Split Rock Moonlight

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted January 16, 2014168 views8 comments

This past weekend I took a winter camping trip to Tettegouche State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. The mild weather and beautiful moonlit evenings made for a great little snowshoeing, cross country skiing, camping, and photography adventure.

This image of Split Rock Lighthouse overlooking the big lake was captured during a stop on the long drive home on Sunday evening.

Please comment and critique.

Location: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Minnesota, USA

Date and Time: January 12, 2014, at 17:38

Equipment: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA 18-55mm WR at 88mm, tripod

Exposure: 30s, f/4.5, iso 100

Crop: Full frame.

Post processing in Lightroom 5: Dodged the cliff and snow. Decreased the luminance and increased the saturation of the blue sky. Healed a jet vapor trail away.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on January 16, 2014 at 9:49 PM

Would make a great X-Mas Card !

Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on January 17, 2014 at 8:39 AM

I like your image as is. I seem to know the location well just from all the previous images posted on this site. Your processing is ideal, and it makes for a very nice moonlit shot. The cherry on top would have been if the lighthouse was actually luminating. I understand there are certain times during the year when it is turned on. It's on my bucket list.
Wanted to also point out that I really like the fact that you give good technical and location details. Wish more members would do that.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 17, 2014 at 12:24 PM

Sweet idea and looks a bit strange to me. Can't tell if it was noise reduction in luminance reduction or what. Why an ISO of 100.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on January 17, 2014 at 6:45 PM

Thank you for the comments and feedback, Jack, Michael, and Rick.

Michael - I have visited Split Rock Light House many times, but this may have been one of my only night visits. No, the light was not illuminated last Sunday evening, but it would be nice to visit when it is. Also, thanks for the comment about the location and technical details. It takes just a few seconds more and adds value to the conversation, especially in suggestions for improvements.

Rick - I had taken some other night shots at ISO 200, and they were far grainier than this one. But, I think I'll try iso 400 or 800 next time, and see what the Pentax K-5 body offers for noise reduction features.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 19, 2014 at 6:30 PM

Hi Randy, You captured the mood of this lighthouse at night wonderfully. I'm enjoying this very much! I have photographed Split Rock many times, including with the light on and it is a special place for sure. I was there the night a full moon was lined up behind the lighthouse plus it was on Nov 10th so the light was being turned on. Well, it got so cloudy that day by the time the light came on that night we couldn't even see the moon. Cheers, Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on January 19, 2014 at 10:22 PM

Hi Nick. Thank you for the comments. It must have been a delight to see the lighthouse illuminated and the moon behind it, too. I might just have to plan a trip to the North Shore when it's lit up some time this year.