As The World Turns-Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Star Trails

Every summer I get to visit Cape Hatteras where I grew up. I have been taking star trail photos of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse for almost 10 years now. If you don't know what "star trails" are then let me explain it. A camera can take pictures that last as long as you can expose it properly. That can be hours long if necessary. Anyway, this picture is about an hour long. Since the world is turning, the stars travel across the sky from the beginning of the photo until the end of the photo. If you look at the left side of the photo you can see where a meteorite is intersecting the star trails.

Capturing Star Trails at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Every year while visiting my parent's house, I take long exposures of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It can be difficult not to lose the details in the top section of the lighthouse, while photographing it. I recently figured out a technique to help remedy that situation. This is almost an hour long exposure. While the world rotates, the stars travel across the sky and the end result has stars leaving a trail. If you look closely on the left side of the photo, you can see a meteorite trail that intersects the star trails. I missed a few spots with my bug spray and the mosquitoes feasted on my ankles while I stood there taking the shot. I used to get a little worried standing alone in the dark, but I've done it so much that I rarely get spooked anymore. I am working on getting a gallery up if anyone is interested in buying a print of this photo.