Date Taken: 07/10/2016
Location: Balsam Mountain Overlook close to the picnic area at the end of the road, off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Sigma 24-70 f 2.8
Focal Length: 24mm
ISO: 640
Shutter: 7.4 seconds
Aperture: 2.8
Filters: None
Exposure: Manuel
How I Got This Shot: I had been to this overlook before, but tonight I was there to specifically try for nighttime sky shots. Usually when I shoot the night skies I look away from where the sun had set, but tonight I wanted to see what I could get if instead I shot where the sun had set. So, after shooting the actual sunset and watching others who were there leave to go back to their campsites or hotels, I started shooting the night sky about an hour or more after sunset. What I was able to capture was the colors that still exist in the sky after the sun has gone down, but our eyes cannot really see them. By using a higher ISO and a wide open aperture, I was able to capture the residual light reflecting in the clouds long after the sun had set and still show the stars in the night sky. I thought that since the Blue Ridge Mountains were so far down at the bottom of the shot I would use the surrounding trees to frame the shot and give a nice perspective. Because of the long exposure, of course a tripod and shutter release cable was used. I counted the seconds off in my head to get various exposures. This shot is best viewed full frame if possible. Thanks and I hope you enjoy.
For More Information
- Additional photographs by Eric Albright
- Categories where this photo is found: Night Photography