Troll - David Mathre Photography

Friday (23-December-2022) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime in New Jersey.

Yesterday it rained most of the day. Then during the night, the temperature rose with more wind and rain. By noon the temperature was dropping rapidly, and for a short period there was heavy wind and blowing snow. That is when I got a picture of the Santa Nisse meditating before Christmas.

Meditating Santa. (David J Mathre) — Meditating Santa wishing for a white Christmas. Image taken with a Hasselblad X2D camera and 90 mm f/3.5 lens (ISO 64, 90 mm, f/4, 16 sec). (David J Mathre)

Just after astronomical twilight the sky was clear long enough to capture enough images of the Orion Galaxy (M42) using the Vespera astro-camera. After that the clouds came back with cold wind and blowing snow. The Vespera seems to handle 7°F (-14°C). I do leave the Vespera outside for 15 minutes to equilibrate before running the automatic initialization and autofocus. Then when done for the night, put a plastic bag around the Vespera before bringing it inside to minimize condensation.

Orion Nebula (M42). (David J Mathre) — Orion Nebula (M42). Composite of 258 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera Camera (200 mm, f/4, 10 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro and Topaz Photo AI. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (92.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (2.9 kWh) from Sense. Rain and clouds. Deficit of 90.0 kWh. Once the outside temperatures drop below 10°F, the GeoThermal HVAC system requires additional resistance heating to maintain the inside temperature at 66°F.

Wednesday (02-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, Eastern Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

I noticed the Purple Crocus starting to bloom across the street. It is not the earliest, but still a sign that spring is coming.

Spring is Coming!. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

One of the indoor Hydroponic Garden California Poppies started to bloom (Day 45). This one is bright Red. Normally, I think of California Poppies as being yellow or orange. The final Bok Choi (Day 46) is ready to harvest.

Indoor Hydroponic Garden. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The Troll with the Hot Peppers guarding my mailbox. It survived the winter without being hit by the snow plows.

Mailbox Troll. (David J Mathre) — Mailbox Troll with Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (82.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (54.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Deficit of 28.0 kWh.

Friday (08-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The Troll family found some large mushrooms growing in the black wood mulch, and decided to have an autumn harvest party.

Troll Family Autumn Mushroom Harvest Celebration. (David J Mathre) — Troll Family Autumn Mushroom Harvest Celebration. Image taken with a Leica S2 camera and 24-90 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Cosmos, Morning Glory, Partridge Pea, Rose Mallow, Zinnia.

Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Two different types of frogs. A well camouflaged Pickerel frog in the yard, and a Green frog (Kermit) in the pond. Apparently, the Pickerel frog is the only poisonous frog in North America.

Frogs of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (46.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 14.6 kWh.

Monday (05-April-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Meditating Troll. (David J Mathre) — Meditating Troll waiting for the mail. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Morning visitors to the backyard and patio birdfeeder: Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.

Daily backyard visitors. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early Spring Flowers. A variety of Daffodils. Forsythia that the deer didn’t get. Still waiting on the Tulips (and hoping the deer stay away)

Early Spring Flowers (portrait mode). Images taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early Spring Flowers (landscape mode). Images taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Geothermal HVAC system still on part of the day. A surplus of 27.2 kWh.

Four-Years Ago (24-October-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Backyard Nisse with a Mushroom.

Backyard Nisse with Mushroom. (David J Mathre) — Backyard Nisse with a Fall Mushroom. Composite of 24 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/3, 1/640 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and the image stack processed with Helicon Focus. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (15.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy. Geothermal HVAC system turned on to heat the house. Forced air dehydrator on to dry end of season hot peppers. A deficit of 29.9 kWh.