Photo of the Month
"About this time last year, my wife, Jan and I headed down the Chechessee River in anticipation of this Harvest moonrise. It was nearing sunset and high tide when we anchored onto a small oyster bank. There was just enough high ground to bring out my tripod, chairs and a picnic basket with dinner. I mounted my camera with 500mm lens onto the tripod With all attention on the horizon, in this case Parris Island, we awaited the emerging light to the sounds of the tide washing against the oyster shells.
Photographing the moon in the fall offers a distinct advantage. During autumn, the path of the moon is shorter than usual with a decreased period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. What this means to the photographer is that you have more to work with in creating an image. In this case I had the tree line of Parris Island, a twilight blue sky and the orange moon as it lifted off the horizon."
Eric Horan
Photo tip-exposure: The photographer’s tried and true ‘Sunny 16’ rule* is a standard guidepost for setting proper exposure – even when shooting the moon. This works because the light on the moon is actually reflected sunlight. With a digital camera, you can check your histogram for details on highlights. My settings of ISO 250 with f/5.6 and 1/2000th shutter speed is equivalent to the ‘Sunny 16’ rule, which would translate to f/16 and shutter speed of 1/250th second.
* Sunny 16 rule - If you choose an aperture of f/16 in full sunlight, then your shutter speed should be the same as your ISO setting. This will give you an excellent starting place for proper exposure.
Preservation of the Chechessee River and rivers feeding into the Port Royal Sound are key to maintaining the health of this unique embayment system. To find out more and for volunteer opportunities contact the Lowcountry Institute at www.lowcountryinstitute.org.
Visit Eric Horan's Website southernlight.biz to see more of his work