Twelve-Years Ago (22-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 2: Oslo to Bergen.

On Day 2 we herded the group and all of the luggage to the train station using public transportation. We then boarded the Bergen Railway high-speed train from Oslo to Bergen. All of these images were taken while on the train. The train stops at the highest point on the line at Finse (1222 meters above sea level). When we got to Bergen there was a bit of a glitch. The hotel where we were supposed to be staying didn’t have any records of our reservation. The hotel knew they had a problem with 20+ folks with luggage sitting in the lobby. After several hours of discussions and phone calls rooms were found for everyone. By then it was too late to see much of Bergen.

Train Conductor Signaling the Oslo to Bergen Train to Go. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Train Conductor Signaling the Oslo to Bergen Train to Go. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Church Steeple from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 310 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Church Steeple from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 310 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Winter View from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4.8, 1/90 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Winter View from the Oslo to Bergen Train. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4.8, 1/90 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Steam Rising. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Steam Rising. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Snow Making Machine. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/6.3. 1/160 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Snow Making Machine. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/6.3. 1/160 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Cabin in Norway. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Cabin in Norway. Image taken on the train from Oslo to Bergen Norway winter of 2007. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 175 mm, f/8. 1/250 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Conductor on the Bergen Railroad at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Conductor on the Bergen Railroad at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 10.5 mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens (ISO 100, 10.5 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Bergen Railroad Engine at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 ens (ISO 100, 28 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Bergen Railroad Engine at Finse, Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 ens (ISO 100, 28 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Stream in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)
Winter Stream in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 28-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 70 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec) (David J. Mathre)

At the time of the 2007 trip I only had a DSLR for about 6 months. There were many things about it I didn’t know – I was very early in the learning curve. By reviewing and analyzing the old images, I learn from my mistakes. When I look at the images that I took during that trip I cringe knowing that I could have done a better job – composition, exposure, focus, etc. I typically include camera settings with the description to help when I analyze the images. Since then cameras have improved significantly. Likewise the software used to process the images has improved. The new software lets me fix or improve the older images, and in some cases I have reprocessed the images.

Eleven-Years Ago (22-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Winter Vacation. Day 2: Railroad from Oslo to Bergen.

On Day 2 we herded the group and all of the luggage to the train station using public transportation. We then boarded the Bergen Railway high-speed train from Oslo to Bergen. All of these images were taken while on the train. The train stops at the highest point on the line at Finse (1222 meters above sea level). When we got to Bergen there was a bit of a glitch. The hotel where we all were supposed to be staying didn’t have any records of our reservation. The hotel knew they had a problem with 20+ folks with luggage sitting in the lobby. After several hours of discussions and phone calls rooms were found for everyone. By then it was too late to see much of Bergen.

Train Spotting: Euro Shuttle SKD-226.31 Engine viewed while traveling from Oslo to Bergen. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. (David J Mathre)
Train Spotting: Euro Shuttle SKD-226.31 Engine viewed while traveling from Oslo to Bergen. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 10.5 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. (David J Mathre)


Two-Years Ago (08-August-2014) — Finland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 69: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Reindeer and Sammi Field Trip.

Sun Going Down Over Rural Finland from the Overnight Rovaniemi to Helsinki Train. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC.

Sun Going Down Over Rural Finland from the Overnight Rovaniemi to Helsinki Train. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)
Sun Going Down Over Rural Finland from the Overnight Rovaniemi to Helsinki Train. Image taken with a Fuji XT1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (07-August-2014) — Finland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 68: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Reindeer and Santa Claus Field Trip to Rovaniemi, Finland.

Late at night (04:43) they finally found an empty berth on the sleeper car on the overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. I got to share a sleeper berth with the picture of a Dog rather than a Bed. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 7, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

Sleeper room signs on the overnight train to Rovaniemi. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sleeper room signs on the overnight train to Rovaniemi. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (06-August-2014) – Finland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 67: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki Train Station. Field trip to Rovaniemi. Waiting to board an overheated (35°C) overnight train. We were supposed to get a sleeper car, but instead were put on an out of date car attached to the end of the train that didn’t have air conditioning. I expect they never thought it gets hot in Finland.


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