Six-Years Ago (10-June-2007) — New Jersey

New Jersey Springtime Nature: Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Canada Geese Couple + Two Goslings. Pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 280 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

Two + Two Synchronized Swim. Two Canadian Geese + Two Goslings. Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 280 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). . (David J Mathre)
Two + Two Synchronized Swim. Two Canadian Geese + Two Goslings. Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 280 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). . (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (11-May-2012) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Tree Swallow watching its nest at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. 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 camera with a 35 mm sensor.

Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Sourland Mountain Nature Preserve in New Jersey. 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). (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (09-May-2007) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

One of my favorite grab images from 2007. Jumping rabbit caught in mid-air. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR + TCE-II 14 (ISO 400, 420 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). Reprocessed, monochrome and one color.

Jumping Rabbit. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 300 mm f/2.8 VR + TCE-II 14 (ISO 400, 420 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Jumping Rabbit. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR + TCE-II 14 (ISO 400, 420 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (09-April-2013) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Now that the temperatures are warming, the critters are coming out of hibernation. The latest are these flying ants. They are actually rather lethargic so good subjects for macro images. The jaws and teeth look like the creature from Aliens.

Flying Ant with the Jaws from Aliens. Indoor Spring Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Flying Ant with the Jaws from Aliens. Indoor Spring Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Flying Ant with the Jaws from Aliens. Indoor Spring Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Flying Ant with the Jaws from Aliens. Indoor Spring Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with ring flash. (David J Mathre)

Monday (08-April-2013) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

When I woke up this morning, I saw this large spider on the floor of my bedroom. I haven’t seen spiders of this size in the house recently. I guess that it is finding something to eat. From one view, this spider appears to be working on an ant (or wasp). To get the close up I had to get down low and for one of the images had the camera on the floor and used the “live view” image on the back of the camera to frame and focus. I need to get the wireless with the camera working so I can work from my Surface Pro tablet computer.

Indoor Spider. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec) and ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Indoor Spider. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec) and ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Indoor Spider. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec) and ring flash. (David J Mathre)
Indoor Spider. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec) and ring flash. (David J Mathre)