Morris Island Moonrise
A brief visit to Folly Beach was planned with a primary goal of photographing the Morris Island Lighthouse and the full Moon.
The moonrise shot opportunity would occur at 6:29 pm October 28, 2023. This picture was taken at 6:42 pm from a distance of 3,591 feet. Aligning with the lamp house of the 161-foot lighthouse, the Moon was just over 2 degrees above the horizon. The Sun had set at 6:32 and was 2 degrees below the horizon to our back and providing amazing light. There was not a cloud in the sky.
This was our third day of visiting this beach. It is a 1/2-mile walk to the beach from the East end of Ashley Avenue. The walk from that point on the beach to get to the perfect shot location would be another 1/2 mile, with sections where the high tide would leave little to no room between the waves and the marsh. On our second visit, the evening of October 27, we walked farther up the beach than the day before and decided to find a boat for the next evening to ease the journey and ensure our safe and dry return.
After several calls I was referred to Captain Michael Ray. He understood exactly where we needed to be and knew how long it would take to get there. If you are going to Folly and want someone that can give you a custom boat tour, you should look him up. He and his wife Dianne operate SurfFish Realty, providing vacation rentals, boat charter, and real estate services.
As we arrived at the planned location on the very narrow beach, the good news was that the winds had changed and it was very peaceful and calm. The bad news was that there was no wind off the water to keep the marsh bugs at bay. Thank you, Captain Michael, for sharing your bug spray.
Our Folly and Charleston visit was a brief three days scouting the beach, visiting other sites of the Charleston area, and hanging out in downtown Folly. But the best part of the trip was the 40 minutes on a calm sliver of a beach to get this amazing picture.
The lighthouse was built in 1876 and decommissioned in 1962. It has stood alone out in the ocean - separated from the land since 1938. The fact that this light still stands is amazing and a tribute to the Save the Light organization. If you want to know more about the history and preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse, visit their website.
Early morning of October 26. We walked along the beach in the dark to get to the jetties for the sunrise.
Afternoon of October 26 - our trial run for setting up to take the moonrise photo but no moon until...
... it finally came out of the clouds well above the lighthouse.
No moon, but a nice frame and a great sky.
The road to the beach from the end of E. Ashley Avenue is an incredible, even inspiring, array of graffiti.
The boat ride on the Folly River to Lighthouse Creek.
Arriving at the tiny sliver of beach in time to get set up and be ready.
On the spot - set up and waiting for the Moon as the Sun heads toward the horizon.
6:31 pm - The Moon appears, barely visible through the low haze.
6:36 pm - It quickly becomes clear as it rises up and toward the lighthouse.
6:40 pm - With the Sun now below the horizon to our back, the lighthouse gets darker as the Moon gets clearer and brighter.
6:43 pm - Amazing to see the Moon through the ancient glassless lamphouse frame.
