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Monday, December 31, 2012

December 30, 2012 Observations

Last night's photography from the highway 181 overlook produced some more interesting images of city lights around Brown Mountain.

North Chestnut Mountain Gap
Looking northeast (43O azimuth) from 181 Overlook toward Blowing Rock only a minute after sunset
A small orange light can be seen on the distant ridgeline just above the trees in the center of the image
The light is the reflection of the fading sun off a glass window at one of the houses on the distant skyline
The low point along the foreground ridge is the gap north of Chestnut Mountain
The Mountain –To-Sea Trail (# 440) and Forest Service Road # 198 pass through this gap
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 119 mm lens at f/5.6, 1/125 second exposure & ISO-400
 

Baker’s Mountain, Catawba County, Azimuth 129O, 31.7 miles away
Buildings and water tanks can be seen in this late afternoon image (33 minutes before sunset)
The tree-covered ridge of Brown Mountain can be seen in the foreground
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 420 mm lens, f/14, 1/1000 second exposure & ISO-2000


Baker’s Mountain, Catawba County, Azimuth 129O, 31.7 miles away
City lights in the surrounding area can be seen in this image taken 18 minutes after sunset
The tree-covered ridge of Brown Mountain can be seen in the foreground
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 420 mm lens at f/8, 1/15 second exposure & ISO-1600


Brown Mountain, Catawba Valley and the South Mountains
Buildings and water tanks in Catawba Valley can be seen in this late afternoon image (133O azimuth)
 Brown Mountain is the tree-covered ridge in the middle of the image
The South Mountains can be seen on the skyline
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 420 mm lens at f/14, 1/800 second exposure & ISO-2500


Brown Mountain, Catawba Valley and the South Mountains
Two prominent water tanks in Catawba Valley can be seen in this late afternoon image
 Brown Mountain is the tree-covered ridge in the middle of the image
The South Mountains can be seen on the skyline
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 420 mm lens at f/13, 1/800 second exposure & ISO-2000


It was Really, Really Cold Last Night!
Out of focus city lights in Catawba Valley
The single white light above the skyline is a lighted tower atop High Peak in the South Mountains
The cluster of multicolored lights on the skyline at the left side of the image
are the Valdese Houses on Rocky Ridge Road seen in previous images
Canon EOS Rebel DSLR with 420 mm lens, f/8, 3-second exposure & ISO-1600
 

3 comments:

  1. Here's a question for you detail oriented folks who never miss a clue. In the last photograph (out-of-focus city lights), why isn't the white tower light on High Peak as out of foucs (or wobbly looking) as the rest of the lights?

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  2. probably because it's an intermittent source, like a strobe light.

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    Replies
    1. Correct MJ! It's a slow flashing white caution light atop a communication tower on High Peak in the South Mountains. Although there are 6 communication towers on High Peak, only one is lighted at night. Thanks for your answer....Ed

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