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).

Taken: 19:44 on April 26 Shutter Speed: 1/250 Aperture: f/8 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 50mm Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm | 1.8 G

Taken: 19:34 on April 26 Shutter Speed: 1/640 Aperture: f/16 ISO: 079 Focal Length: 50mm Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm | 1.8 G

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.

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.

Taken: 01:42 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 10 seconds Aperture: f/4 ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 32mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Taken: 01:24 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 15 seconds Aperture: f/3.5 ISO: 1000 Focal Length: 26mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Taken: 01:08 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 16 seconds Aperture: f/4 ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 25mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Taken: 01:07 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 24 seconds Aperture: f/4 ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 25mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Taken: 00:55 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 13 seconds Aperture: f/3.5 ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 25mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Taken: 00:43 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 13 seconds Aperture: f/3.5 ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 25mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD

Sunrise on April 27, it is away nice to see the sunrise over the Neuse River.

Taken: 06:37 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 1/1000 Aperture: f/11 ISO: 062 Focal Length: 35mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4

Taken: 06:36 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 1/640 Aperture: f/11 ISO: 062 Focal Length: 35mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4

Taken: 06:28 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 1/1600 Aperture: f/10 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 68mm Nikon DX AF-S NIkkor 55-300mm

Taken: 06:21 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 1/500 Aperture: f/5.6 ISO: 60 Focal Length: 92mm Nikon DX AF-S NIkkor 55-300mm

Taken: 06:02 on April 27 Shutter Speed: 1/80 Aperture: f/5 ISO: 50 Focal Length: 28mm Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD