Monday (07-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Although it was cold this morning when I woke up, I noticed some colorful clouds developing just before sunrise. I went out with a Fuji X-T2 camera and a 8-16 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens. I took a number of shots to create this dawn panorama.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Colorful Clouds at Dawn. Composite of ten images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 8-16 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (06-January-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a hairy spider while checking the hydroponic herb garden. I hope it goes after the tiny bugs nibbling on my basil leaves. I am not sure if the tiny bugs are nymph forms of the stink bug or something else. I also got a shot of the small pink flower on the cactus.



alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Pink Cactus Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/15 sec). (David J Mathre)

Saturday (05-January-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

The herb plants (basil, thyme, parsley, dill, mint) in the hydroponic garden are all bigger. I added about 2 liters of water and 8 mL of the nutrient solution to each garden after returning from Florida. I noticed some small black dots on the bottom of the basil leaves. Looking closer through a macro lens, the dots are tiny bugs. One type looks like nymph versions of Stink Bugs and another type looks like Aphids.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Hydroponic Herb Garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tiny Bugs Eating a Basil Leaf. Hydroponic Herb Garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens. (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Wood Stork Wading Along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Wood Stork along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)