Michael S. Liberman

Apr

20

Author:
Michael

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Galápagos Day 2: Quito Landmarks

We began our day of Quito sightseeing with a visit to El Panecillo and view of Quito from above the city.

Quito, the capitol of Ecuador, seen from El Panecillo
Quito, Ecuador • 0°13’46.10″ S 78°31’5.16″ W
Nikon D600 • Nikkor 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6 at 70 mm • ISO 100 • 1/500 sec at f/5.0

Next we walked Quito’s Old City …

On Calle de la Ronda on the Quito ‘Old City’ walk
Quito, Ecuador • 0°13’25.91″ S 78°30’54.13″ W
Nikon D600 • Nikkor 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6 at 300 mm • ISO 100 • 1/250 sec at f/5.6

… and saw Independence Plaza, Government Palace, San Francisco Church, and the beautiful Santa Domingo Church.

Inside the Santa Domingo Church on the Quito ‘Old City’ walk
Quito, Ecuador • 0°13’26.99″ S 78°30’45.33″ W
Nikon D600 • Nikkor 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6 at 32 mm • ISO 3600 • 1/250 sec at f/3.5

After an hour long bus ride across the city we had a late, but authentic, lunch at Restaurante Cochabamba. Our last stop today was the equator and a chance to stand in both the northern and southern hemisphere at Mitad del Mundo – the equator monument.

Mitad del Mundo – the Middle of the World
Quito, Ecuador • 0°0’8.86″ S 78°27’19.77″ W
Nikon D600 • Nikkor 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6 at 28 mm • ISO 100 • 1/1600 sec at f/3.5

We’re heading out to dinner soon. Early tomorrow morning we fly to San Cristobal Island and begin to explore the Galápagos Islands!

Apr

19

Author:
Michael

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Galápagos Day 1: Dulles to Quito

After a long day of travel we have arrived in Quito, Ecuador. It’s about 10:45p, on Friday night and pretty foggy on an early fall evening in the Southern Hemisphere. Heading to our Quito hotel now. Great sunset on the way here over the Gulf of Mexico.

On board United flight 1035 from Houston to Quito
• 26°26’14.33″ N 93°27’37.65″ W
Nikon D600 • Nikkor 28-300 mm f/3.5-5.6 at 28 mm • ISO 100 • 1/1600 sec at f/3.5

Apr

6

Author:
Michael

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Current Gear 2013

Here is the current set of gear …

… and the complete gear list:

FX Body Nikon
D600 24 MP DSLR

FX Zoom Lenses
NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D IF-ED – Wide Angle Zoom
AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR – Standard Zoom
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II – Telephoto Zoom
AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR – Travel Zoom

FX Prime Lenses
AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED – Wide Angle Prime
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G – Normal Prime

DX Body
Nikon D7000 16 MP DSLR

DX Zoom Lenses
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED – Wide Angle Zoom
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED – Standard Zoom

Support
Gitzo GT2541 Series 2 Carbon 6X4 Section Tripod
Markins Q-Ball Q10 Ballhead
Gitzo GM5561T Traveler 6x Carbon Fiber Monopod
Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight
Luma Labs Cinch Camera Strap

Post-Production
Mac Pro 3.33 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop
Final Cut Pro X

Apr

29

Author:
Michael

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Greece-Turkey Day 9: Athens

Disembarkation from the Louis Cristal is at 7 a.m., so the group gets an early start. Our first destination is Cape Sounion, the southernmost part of mainland Greece …

The Aegean Sea from Cape Sounion
Laurium, Greece • 37°39’0.20″ N 24°1’28.33″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 19 mm • ISO 100 • 1/250 sec at f/11

… and the site of the Temple of Poseidon.

The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
Laurium, Greece • 37°39’0.20″ N 24°1’28.33″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 19 mm • ISO 100 • 1/200 sec at f/11

Then we head back to Athens to see the Acropolis, including the Erechtheion (and the Porch of the Caryatids), the Parthenon, and the Theatre of Dionysus.

The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
Laurium, Greece • 37°39’0.20″ N 24°1’28.33″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 19 mm • ISO 100 • 1/200 sec at f/11
Walking tour of the Acropolis
Athens, Greece • 37°58’16.72″ N 23°43’34.42″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 17 mm • ISO 100 • 1/250 sec at f/11
The Erechtheum on the Acropolis
Athens, Greece • 37°58’16.72″ N 23°43’34.42″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 48 mm • ISO 100 • 1/200 sec at f/11
The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens
Athens, Greece • 37°58’16.72″ N 23°43’34.42″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 17 mm • ISO 100 • 1/250 sec at f/11

Next we walk through the Plaka at the base of the Acropolis, stopping for lunch at Ta Youvetsakia, and meeting the friendly neighborhood butcher – who was happy to chat and didn’t want to charge for a picture.

A butcher shop in the Plaka in Athens
Athens, Greece • 37°58’17.64″ N 23°43’49.17″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 40 mm • ISO 100 • 1/50 sec at f/2.8

The final stop on our trip is the changing of the guard at Parliament.

The Greek Parliament Building in Athens
Athens, Greece • 37°58’31.24″ N 23°44’10.01″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 17 mm • ISO 100 • 1/4000 sec at f/2.8

Then to the Hotel Stanley for an early dinner and a great view of Athens from the roof top.

Athens at night from the Hotel Stanley
Athens, Greece • 37°59’8.55″ N 23°43’15.95″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 24 mm f/1.4 • ISO 100 • 1/5 sec at f/2.2

It’s an early night. Tomorrow I have a 3 a.m. wake up call for the return flight to Dulles via Munich. Time to plan the next adventure. Maybe the Galapagos Islands?

Apr

28

Author:
Michael

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