Dave Johnston
Well-Known Member
As posted last month, after a lot of planning I was able to capture the moon rising into Gunsight Notch in Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. As it happens, the next opportunity to catch that alignment was the next month, on December 27. (No it doesn't happen every month, but is more likely during the late fall and winter.) The location for this was at a greater angle to the plane of the rocks, and the original viewpoint I had identified was low and closer to the rocks than before. So I didn't have high hopes for it being any better an image than I had already done. But since the weather was clear and not bitterly cold, I decided to take a look. When I got there I found the lower location that I had planned had trees impinging on the lower part of the cliffs, which I didn't like. But I pulled out my phone version of TPE and was able to plot locations further back along the path that the view would be possible, and found that there was a view in an open field further back. This had the added advantage of the moon rising earlier, about 20 minutes before sunset, so I figured I'd have more light on the rocks.
When I set up at that new position, and the time approached, I began to realize that this time of the year the sun sets far enough south that the mountains to the southwest are lower, meaning that the direct light of the setting sun will play on the rocks longer than other times of the year. I waited breathlessly while the last sunset light climbed up the hill below the rocks as the time for the moon appearance got closer, hoping it would last long enough. As it happened, I had about 2 minutes of warm, soft sunset light on the cliffs while the moon rose into the notch. That was just enough time to get a good composition where everything came together.
Below are the color and black and white versions of what I got.
Edit: I forgot to mention - note the climbers on the cliff to the right.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Dave
When I set up at that new position, and the time approached, I began to realize that this time of the year the sun sets far enough south that the mountains to the southwest are lower, meaning that the direct light of the setting sun will play on the rocks longer than other times of the year. I waited breathlessly while the last sunset light climbed up the hill below the rocks as the time for the moon appearance got closer, hoping it would last long enough. As it happened, I had about 2 minutes of warm, soft sunset light on the cliffs while the moon rose into the notch. That was just enough time to get a good composition where everything came together.
Below are the color and black and white versions of what I got.
Edit: I forgot to mention - note the climbers on the cliff to the right.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Dave
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