summer - David Mathre Photography

Tuesday (09-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Backyard Deer Nursery. The deer population in New Jersey is out of control. Because of all of the damage to gardens and shrubbery, deer have been labeled “rats with hooves”. The only natural predator of deer in New Jersey, and many other states is the automobile (been there, done that, don’t want to do it again). On the other hand, let nature be — and use it as a subject to photograph.

When I got home this evening, there was a Doe working the shrubbery on my driveway. Further down the driveway I saw a Buck (with a larger rack) and two fawns resting in the shade. I got a few images out of the car window, but nothing special. When I went onto the deck to check on my tomatoes, I saw many Fawns and a Doe. By the time I got the camera up the Seven Fawns started running to their den mother. When I tell folks that I can come home and find a dozen deer in my yard, they often roll their eyes in disbelief. Tonight there were a dozen all viewed with 30 minutes. The following “grab” images are of the seven Fawns and their den mother.

Goggle+ For anyone still reading this, it was about a year ago that my Facebook account was hacked and started sending out a lot of junk in my name. It also appeared that my computer was compromised and was sending a lot of data to external sites. The only way I could stop it was to delete my FB account, and restore my computer hard drive to a point several days earlier. It was at that point that I started my “image of the day” photoblog using WordPress and PhotoShelter. A few days ago, I got an invite to join the beta of Google Plus (Google+ or G+). So far it looks interesting. I don’t think that it will replace my “image of the day” photoblog.

Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre) — Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec).

Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre) — Seven Fawns Running and the Den Mother Doe in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 72 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec).

I’m getting tired of doing deer and need a new subject. Thoughts? Reply as a comment or send me an e-mail.

Monday (08-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Young Fawn Hiding in the Woods. When I got home, I saw the rabbit in the same location as this morning. I then saw this fawn hiding in the woods. Its mother left it in the shade. It stayed perfectly still nearly camouflaged while I took some pictures. It was relatively dark in the shade, and I had to push the ISO to 1600. Even then, the exposure times were 1/25 and 1/40 sec. It is a good thing that the lens has VR such that I could get a relatively sharp image.

Fawn Hiding in the Woods. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre) — Fawn Hiding in the Woods. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec).

Fawn Hiding in the Woods. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec). (David J Mathre) — Fawn Hiding in the Woods. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec).

Monday (08-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Cicada Invasion. The last few weeks it has been very loud as the male cicadas sing their song. I can hear them, but have not climbed high enough in the trees to get some images. I did notice a large number of holes in the ground below one of my Maple trees. Following up the tree trunk, I did find a number of cicada exoskeletons from their final molt. Based on the dried mud on the exoskeleton, they must have climbed out of the ground just after the last rain storm.

Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec) (David J Mathre) — Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec)

Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt on a Maple Leaf. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro + TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/45, 1/60 sec) and SB900 flash. (David J Mathre) — Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt on a Maple Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro + TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/45, 1/60 sec) and SB900 flash.

Cicada Tunnel Exit. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 145 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre) — Cicada Tunnel Exit. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1250, 145 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec).

Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/511, 1/60 sec) and pop-up flash. (David J Mathre) — Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/511, 1/60 sec) and pop-up flash.

Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro + TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/22, 1/60 sec) and SB900 flash. (David J Mathre) — Cicada Exoskeleton Post Final Molt. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro + TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/22, 1/60 sec) and SB900 flash.

Wednesday (03-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

This is the doe that was on the other side of my car last evening when I was taking the pictures of the fawn. I actually took this image while still sitting in the car with the Leica D-Lux 5 point & shoot after lowering the window. The quality is OK for recording the moment, but is not the same as the images of the fawn taken with Nikon D700 DSLR camera.

The tomato plants on my deck were looking much better after being watered last night and the light rain this evening. The big plants now have flowers, but have not set yet. The grape or cherry plants have many green tomatoes that have set. I didn’t get images today to show the progress of the plants because it was raining, but will try tomorrow.

Wary Doe Looking at Me. Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 200, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Wary Doe Looking at Me. Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 200, 19.2 mm, f/3.3, 1/125 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

Tuesday (02-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

I was just reminded Monday by one of my VP’s at work that just got a Nikon D700 camera of a comment “The Best Camera is the Camera You Have With You”. I’ve seen similar comments elsewhere, and I think there is a book with this as the title where all of the images were taken with a iPhone.

I try to keep a camera with me at all times. Some times it is difficult with restrictions of having a camera at work (but then how many folks now have cell-phones with a camera). Not counting my phone, I like to have a Leica X1 or Leica D-Lux 5 for a small camera, and a Nikon D300 camera with a 18-200 mm telephoto lens or a Nikon D700 camera with a 28-300 mm telephoto lens (with or near me at all times). There are issues with keeping even a digital camera in a car during the summer when the interior temperatures can get very hot. I have considered using a cooler (but worry about condensation). There are also electronic coolers, but I need to figure out how they can process and send excess heat out side of the vehicle. Maybe during the summer I need to be driving my RoadTrek White Ram more often.

I am glad that I had the Nikon D700 camera with the 28-300 mm telephoto lens with me today. Just as I got home and started down my driveway I saw a Doe on one side of the car and a young Fawn with spots on the other side. I slowly got out and got the following images of the Inquisitive Fawn. I kept looking behind me to make sure that the Doe didn’t think I was getting too close and charge me. These may not be the highest resolution images that I could have made with a pro D3/D3s/D3x camera and 400/500/600 mm lens and tripod — but were what I got with the camera with me.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 800, 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) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 280, 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) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 280, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 720, 98 mm, f/5.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 720, 98 mm, f/5.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 560, 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) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 560, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 640, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 640, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.

Inquisitive Fawn. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 1400, 150 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre) — Inquisitive Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm lens (ISO 1400, 150 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define 2, and Photoshop CS5.