Star Gazing from Joe's Head
Hermit IHermit Island Campground
Small Point, Maine
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Hermit IHermit Island Campground
Small Point, Maine
Please like my facebook page:
www.facebook.com-shawnpiercephotography
To purchase please visit my website: shawnpiercephotography.smugmug.com-Hermit-Island-
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Small Point, Maine
Please like my facebook page:
www.facebook.com-shawnpiercephotography
To purchase please visit my website: shawnpiercephotography.smugmug.com-Hermit-Island-
Read less
Aug, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Hermit Island Campground in Small Point, Maine. My wife's family has been vacationing here for a very long time. More than 50 years. Hermit Island is a very special place to a lot of people. It's a place where it is not unusual to see groups with 3 or 4 generations of families all vacationing together. In the 9 years of my marriage it has also become a very special place to me, too, and it has become a goal of mine to capture all the beauty of Hermit Island, not only for my in-laws, but for all the people who love the place as much as I do.Time
This photo was taken pretty late, probably around midnight. I'd noticed that it was so clear out that I could see the Milky Way with my bare eyes so I decided to find an empty campsite to try out a little astro-photography.Lighting
The only unnatural lighting used in this shot comes from a small LED flashlight that I had with me. I achieved this shot by sweeping the light across the scene while the shutter was open illuminating the rock, picnic table and bushes.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7000 with a Tokina 11-16 2.8 on a Manfrotto tripod. Other than that I used only the aforementioned flashlight.Inspiration
My major inspiration came from the subject of the photo, quite simply the stars and outer space. I have a deep love of astronomy and physics. It's not something I know a lot about, but it's something I love to learn about, so it was probably inevitable my love of astronomy would run into my love of photography.Editing
This shot was first processed in Lightroom and then finished in Photoshop. Processing a shot like this was a learning experience on it's own. It required me to learn a couple of new techniques that I now use in a lot of my other work.In my camera bag
I pack pretty light. When I shoot landscapes I usually like wide angle views so I usually only have two lenses with me. A Nikon 24-70 2.8 and a Tokina 11-16 2.8. The other things I always have with me is a neutral density filter and circular polarizer.Feedback
Do your homework: Before I left for my trip I studied star charts and learned where the Milky Way would be in the sky. I looked at what the moon phases would be to help determine what time of the night I would have to be out. You either want a new moon or you should try to wait until after the moon sets. I also tried to determine what amount of light pollution there would be. You'd be surprised just what the sensor will pick up; the faintest of light. You need a tripod, a high ISO and long shutter speeds. And the last piece of advice... enjoy the silence. It can be very quiet out there in the dark, so just enjoy it.
