Saturday (27-February-2010) — California

Photography Workshop “Yosemite in Winter: A Season of Contrast” with Michael Mariant. Day 3: Yosemite National Park.

Images from Day 3 of the 2010″Yosemite in Winter: A Season of Contrast” photography workshop with Michael Mariant. Most of the day it snowed and rained in the valley. At the end of the day, several of us were working on images in the recently renovated Curry Village Lounge. Someone came in and said go outside at look at Half Dome as it was being lit up with a sunset glow. The only camera I had with me was the D3x that had been acting up with electronic problems. I had minimal control of aperture and shutter speed, but still got some amazing images.

Half Dome at Sunset from Curry Village in Yosemite National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Half Dome at Sunset from Curry Village in Yosemite National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 50 mm f/1.4G lens (ISO 100, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Sunday (20-December-2009) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 5: Rainbow then Moon from the Beach.

This was my last day in Maui. Not much time for photography while I attended talks and a poster session at the meeting. I definitely want to return to Hawaii. I saw a great rainbow from the balcony in my room at the Maui Westin Hotel. The rooms with a view inland didn’t cost as much as the rooms with a view of the ocean. My final image is a post sunset view of the moon from the beach. Did I say I want to return to Hawaii.

Rainbow over Maui. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/16, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Rainbow over Maui. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/16, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hawaii Day 5 (David J Mathre)
Hawaii Day 5 (David J Mathre)

Friday (18-December-2009) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 3: Haleakala National Park.

I left the meeting early to get to the Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park for sunset. When I got to the parking lot I saw this bird, which I later identified as a Chukar. The elevation  is about 10,000 feet, and as the sun went down it got windy and cold fast. The thermometer on my GPS indicated 30°F, and I only had a light windbreaker. I didn’t think to carry cold weather gear for the trip to Hawaii. I did get several great images of the sunset over the nearby Haleakala Air Force Satellite tracking station and observatories.

Chukar, Haleakalua National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chukar, Haleakalua National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu'U'Ula'Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)
Sunset over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). Photomatix HDR (5 images) (David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu'U'Ula'Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama over Haleakala Satellite Tracking Station from Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (05-October-2008) — California

Gone to See America October 2008 Road Trip. Eighth Annual Nikonian Photography Adventure Trip. Day 1: Yosemite National Park.

Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. There were many photographers (in addition to the Nikonian group) lined up at the Tunnel View parking lot to photograph sunset. Many left thinking nothing was going to happen, then all of a sudden sunlight came in from the west under the clouds  to light up both sides of the valley with this incredible orange color. I think that the mist down in the valley is smoke from campers cooking dinner.

 (David J Mathre)
Sunset Panorama of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24 mm PC-E lens (ISO 800, f/16, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)