The weather and skies cleared up and I decided to try out “Long Exposure Noise Reduction” and some astrophotography. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I am limited on where I can go. I went the small fishing village of Oriental on the Neuse River. It is approximately 8 miles from the mouth of Neuse River in the Pamlico Sound. I also want to practice some astrophotography and may capture the Milky Way. In late April, the Moon is inline with Venus, so it would also be nice to capture that. I used my iPhone app “PhotoPills”, which is excellent, to check the time when the Milky Way will be visible and best place to observe the event. I choose the NC Wildlife ramps behind the Robert Scott Bridge on NC Route 55 in Oriental.
There are plenty of articles on “Long Exposure Noise Reduction” and night photography pros and cons. For an example, you can check out Long Exposure Noise Reduction Explained (“https://photographylife.com/long-exposure-noise-reduction”).
Overall it was a good plan, 90 minutes after sunset the Moon and Venus will be in line, and after midnight the Milky Way will be visible in the Southeast sky (127 degree rising). Yes overall it was a good plan, except for the light pollution in the small fishing village of Oriental. The seafood processing docks where lit up all night and the amber light from the boat dock made it impossible to see the Milky Way.
I used three lenses for this photo shoot, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm | 1.8 G; Nikon DX AF-S NIkkor 55-300mm | 4.5-5.6 G ED VR, and Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD.
Sunset on April 26 from New Bern (on the Alfred A Cunningham Bridge).
The viewing of the Moon and Venus. In part of Oriental away from the town docks the amber lights are not that bad. You will see some light pollution from Morehead City 30 miles in the distance.

Shutter Speed: 1/640
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal Length: 130mm
Nikon DX AF-S NIkkor 55-300mm
The Milky Way, NOT! I did have “Long Exposure Noise Reduction” enabled on the photograph below. I probably should had show examples with it the feature enable and disable on the Nikon D7500. It does take longer to capture the shoot, because it take a second photograph after you press the shutter button for the same length of time.
Sunrise on April 27, it is away nice to see the sunrise over the Neuse River.
Some very nice photos. I especially like the sunsets but the bridges are interesting too.
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Thank!
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