Red Moon Times Three. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Red Moon

Last evening, I took a tripod and a new camera to East Point, on Saturna, to see if I could get the hang of night photography.

I still have lots to learn about exposure, timing, focusing, and operating my new camera in the dark… (Hello, what was I thinking?)

Red Moon at 7:51 pm on Saturna, September 27. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Above, the early part of the show, once the moon rose above the haze/fog of Bellingham, on the West Coast. It was 7:51 p.m. local time.

 

Red Moon at 8:04 pm local time, Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

After about 15 minutes, the moon’s orange and gold brilliance became more intense.  I apologize for the fuzziness of this photo, taken at 8:04 p.m.  I will need to check out and set up the remote shutter app, so I don’t have to touch the camera (and make it vibrate) to activate the shutter – especially at night.

 

Red Moon at 8:15 pm, local time, Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And 10 minutes later, at 8:15 pm, the moon was already losing its orange tinge.

And at the same time, a Holland America cruise ship – the Oosterdam – leaving Vancouver on its way to San Diego,  was coming through. It was following Boundary Pass, the international line that separates the Canadian and American islands…

Red Moon over the Oosterdam cruise ship in Boundary Passs. Photo by Andrée Fredette

As you can see, I had issues with speed settings. The moon was fairly stationary, but not the cruise ship! Here is the Oosterdam, in all its glory, full speed ahead, and all its lights blazing. And more than a bit fuzzy…

 

Oosterdam Cruise Ship and its light show, passing by Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

Viewed from a distance, a cruise ship produces an impressive “light waterfall” on the water.

 

Night Lights on Orcas Island, viewed from Saturna Island, BC. Photo by Andrée Fredette

And across the pass, the towers of Orcas Island leave a red trail in the waters of Boundary Pass.