Tag: coast

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Coconut tree and lagoon at night

Coconut tree on the left leaning over a sandy beach at night. The tree is lit up and there is light from the moon behind. On the right is the still water of the lagoon.

This was one of my most experimental and favourite shots I took in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. That night the moon was extremely bright, just off to the left out of frame. After several shots with the foreground coconut tree silhouetted against the sky I got my head torch on. This was a 30 second long exposure time and for about half that time I was pointing my torch at the tree. Amazingly the camera was able to capture some stars in the sky. I wasn’t expecting that as there was a few clouds that night. Truely a beach paradise at night. Next time I’m fortunate enough to visit an island in the South Pacific I’m definately bringing my astrophotography lens.

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Coconut trees in paradise 

Two coconut trees in front of the white sandy beach on the left and crystal clear lagoon water on the right.

These are the same two coconut trees as a previous Coconut trees at night photograph. It’s from a different and higher angle but basically the same. It is amazing to me the difference between the night and day version. This seems like one of those postcards of a tropical paradise, which Rarotonga in the Cook Islands certainly is. I love the shadows of the palms on the bright white sand. The strong sunshine pierces right through the crystal clear shallow water of the lagoon. People and dogs are often wondering up and down the beach here so it was a rare sight to see it completely free of anyone. 

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Rarotonga lagoon at night

Night sky with stars and blurred clouds with the Rarotonga lagoon lit up in the foreground.

Seeing the stars from a remote island in the middle of the South Pacific is magical. There is very little light pollution. After a couple of clear nights I knew I had made a mistake. Travelling light and not bringing my 14mm astrophotography lens. I had to resort to my all rounder 24mm zoom lens which can only capture a fraction of what is possible. Still I gave it a go and I’m pleased with the results. You can clearly see some stars in the night sky. In the foreground the waters edge is lit up by the house. This ended up being a 30 second long exposure at f3.5. I wish I had tried a few shots with a higher ISO than 100, not sure what I was thinking when I took this, must be out of practice.

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Coconut trees at night

Two coconut trees with the clear waters of the Rarotonga lagoon and night sky with stars in the background.

This was my second time on Rarotonga, a small south Pacific island and the largest in the Cook Islands. Visiting with a group of family, I was unsure what photographs I would be able to capture to share here. Fortunately we had a large beautiful house as our accomodation. On the south coast overlooking the lagoon. This was the view of the lagoon at night from the deck. Composing the photograph with the two large coconut trees in the foreground to frame the shot. It was an hour or two after sunset so you can see the stars in the clear parts of the night sky.