Monday (12-August-2013) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). Lens mounted on a monopod.

I’ve visited the Sourland Mountain Preserve several times since returning from Iceland. There are a couple of patches of Joe Pye weeds that the Yellow (Tiger) Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail butterflies are attracted. I did see one Clearwing Hummingbird Butterfly, but wasn’t quick enough to get a picture. I only saw one thistle in bloom. Didn’t see any Praying Mantis (butterfly predators). Also, only one Monarch Butterfly.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). Lens mounted on a monopod. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). Lens mounted on a monopod. (David J Mathre)

Saturday (10-August-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Single Stalk of Grass. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).

I took a similar image in the autumn six years ago using a macro lens. This time it was with a hand-held telephoto lens.

Single Stalk of Grass. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, /1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Single Stalk of Grass. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (04-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Running Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 900, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Running Fawn Moving and Out of Focus. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 900, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Running Fawn — Moving and Out of Focus. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 900, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (21-July-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Doe with a Tumor on Her Neck (Papilloma Virus?). Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec).

Doe with a Tumor on Her Neck (Papilloma Virus) - Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Doe with a Tumor on Her Neck (Papilloma Virus) – Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (18-July-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Back Side of Sycamore Leaves in Early Morning Light. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Back Side of Sycamore Leaves in Early Morning Light. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Back Side of Sycamore Leaves in Early Morning Light. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)