Eleven-Years Ago (29-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Winter Vacation. Day 9: Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Båtsfjord to Kirkenes) then Southbound (Kirkenes to Berlevåg).

On the sixth and final day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the MS Kong Harald stopped in four ports: Båtsfjord (00:30-01:00); Vardø (04:00-04:15); Vadsø (07:30-08:00); and Kirkenes (09:45-12:45). After spending 3 hours in Kirkenes, the ship turned around and began the southbound voyage stopping at three ports: Vardø (16:00-17:00); Båtsfjord (20:00-20:30); and Berlevåg (22:15-22:30). All but three from our group disembarked at Kirkenes to return to Florida.

Gone to See Norway Mathre Family Winter Vacation 2007 (David J. Mathre)
Gone to See Norway Mathre Winter Vacation 2007 (David J. Mathre)


Eleven-Years Ago (28-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Winter Vacation. Day 8: Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Øksfjord to Berlevåg).

On the fifth day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the ship stops in seven ports: Øksfjord (02:00-02:15); Hammerfest (05:15-06:45); Havøsund (09:30-09:45); Honningsvåg (11:45-15:15); Kjøllefjord (17:30-17:45); Mehamn (19:30-20:00); and Berlevåg (22:30-22:45).

 (Erik Mathre)
(Erik Mathre)


Eleven-Years Ago (27-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Winter Vacation. Day 7: Northbound Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald Norwegian Coastal Voyage (Stokmarkenes to Skjervøy).

On the fourth day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the ship stops in seven ports: Stokmarkenes (00:45-01:00); Sortland (02:30-03:00); Risøyhamm (04:15-04:30); Harstad (06:45-08:00); Finnsnes (11:15-11:45); Tromsø (14:30-18:30); and Skjervøy (22:30-22:45). As we move farther north, the amount of time that the sun is up keeps decreasing. It was almost 11 AM when I took the first image in this post. By the time we arrived Tromsø later in the afternoon it was already dark. In Tromsø several from our group went dog sledding. After the ride we had coffee in a Sami tent (lavvu). At the end of the day back on the ship I got to play King Neptune for the “Crossing the Arctic Circle” ceremony. The Captain of the Ship and King Neptune baptized those that had crossed the Arctic circle for the first time with ice water. For those that cross the equator for the first time the ceremony requires that they get their head shaved and kiss a fish.

Coffee Warming By a Wood Fire after the Dog Sled Trip Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec).. (David J Mathre)
Coffee Warming By a Wood Fire after the Dog Sled Trip Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec).. (David J Mathre)


Eleven-Years Ago (26-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Winter Vacation. Day 6: Northbound Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald Norwegian Coastal Voyage (Brønnøysund to Svolvær).

On the third full day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the ship stopped in seven ports: Brønnøysund (00:30-01:00); Sandnessjøen (03:45-04:15); Nesna (05:25-05:30); Ørnes (09:00-09:30); Bodø (12:30-15:00); Stamsund (19:00-19:30); and Svolvær (21:00-22:00). We were in Bodø long enough to visit the Norwegian Aviation Museum. Later in the evening, we stopped in Svolvær and went to the world-famous Magic Ice bar. We entered what looked like a warehouse and were provided with warm coats. Inside the building are ice sculptures reflecting the life of the region and fishermen. Before leaving we were provided a drink in a shot glass made of ice.

Picasso Frykt For Bombing. Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø Norway. Image taken on Day 3 of the Northbound Hurtigruten Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 50 mm f/1.4D lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Picasso Frykt For Bombing. Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø Norway. Image taken on Day 3 of the Northbound Hurtigruten Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 50 mm f/1.4D lens (ISO 400, 50 mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)




Thursday (25-January-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Dawn Sky in New Jersey.

There were some subtle colors in the sky at dawn. I used a different camera today — Leica T with a wide-angle zoom lens (11-23 mm). There is significant distortion when the lens is used at 11 mm. For comparison, the first horizontal image is at 11 mm, and the 2nd image is a composite of 5 vertical images at 23 mm.

Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 11 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Composite of 5 image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Composite of 5 image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 13 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Dawn Sky and Clouds in New Jersey from My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 11-23 mm lens (ISO 100, 13 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)



Individual images in the slide-show can be viewed here.