Five-Years Ago (21-June-2008) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey: Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Female Red-Winged Blackbird with an Insect. First Day of Summer at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec).

Female Red-Winged Blackbird with an Insect. First Day of Summer at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Female Red-Winged Blackbird with an Insect. First Day of Summer at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

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)

Four-Years Ago (01-March-2009) — New Jersey

Late Winter Nature in New Jersey. Snowy Day at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I went for a walk at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve. It was snowing, a late winter storm. The long winding road is the right-of-way for a cross-country high-pressure gas line. The other images are of cattail, a pair of Mallard ducks swimming in a pond, and tree bark coated with snow.

Long Winding Road. Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 26 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Long Winding Road. Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 26 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 130 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 130 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Mallard Pair Swimming in a Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Mallard Pair Swimming in a Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Snow on Tree Bark During a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Snow on Tree Bark During a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)

Wednesday (12-December-2012) — New Jersey

Late-Autumn Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

The mirror-less Nikon 1 V1 (N1V1) camera has been upgraded to the Nikon 1 V2 (N1V2). The first thing that I noticed about the N1V2 is that it is smaller than the N1V1. Ergonomically, it is easier to handle. The mode selector has been moved to the top — it was on the back of the N1V1 in a position that was too easy to accidentally change modes. A couple of negatives – the battery is new, and lower capacity than the battery in the N1V1. Also, the interval timer mode has disappeared. I won’t be able to take time-lapse videos with this camera. I took the camera out for a walk at the Sourland Mountain Preserve this morning and caught this Mallard duck taking off from the pond. I don’t know if it plans to stay for the winter, or is about to go south.

Male Mallard Duck Taking Off from a Pond in the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). TIFF image process with Capture One Pro 7. (David J. Mathre)
Male Mallard Duck Taking Off from a Pond in the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). TIFF image process with Capture One Pro 7. (David J. Mathre)