Tag: New Jersey

Saturday (27-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

This evening when washing dishes I saw this young buck out the kitchen window checking to see how close he could get to my garden. I quickly got my Fuji X-T2 camera with the 100-400 mm OIS lens to get some pictures. The optical image stabilization (OIS) for this lens really works. The light levels were going down, and I didn’t increase the ISO so these images were taken at 1/15 to 1/45 second — all hand held.

Young buck checking to see if I am looking before going into my garden. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 197 mm, f/6.4, 1/40 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)
Young buck checking to see if I am looking before going into my garden.  Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 197 mm, f/6.4, 1/40 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Five-Years Ago (27-May-2012) — New Jersey

Out of My Comfort Zone.

The second day of a Studio Lighting Workshop with Mike Hagen. I had never done photography with studio lighting before, and I don’t do portraits. Mike hired a model for the workshop. One of my best images of the day was taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera…

Portrait of Ellen at a Nikonians Profoto Studio Lighting Workshop with Mike Hagen in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 400, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Portrait of Ellen at a Nikonians Profoto Studio Lighting Workshop with Mike Hagen in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 400, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (26-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

May has been cool and rainy. It was warmer in April this year. While it has been cool I have been able to expand the sections for my wildflowers. I didn’t spread any new seeds in the 15′ x 30′ section on the east side of the house planted last year to see which perennial, biennial, or self-seeding annual wildflowers would come back. This morning when I got up, it was way too bright outside — the sun was out!!! In addition I noticed the first red poppy flower for this year. Coincidentally, the American Legion has recommended that the Friday before Memorial day be designated National Poppy Day. In the Commonwealth nations, red poppies are used to commemorate Remembrance Day (11-November).

First Red Poppy flower this year. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Composite of 40 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)
First Red Poppy flower this year. Composite of 40 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)
First Red Poppy flower this year. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Composite of 74 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 7.4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)
First Red Poppy flower this year. Composite of 74 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, EV 0). Kirk linear track 1 mm intervals over 7.4 cm. Composite created using Helicon Focus (Method B, R=8, S=4) (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (24-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I spent much of the day preparing a section on the west side of the house for a patch of “Lily of the Valleys” and some other wildflowers. The section is under a tree, and grass doesn’t do very well. There were “Lily of the Valleys” here before, but they were destroyed when the roof was redone a couple years ago. So I rototilled the section, added lime and fertilizer, then drilled ninety 2 inch holes and planted the newly arrived “Lily of the Valley” pips. I hope they make it to bloom next spring. In the past, the deer left them alone. One of the pips had a shoot with flower buds. I took that one inside under the LED grow lights to see if the flower buds would open.

"Lily of the Valley" flower buds. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, 0EV) (David J Mathre)
“Lily of the Valley” flower buds. Image taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, 0EV) (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (23-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Walkabout with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm zoom lens. Rhododendron flowers, wildflower daisies flowers, and poppies buds about to open. My most hated weed — the “Mile-a-Minute” vine. The vine is not native, and was probably brought in by the deer. It gets its name from how fast it grows. In the last few years it has killed and destroyed many of my trees. I am trying to find wildflowers that grow faster and will keep the vine from further expansion. Also, some insect appears to be nibbling on the leaves of the vine — just not fast enough.

My most hated weed -- the "Mile a Minute" vine. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 21 mm, f/5, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
My most hated weed — the “Mile a Minute” vine.  Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 21 mm, f/5, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)


Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.