Five-Years Ago (23-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2008 Florida Road Trip. Day 2: St. Petersburg.

Osprey Flyby Showing Off Its Catch to Attract a Mate. Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec).

Osprey with Fish for Breakfast at Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Osprey with Fish for Breakfast at Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens with TC-E 20 II teleconverter (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (05-June-2013) — Russia

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 40: St. Petersburg, Russia.

Kronstadt Lighthouse and St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt on Kotlin Island.  Viewed from the deck of the MV Explorer while leaving St. Petersburg, Russia. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec).

Kronstadt Lighthouse and Naval Cathedral on Kotlin Island on the Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 80-400 mm VRII lens ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). Viewed from the MV Explorer while leaving St. Petersburg, Russia. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage (David J Mathre)
Kronstadt Lighthouse and Naval Cathedral on Kotlin Island on the Gulf of Finland. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 80-400 mm VRII lens ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec). Viewed from the MV Explorer while leaving St. Petersburg, Russia. (David J Mathre)

Monday (03-June-2013) — Russia

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 38: St. Petersburg, Russia.

Joe & Liz at a Fruit & Vegetable Stand in St. Petersburg Russia. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 6.7-13 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 13 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) and Processed with Capture One 7 Pro.

Fruit & Vegetable Stand in St. Petersburg Russia. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 6.7-13 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 13 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) and Processed with Capture One 7 Pro. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage. (David J Mathre)
Fruit & Vegetable Stand in St. Petersburg Russia. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 6.7-13 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 13 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) and Processed with Capture One 7 Pro. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (06-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 3: Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg.

When I woke up this morning and looked out from the balcony of my room at the Vinoy hotel it was foggy. I couldn’t even see the St. Petersburg Pier that I had been taking images for a time-lapsed video the previous night. I had hoped to go to Fort De Soto park for both sunrise and bird photography today — but it was way too foggy. Initially I could barely see the palm trees. At 11 AM, I still couldn’t see the Pier.

Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg from a Balcony at the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Foggy Morning in St. Petersburg from a Balcony at the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). Converted to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)

Saturday (05-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2013 Road Trip. Day 2: St. Petersburg.

While visiting my parents in St. Petersburg, I found this Crab Spider on her web. I had never seen a crab spider during all the years that I lived in Florida. The first one I saw, eating a fly was at Selby Gardens a few years ago 26-December-2006. Now it seems that I see one every time I visit Florida.

Underside of a Crab Spider on its web. Urban garden nature in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 105 mm f/2.8G VR macro lens + SB-910 flash (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Underside of a Crab Spider on its web. Urban garden nature in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 105 mm f/2.8G VR macro lens + SB-910 flash (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)