A Night Under the Stars on the Eastern Shore
Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to explore the Eastern Shore of Virginia, specifically Chincoteague Island, with my camera gear. The goal? To capture the magic of the night sky, hopefully with a familiar landmark as a foreground element.
Setting the Scene
The location chosen was a beautiful lighthouse, and despite hoping for a clearing to perfectly frame the Milky Way with it, nature had other plans. However, that didn't stop the pursuit of capturing the celestial wonders that were visible.
The Gear and the Settings
My trusted Nikon Z8 was the tool of choice for this expedition. Here are the settings used to bring the night to life:
- First Shot: 25 seconds at f/2.8, ISO 1600, with a 28mm lens.
- Second Shot: 10 seconds at f/4.5, ISO 800, also at 28mm.
These settings allowed for sufficient light gathering while managing noise and capturing the detail of the night sky.
The Lighthouse Experience
One of the key questions of any evening spent outdoors involves the local fauna. Fortunately, the conditions were favorable. It was breezy and cool, which meant the mosquitos were not an issue.
The Result
While a perfect alignment with the Milky Way didn't happen on this particular hike back to the lighthouse, the shots captured were still a testament to the beauty of the Eastern Shore's night sky. The lighthouse itself is a fantastic subject, and the effort to get there was well worth it.
It's moments like these, surrounded by the quiet grandeur of the cosmos, that truly inspire. The Eastern Shore certainly delivered a memorable night of photography.
