sitting around the bonfire at the beach

Canon EOS 50D, 10-22mm @22mm, 30 sec, f/4.5, ISO320

We recently returned from a trip to Kupang, West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia), where I led a team of 12 (including my wife and 4 children) on a Wings To Work trip to spend some time at the New Hope Home and the Elpida School. This was my second visit to Kupang - I was a member of a Wings To Work team in September 2014.

One of the (many) highlights of our trip this year was a visit to the mission post at Barate, north of Kupang. The photo above was shot on the beach at Barate, just a short walk from the area where we were camping under the trees. A 30 second exposure captured some of the stars, as well as the sparks flying from the fire.

Some more photos from the same evening on the beach are below.

bonfire on the beach

Canon EOS 50D, 24-105mm f/4L IS @32mm, 1.3 sec, f/6.3, ISO100

In the photo below, Rev Ed Dethan, the local missionary who we spent time with, is lit by his mobile phone, as he stands in front of the bonfire.

by the light of a phone

Canon EOS 50D, 10-22mm @10mm, 30 sec, f/4, ISO800

arms folded

Canon EOS 50D, 10-22mm @10mm, 30 sec, f/4, ISO320

In our western world, the night skies are often spoiled by light pollution. In West Timor, this was not a factor, and the night skies are largely un-interrupted by light pollution. The long exposure below captures part of the night sky above the beach.

night sky

Canon EOS 50D, 10-22mm @10mm, 30 sec, f/4, ISO1600