Gone to See Patagonia 2015 Photography Tour with Thom Hogan. Day 9: Estancia Cristina, Argentina.
Early in the morning I went for a walkabout at Estancia Cristina. I was rewarded by the sky being lit up at dawn. I am always amazed by the colors of the clouds at dawn and dusk in Patagonia. Later in the morning we went for a horse ride to the glacier. Here they required helmets when riding the horses (which was good). A few images of silhouettes with lenticular clouds, and one of a rainbow over the glacier.
Dawn in Patagonia at Estancia Cristina. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)Dawn in Patagonia at Estancia Cristina. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 12 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 12 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)About to go horse ride in Patagonia from Estancia Cristina. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Crossing a glacier stream on a horse in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/11, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)Silhouette and selfie from a horse in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm lens (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/11, 1/120 sec). (David J Mathre)Silhouette and lenticular clouds in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Silhouette and lenticular clouds in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Silhouette and lenticular clouds in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Rainbow over Upsala glacier in Patagonia. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 55 mm, f/16, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
The temperatures dropped from nearly 70°F (~20°C) yesterday to below freezing most of today. It was sunny most of the day, so the solar panels were generating electricity (50.3 kWh). Later in the afternoon some clouds rolled in, and we had a quick snow storm. I went out to get some pictures of the flowers that recently bloomed across the street with the recent snow before the sun went down. I also got some pictures of a turkey vulture soaring above my backyard in the late afternoon sun.
Although my neighbor got lots of maple sap from his trees this year, the tap he put in my maple tree didn’t produce much. Since it did get cold again, I will drill a new hole and see if I get anything. Maybe, my maple tree feels it already gave too much to the cicadas that live for 13 or 17 years under the tree.
After the storm passed, some clouds lit up as the sun went down.
Daffodils after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)Twin daffodils after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)Daffodil bloom after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)Snow drops after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Early blooming purple crocuses after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Maple sap collection bucket after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)South facing solar panels with a light coating of snow. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 70 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)Colorful clouds at sunset after a quick snowstorm. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 29 mm, f/4.4, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)Backyard tree at sunset. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.
I went for a walkabout at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve on a snowy day and took a few pictures. The high-pressure gas-line right of way trail looked open, but I didn’t go very far. There were cattails in the marshy area, and some Mallard ducks swimming in the pond. The ducks usually leave as soon as the more boisterous Canada geese arrive, but on this snowy day the geese stayed away.
Individual images from the slide show can be viewed here.
Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey — Early Flowers and Bees.
An Early sign, spring is coming!! The crocus and daffodil flowers across the street had their first blooms today. A few days ago I saw my neighbor raking the leaves off the section facing the south side of his stone wall. There were a few daffodil plants pushing out of the ground. Today, the first ones started to bloom, along with the purple crocus flowers. The honey bees noticed that there was some saffron to harvest. My daffodil’s are just coming out of the ground — however I noticed that the deer are nibbling on the early sprouts. I thought deer didn’t like daffodil’s — but I guess they are hungry…
Later in the afternoon, the NOAA weather alert on my Garmin radio/GPS went off and announced that a severe thunderstorm was imminent. I set up a camera to record the storm coming through and got one image of some lightning. Soon after the storm, the temperature dropped over 20 degrees.
First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flower with a honey bee across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 235 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flowers across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 148 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flowers across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flower with a honey bee across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flower with a honey bee across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flower with a honey bee across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — First daffodil flower across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flowers across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 153 mm, f/5.6, 1/210 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — First daffodil flower across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 148 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Early crocus flower with a honey bee across the street. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)First Hint of Spring — Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/18, 4 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter returned with more snow. A few images from a walkabout in my yard after digging a path from the house to the road. The snow plows hadn’t been through yet, so I wasn’t going anywhere. The only bird I saw was a White-throated Sparrow. It looked cold, and just wanted the snow to go away.
It snowed last night. This vehicle is covered and won’t be going anywhere soon. I dug a path from the house to the street (but the street hadn’t been cleared yet). Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 48 mm, f/13, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Winter part II. It snowed last night. The RV is covered and won’t be going anywhere soon. The propane tank in the RV is full in case the power goes out. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 31 mm, f/7, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Winter part II. Pine needles peaking up from the snow. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/9, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)White-throated Sparrow wondering when the snow will go away, and it will be spring again. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Winter part II. Drip, drip, drip. Icicles above the front doorway. The gutter is frozen. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
