Two-Years Ago (28-May-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Tufted Titmouse upside down on a Holly Branch. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/3.2, 1/500 sec).

Tufted Titmouse Upside Down. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/3.2, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse Upside Down. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/3.2, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (23-May-2014) — New Jersey. 

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Rhododendron Bloom after a Rainstorm. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus.

I just got back from a birding photography trip to southern Texas and hoped that I would see the Rhododendron blooming this spring. The only blooms are the ones higher than the deer can reach.

Rhododendron Blooms. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus. (David J Mathre)
Rhododendron Blooms. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus. (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (19-May-2012) — New Jersey

Springtime in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I had gone for a walkabout at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. There was a family of Canada Geese swimming in the pond near the parking lot. After trying a number of different angles, I finally managed to catch them in formation. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 adapter + 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). FOV = 540 mm with a 35 mm sensor.

Two Canadian Geese + Seven Goslings. Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 adapter + 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). FOV = 540 mm with a 35 mm sensor. (David J Mathre)
Two Canadian Geese + Seven Goslings. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 adapter + 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (11-May-2012) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body.

Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body. (David J Mathre)
Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body. (David J Mathre)

Friday (09-May-2014) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). For years the deer have decimated my Azalea plants during the winter. This spring I removed the old dead plants. Yesterday, I noticed these blooms only a couple of inches off the ground on some volunteer Azalea plants. If you look close in the left flower, there is a caterpillar looking for lunch.

Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). For years the deer have decimated my Azalea plants during the winter. This spring I removed the old dead plants. Yesterday, I noticed these blooms only a couple of inches off the ground on some volunteer Azalea plants. If you look close in the left flower, there is a caterpillar looking for lunch. (David J Mathre)
Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). (David J Mathre)