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Sunset Photos at Mt. Hope Park

September 30, 2024

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Mt. Hope Park is a beautiful place to take photos. This Friday – weather permitting – we will encourage people to come down to the park and Bristol Ferry Commons from 5:30-6:30 to learn about the history of the area and take photos of the sunset. We will have a “best” photo contest for small prizes. Those who come to the event will get a card with an email address for submission. Photos of sunsets at Mt. Hope Park could have been taken earlier, but those entering will have until Oct 19 th to make a submission.

I have tried sunset photos, but it is not easy. Below is a recommendation of someone from the Portsmouth Art Guild. I am going to practice with these settings.

Using Your iPhone
iPhone Settings:
In “Settings”, go to the Camera listing
Toggle on “Grid”
Tap on “Preserve Settings” and toggle on “Exposure Adjustments”
Camera Settings
Go to your camera and look for the Exposure Adjustment option
Adjust it to -0.7 to capture more sunset details
Turn on the Flash
Tap on an object in the foreground or in the sky to focus
There is no hard and fast rule on how to frame your photos, but it’s recommended to have an object in the foreground. If that object is s person, using the rule of thirds, try positioning the person on the left grid line while looking 45 degrees toward the horizon.
Practice the above recommendations to feel comfortable while outside taking sunset photos.

Using a DSLR Camera:
How to choose the right camera settings for sunset photography.
Shooting great sunset photos is all about your camera settings. Learn how to set your gear up right with these helpful tips.
Sunsets are one of nature’s greatest spectacles, and they make for absolutely stunning photographs — when you pick the right camera settings. Luckily, sunset photography is easy once you know the basics.
These tips will help you set up your camera correctly and capture the full beauty of a blazing sundown.

  1. Set your ISO to low.
    Naturally, the sun is bright — even when it’s setting. Keep the ISO as low as possible so your photo won’t come out grainy. That said, you should increase the ISO as the sun creeps closer to the horizon.
  2. Use a quick shutter speed.
    Opt for a quick shutter speed to minimize exposure time — otherwise the setting sun might burn out your photograph. Take a few test shots to find the sweet spot. If your camera has an exposure bracketing feature, this is the time to use it.
  3. Shoot with a wide aperture.
    You’ll want maximum depth of field to capture the whole sunset scene. Set your aperture to a very narrow setting, such as f/11 or even higher. You can’t really go too narrow.
  4. Focus your shot manually.
    Some cameras struggle to focus on a sunset, since it doesn’t provide a clear focal point. If your photos are coming out blurry, focus your camera manually.
  5. Experiment with the white balance.
    Most modern cameras have great automatic white balance settings, but you should definitely try out a few different options. The best setting depends completely on the particular sunset, though, so snap a picture with each manual setting.

Recommendations from member of Portsmouth Art Guild

Discover Your Portsmouth: Mt Hope Park

September 9, 2024

portsmouthhistorynotes Portsmouth History , Leave a comment

The old Bristol Ferry landing (now known as Mt. Hope Park) was once the transportation center for Portsmouth. Ferry boat service to Bristol and back began as early as the 1650s. The Old Colony Railway had a train station there and steamboats docked at that spot for travelers on the Fall River and Providence steam boat line. In the early 20th century, the electric street railway came to Bristol Ferry from Newport. Passengers could proceed to a ferry to cross to downtown Bristol were they could take a train to Providence. When the Mt. Hope Bridge opened in 1929 and the ferries stopped running, the area lost much of its importance as a transportation center.

Through the years the area became the site of Mount Hope Marina, a restaurant. When it closed the land was vacant and cut off from the public with fencing. In January 2016, the Aquidneck Island Land Trust and the Town of Portsmouth formed a partnership to purchase the waterfront property. The Town of Portsmouth owns the property subject to a conservation easement with the the Land Trust. Mount Hope Park opened for public use on August 30, 2019.

Mt. Hope Park is considered a public access to the shoreline. The beautiful view is open to all because of a guaranteed right to access the shoreline that dates back to the Royal Charter granted to the colony of Rhode Island by King Charles II in 1663. Mount Hope Park is just one of the state’s more than 220 designated coastal rights-of-way, including more than 65 on Aquidneck Island.

It is a beautiful spot to enjoy the sun setting behind Mt. Hope Bridge. It is also recreational with access for kayaks and fishing available