Monday (23-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Afternoon stretch following the thunderstorms. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). This rabbit is pushing the minimum focus distance for this lens…

Afternoon Stretch Following the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Afternoon stretch following the thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (19-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Night Sky Over New Jersey.

Waxing Gibbous – Nearly Full Moon Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). Handheld using the lens optical image stabilization (OIS).

Waxing gibbous (nearly full) moon. Backyard night sky in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Waxing gibbous (nearly full) moon. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (19-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

The new Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR telephoto lens arrived this afternoon. It was not available before the Semester at Sea voyage. I took it out for a few shots while the sun was still out. My initial impression is favorable. The Fuji X-T1 camera and new lens is about 1 kg lighter than a corresponding Nikon D4 and 80-400mm VRII lens. The Fuji lens does not focus as fast as the Nikon lens, but the focus appears to accurate. I will take it out to the Sourland Preserve this weekend for some field testing. I do want to see if the focus will be fast enough to catch birds in flight.

Cluster of rhododendron flowers. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/14, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Cluster of rhododendron flowers. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/14, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (19-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

A Tiny Chipping Sparrow Walked into My Field of View. Thom Hogan calls little birds like this LBJ’s (little brown jobs). I think it is eating the wildflower seeds I put out in my garden yesterday. Since I was on the Semester at Sea Spring 2016 voyage I didn’t get home until it was late for planting wildflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Chipping sparrow. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chipping sparrow.  Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (18-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Thanks to Mary Sperley for help with the identification. I remember seeing them when growing up in the woods in Minnesota. I didn’t know that I have them in my backyard — and that they are native wildflowers that apparently the deer don’t eat.

Jack in the Pulpit flower. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 500, 60 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)