Tuesday (30-May-2017) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Several more Poppy blooms appeared this morning. I took four inside to make high resolution focus stacked images. Two red, one pink, and one orange. The images were taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) with two SB-900 flashes (TTL, EV -1). The camera is mounted on a Kirk focusing track. Images were taken over 5-7 cm range in 0.5 or 0.25 cm increments. The composite focus stacked images were created using Helicon Focus using the method A (average), method B (depth map), and method C (pyramid)


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

Monday (29-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

This morning there were two very large woodpeckers working a tree in my backyard. When I checked the pictures in my National Audubon Field Guide I was able to identify these as Pileated Woodpeckers. I hope they stick around for awhile so I can get some closer pictures. These images were taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens, and are zoomed in as 100% crops. Later on when I was cooking dinner, I saw Harvey the rabbit in my wildflower garden. The electric fence only has wires at levels to keep the deer out. I may have to add a lower wire — or hope that there are more wildflowers than Harvey can eat.

Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (David J Mathre, David J Mathre)
Pileated Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens ( David J Mathre)
Harvey the Rabbit in my wildflower garden/meadow. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken wi th a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/50 sec). The image is fuzy because it was taken through a window and screen. (© 2017 David J Mathre)
Harvey the Rabbit in my wildflower garden/meadow.  Image taken wi th a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/50 sec). The image is fuzy because it was taken through a window and screen. (David J Mathre)


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

Sunday (28-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Several more Red Poppies bloomed as well as some smaller Icelandic Poppies. The Rhododendron flowers are beginning to fad, with lots of pink petals on the ground. I don’t know the ID of the purple, blue, or yellow wildflowers. Any help would be appreciated. The only non-flower picture is one of a carpenter bee drilling a hole in my house.


Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

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)