV Explorer for this voyage.

Halifax Sunrise, MV Explorer Departure, Sunset at Sea (David J. Mathre) — Orientation for Students in the Union (David J. Mathre)

Students Waiting for Sunset (David J. Mathre)

Sunset at Sea on the M/V Explorer. Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunset at Sea on the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (23-August-2012) — Canada

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 01: Embark and Depart from Halifax, Canada.

The students boarded the MV Explorer in shifts beginning at 08:00. It was an efficient process, and most everyone was onboard by 11:00. We were told that after lunch that there would be a mandatory evacuation drill. Everyone was supposed to get their life-jacket and report to their evacuation station wearing long pants, long shirt, shoes, and a hat. Once we got to our station, the ship staff did a roll call to make sure everyone was accounted for and present. The drill is required before the ship can leave port. After the drill was completed, we were ready to leave at 17:00. Most everyone lined up on the open decks to watch the departure. The parents and relatives that came were all lined up on the roof of the port terminal. Michael Mariant was set up to take a series of images from Deck 7 that will be combined into a time-lapsed video for the entire Fall 2012 Voyage.

Weather permitting I plan to take an early morning image during dawn or sunrise, and an evening image at sunset or during dusk. I did this exercise during the previous two Enrichment voyages on the MV Explorer, and got images with great colors.

Sunrise over the Lighthouse Island in Halifax Harbor from the M/V Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10-30 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 16.3 mm, f/4.2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunrise over the Lighthouse Island in Halifax Harbor from the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10-30 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 16.3 mm, f/4.2, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sailboat and Lighthouse in the Halifax Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 93.5 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Watercolor effect applied using a Topaz Simplify/Painterly filter. (David J Mathre)

Evacuation/Lifeboat Drill. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera (ISO 400, 4.3 mm, f/4, 1/15 sec) (David J Mathre)

M/V Explorer Departure from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre) — MV Explorer Departure from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunset Day 1 Fall Semester at Sea Voyage from Deck 7 of the M/V Explorer in the Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunset from Deck 7 of the MV Explorer in the Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 10 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)