North Carolina Outer Banks

moose135

The Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast - they include places like Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and Cape Hatteras. I've recently spent two 4-day weekends there, one in November, and then again this weekend for the New Year holiday.

1 - Bodie Island Light House - this was shot in November, the weekend of the "Super Moon", with the moon out.

2 - It was hella windy that weekend!

3 - Cape Hatteras Light

4 - Super Moon rising over Jennette's Pier in Nags Head

6 - Jennettes Pier - this fishing pier is now part of the North Carolina Aquarium, and extends 1,000 feet out into the Atlantic

7 - Pelican hanging out at the pier. I got within 4 feet or so of him (her?) and he just sat there!

8 - Bodie Island Light House this weekend, with no Moon - you can see the difference in the number of visible stars!

9 - Last sunrise of 2016 in Nags Head

10 - Oregon Inlet Bridge in the Hatteras National Seashore

The Bodie Island Light has an unusual light, which makes it perfect for night/star photography. Unlike most light houses, where the light continually rotates, the Bodie light has a 30 second cycle where it illuminates for 2 1/2 seconds, goes out for 2 1/2 seconds, illuminates again for 2 1/2 seconds, then is out for 22 1/2 seconds. To avoid motion in the stars, I usually use a shutter speed in the range of 15 - 20 seconds, so that long dark period in the cycle is perfect - trip the shutter just as the light is going out, and leave it open while the light is off, so I get some light, but it's not blown out. I do need to get back out there when the Milky Way is visible, I've seen some cool shots with the lighthouse and the Milky Way.

David_S85

Beautiful photos and great info on shooting the lighthouses. We're visiting many of those spots (hopefully) this summer.

Stumblebum

Very nice work!

black mamba

Good stuff, John. Your night work, as usual, really stands out.

See you,

Tom

moose135

@David_S85 said:
Beautiful photos and great info on shooting the lighthouses. We're visiting many of those spots (hopefully) this summer.

Thank you, David! I've been out that way a few times, let me know if you have any questions, I'll try to help you out.

moose135

@Stumblebum said:
Very nice work!

Thank you, Taz!

moose135

@black mamba said:
Good stuff, John. Your night work, as usual, really stands out.

See you,

Tom

Thanks, Tom, I really appreciate it. I got my Rolex tickets in the mail today - it's getting close!

kdog

All very nice, Moose. That supermoon shot is sweet!

David_S85

@moose135 said:
Thank you, David! I've been out that way a few times, let me know if you have any questions, I'll try to help you out.

O.T. Question:
Actually, yes. Do you know anything about shooting the wild horses on the lower Outer Banks?

moose135

@David_S85 said:
O.T. Question:
Actually, yes. Do you know anything about shooting the wild horses on the lower Outer Banks?

Not too much - on Currituck Island, the northern part of the Outer Banks, I saw a number of places that offer tours - they generally have pickup type trucks with open air seats mounted in the back that will take you on to the dunes to see the horses.

David_S85

Thanks!

Eia

These are all awesome; especially the light house shots. Quite the variety with color and light. I like the movement in the windmills in #6.

moose135

Thank you, AnnaMaria!