The Final Shot Of 2012

by Jeff Sinon, posted in Landscape, Long Exposure, Maine, Photography

On the eve of the eve of the New Year…

…I finally made it to Nubble Light to photograph it decorated for the Holidays. This is also officially the last image I made from 2012.

It was brutally cold, winds in excess of 30mph(48kph), several shots ruined by car headlights illuminating the island, but it was worth it! Just the right exposure to avoid excessive star trails, I couldn’t ask for more.

Nubble light decorated in Christmas lights under a star filled night sky. The constellation Orion can be seen just above and to the right of the lighthouse.

Pop-quiz: Who can tell me which constellation is featured in this image? (Without looking at anyone else’s answers 😉 )

You’re cutting it close, but there’s still time!

To vote for your favorite image of 2012 that is. Vote HERE, but please read the rules for casting your vote carefully.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY, SAFE, AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!

26 thoughts on “The Final Shot Of 2012”

  2. I go there so often but never go to film at winter I could do it from a beach away 🙂
    Thanks for reminding me she is still pretty in winter. Greg from Greg in the morning WHEB now is taking photos and he got a nice shot as well 🙂

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    1. Yes it is, very pretty in the winter. I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get there. Though it is just like me to pick one of the coldest and windiest days so far to do it 😀

      I knew Greg was a photographer, I’ve never met him, but he is a friend of a friend and I’ve seen his work.

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      1. yes like me he is just now putting it out there 🙂

        Sadly if I am to catch the display I shall see it on a cold winters day as well 🙂 It is OK we are tough up here in New England 🙂

        Eunice

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        1. Well I hope you do, but I’d suggest going a little later in the evening than I did. That way you might escape the ruined exposures from car headlights hitting the island. I know I won’t be going at around 5 p.m. again. More like 9 or 10.

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    1. Thanks Gary. Orion is certainly an easily recognizable constellation. Since I’m more of a dog person I’ll just have to take your word for it about the cat name 😉

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    1. Happy NEw Year right back at ya! I’ve been wondering where you’d gone off to.

      Thanks! I was hoping to retain a little more detail in the lighthouse lights, but then I’d lose some of the stars. If I had the motivation and desire to learn it, I’m sure I could blend two or more exposures to get the desired result. But I’m not that motivated 😛

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    1. Oh yea! I was thinking that if we get down from the mountains early enough we might have time to head over to the coast and get a few shots in of the lighthouse and maybe Portsmouth. It all depends on how much fun we’re having up north 🙂 And how tired we both are. Especially if we’re going to shoot for a coastal sunrise on Sunday. We should probably get some sleep in there somewhere 😀

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      1. Hahaha that is definitely a good point about the sleep for the early rising in the morning. I have a 70-200 f/2.8L arriving at my door friday! Found a place that rents pretty cheap so I’m wicked excited to use it (and see how heavy it REALLY is :P)

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        1. I’ll be bringing mine:-D IS or non-IS?

          Sleep is definitely going to be welcome. Nubble Light isn’t going anywhere, and I think we’d both rather be in the mountains! But, with sunset at around 4:20, we may very well have time, and still get some sleep.

          You do realize you’re going to want to buy that lens right 😛

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          1. Ehhh Sleep is sometimes over-rated haha. Wow that is an early sunset though, so yeah maybe we will.

            I got the non-IS. I figured I’ll most definitely be shooting from a tri-pod anyway. Only thing that might suck for that is if we run into any wildlife on the trail.

            Oh yeah I got that feeling. I’ve been putting a little money aside. I’m hoping that by the time I head to Glacier in the summer ill have enough $$ to purchase that lens and rent one of the longer telephotos for the week for possible wildlife shots.

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            1. I’ll sleep when I’m dead! 😀

              Hopefully any wildlife we see will hold very still. And give us enough time to get our cameras out of our packs.

              If I were you, and I’m still on the fence about trading my 70-200 f2.8L for an f4 with IS. They go for about the same amount used, and the f4 is like a toy weight wise. If I start doing the hiking I hope to start doing, the weight will matter. Another plus should you opt for the F4 IS, it’s weather sealed, the F2.8 non-IS isn’t. The more I talk about it, the closer I’m coming to doing it!

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              1. Ok now the weather sealed is a huge plus for me with all the backpacking I like to do. I wasn’t aware of that. I’ll be giving the f4 muuuch more thought now. Plus weight is a factor when it comes to hiking. hmmm

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    1. Thank you! Mine too. I think it’s because his appearance in the night sky always signaled the approach of my favorite time of year. In my former life as an avid bird hunter, and now as a photographer, Autumn/Winter are the seasons I most look forward to.

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