This telephoto compression not only makes the moon appear larger in the frame but also draws the viewer in for a more intimate and minimalistic composition while still showcasing the landscape. These cameras are both excellent in low-light scenarios, which makes them the perfect tools for lunar photography.įor most shots, I use a telephoto lens to enlarge the moon. I am currently using Sony a1 and Sony a7S III camera bodies.
A camera that allows you to control your settings manually is imperative. Lunar photography can get quite technical, and that’s where the right gear comes into play. After a day of trying to shoot in challenging conditions, I was greeted with the most magical and ethereal moonset on my drive home. While I was exploring Glacier National Park in late September, a record-breaking early-season snowfall dropped 56 inches of fresh powder. I use several apps to help with my preparations, but the three most helpful are PhotoPills for timing and aligning, Google Earth for location and feature scouting, and Windy for weather predictions. The most important preparations that I take into consideration when planning are the moon phase, locations, unique features to align, sunrise and sunset times, and weather. There are many factors and uncertainties at play when planning anything nature-related, so I try to keep an open-minded, flexible approach when photographing the moon. While I greatly enjoy our surprise interactions, I do love planning shots as well. The more often you spend time outdoors in beautiful locations with a camera in hand, the more likely you are to stumble upon a spectacular moon alignment. I suppose my first tip for moon photography would be to just go-get outside.
But is it luck? Is it a coincidence? I am constantly stunned, but then I wonder if it’s simply my affinity for looking up-my curiosity for the worlds outside of our own.
Time and time again, it seems that I get lucky when it comes to aligning the moon. It’s fascinating to me how I often find myself in scenarios where I’m able to align the moon over remarkable landscapes with little to no planning. I may have a different approach than most lunar photographers as I only plan my photographs about 20 percent of the time. Sony a7R III, Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS. Upon waking up after a wildly stormy night, I captured the most painterly lenticular clouds stacked on top of the already-towering Mount Hood, or Wy’east, in Oregon. It was only a matter of time until the moon swiftly made an entrance into the landscapes that I focused on photographing. I sought out every opportunity that I could to explore the vast nature that surrounded me in the lush Pacific Northwest. My first photographic love was the great outdoors. The moon is a significant influence on not only my photographic work but my life. I want to share with others these feelings and ideas that the moon inspires in me, the tranquility that I feel when I walk out my front door knowing that it’s there. It’s a beautiful reminder to keep looking up, and I think this is why I’ve grown so attached to the moon in my work. The moon knows and understands that it’s OK to have periods of darkness because the light will always find its way back. Gazing up at it brings me peace, encourages me to keep going when I feel down, and reminds me always to have a curious mind. I had jewelry, temporary tattoos, tees and magazines that all bore its beautiful face. It seemed like every time I stepped outside, it made sure I was aware of its presence shining down on me. Ever since I was a child, I have been absolutely enamored with the moon. The moon has always been more to me than just a photography subject our relationship goes way back. Sony a7R II, Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM (landscape), Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS (moon). Watching the smiling crescent moon set while on an evening sail around Costa Rica.