Early this Saturday morning (3/12/16,) I spent a few hours in the solitude of this lighthouse (by the inlet of the same name,) during its “dark” hours – the time when the only light is from the sweeping Fresnal lens on top.
A special thanks to Jen Khordi, for her remarkable photographic talent and inspiration.
5:02 AM: ABOVE – Jupiter is beautiful, just right of the lighthouse, and the glow of Waretown some 4 1/2 miles away.
4:17 AM: ABOVE – Despite some occasional high clouds, the stars were striking, seen best on a device in full screen and subdued light.
5:34 AM, ABOVE – Local morning twilight is now well underway, here looking across the inlet and over the Atlantic Ocean.
6:12 AM, ABOVE – Barnegat Light as seen 4.3 mi away, looking east from across the Bay in Waretown. Note the high thin clouds.
6:16 AM Sunrise. Time to head home.
As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
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Glad to see you’ve joined the 4am people … it gets into your blood after awhile and its all you ever want to do. Great location and I particularly like that first shot – I’m looking forward to seeing more nightscapes from you. Wes
It’s very easy to get addicted to the early morning hours as you know, and capturing the feel through the camera is most satisfying. Thanks for the comment, and your inspirations over the years, Marty
Very nice, and I’ll echo the comment on the first shot.
It would be nice to have shooting data with those shots. I can perhaps guess a bit on the shooting speed as I don’t see trails to the stars, but perhaps you used a tracking mount.
With the high ISO, (4000 in some) and post processing to control grain, I’m shooting 5 to 10 sec. so trailing is minimal. Most were 18mm f 3.5. But the top of the lighthouse and stars was a 50mm, f 1.8. Years ago I would use a 35 mm camera, 400 asa film mounted piggyback on a telescope, and hand guide for as much as 90 minutes. What a difference today. In tonights session, I realized a serious defect in my 18 – 270mm Tamaron, Every images was doubled in exactly the same way. Needs to go to the repair shop! It did not happen with the 50mm lens. M
A follow-up to my comment above: Unaware, I had left the Image Stabilizer (called VC in Tameron-ese) during the Tameron time exposures, which likely (hopefully) cause the “bad” star images. The other lens has no stabilizer feature, and results were excellent. M
Beautiful shots of one of my favorite parts of the day. Normally I am at my desk in my bedroom at that time, looking out to the east over the trees in my neighborhood as the sky gradually lightens and changes color. It’s a lot more spectacular with that lighthouse!
Thanks, Mike. Altough it’s hard to get up, and harder to stay awake later in the day – these sessions are my favorite. M
Best time of the day! I’d be curious as well as to the exposure since I would have thought that bright light of the lens would have preventing capturing the stars. Beautiful photos
Thanks, See reply to Disperser above. When the lighthouse is fully illuminated (before midnight,) it overwhelms the background sky. Later, the lighthouse lens points generally outward, and not down. It IS the best time of the “day”! M
I’m usually awake by 4:30, but I don’t have a view like this!!! Don’t mind me – just jealous! ^^’
Thanks GP. I was fortunate (at least in some respects) to have spent a number of years “on the road” including quite a bit of overnight driving in my career, giving oppertunity to appreciate the night time, and sky, away from city and surburban lights. M
What breathtaking captures!
Thanks!
Those are some fantastic shots there.
Thanks. You should visit LBI and Barnegat Lighhouse State Park with Jersey Girl on your next trip.M 🙂
I think you’re right.
That’s a steady hand. Great shots.
Thanks, Jack – A tripod in a must with the night shots, not so with the rising sun, shooting at 1/3200th sec. Don’t need steady hands at that speed!
Great photos! I was checking out some of the others on your previous posts…so beautiful! I’m a morning person…usually up by 6am. On the trip I was just on, had to get up at 3am a couple of mornings to make flights.
Beautiful shots. 🙂
These photos are awesome. I have never taken photos on nights, sigh. The first photo at 5:02 AM, is my favorite.
Thank You. Matti.