Winter - David Mathre Photography

Saturday (03-March-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

It took all night before the power line burned through the tree. I was fortunate that my power was restored after about 2 hours. Those further down the street had to wait. Later on, as the sun was setting the western sky lit up. It looks like light from the sun came in under some remnant clouds from the Nor’easter just before setting. I don’t really have a good western view from my backyard. I ended up going all the way back to the section I have cleared for a wildflower meadow. After all the rain and snow for the storm the section is now a muddy field. The sunset panorama is a composite of six images taken with a Leica CL camera and stitched together using AutoPano Giga Pro. Best viewed in full screen mode.

Tree after being burned by power line. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 100, 133 mm, f/4.5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Colored Clouds at Sunset. Composite of six images taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Friday (02-March-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Nor’easter Winter Storm.

The red clouds at dawn yesterday did turn out the be correct in predicting stormy weather. It rained most of last night with heavy winds. By 09:00 the rain started switching to snow. I found a daffodil that was trying too open too early. Also some Snow Drops with fresh snow in the background. By the afternoon, the snow was getting heavy. Then the power went off. I got a text message from PSE&G saying that power was off, and that it should be restored in 12 hours. The power was back in two hours. The snow switched back to rain, and the winds kept getting stronger. A police car and fire truck showed up across the street. One of the power lines was touching a tree and arcing. With a telephoto lens it appeared that the arcing wire was cutting the tree, and that a large branch would ultimately fall to the ground.

A daffodil flower about to open in the middle of a Nor'easter. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — A daffodil flower about to open in the middle of a Nor’easter. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Snow Drops with a bit of snow during a Nor'easter. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 360, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre) — Snow Drops with a bit of snow during a Nor’easter. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 360, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (01-March-2018) — New Jersey

Winter in New Jersey — Red Sky in the Morning.

A Nor’easter is predicted for the next couple of days. I am hoping we are south of the rain/snow line, and that the power doesn’t go out.

Red Sky in the Morning. Composite of seven images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (28-February-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey — Signs that Spring is Coming.

Fiery red clouds at dawn. The sun is rising earlier every morning, and I had to jump out of bed as I saw the colors starting to develop. It gave me a chance to test a new camera before reading any of the manual. The best way to learn is by doing. Later in the day some images of the bird bath statue and some early purple crocus flowers. Not as early as some years, but still early. The daffodils still have a bit to go. There are threats of a Nor’easter tomorrow night through Saturday. I hope it is just rain.

Individual images from the slide shows can be viewed here.

Tuesday (27-February-2018) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey — Spring is Coming.

I noticed that the purple crocus flowers across the street just started to bloom. Early, but not as early as 17-February-2012. It was sunny today, and another reason to check out a new camera. This was also the first day this year that my solar panels produced more electricity than I used.

Individual images can be viewed here.

Pink indoor cactus flowers. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 300 mm f/4 telephoto lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)