20 Nov 2014 Moon gazing in the 501

Posted at 8:07 PMh in Travel by

Story and photos
by Linda Henderson

If you haven’t noticed lately, the moon is getting lots of attention. Almost monthly on social media we hear about a Blood Moon, Super Moon, Harvest Moon, Strawberry Moon or the Blue Moon. So what’s all the fuss about? 

Viewing the moon can be a fun activity for both the young and old. Nothing seems to capture our attention like a beautiful shining moon on a clear evening.

Now that everyone seems to have a camera, we all want to catch a great picture of that shining heavenly body. Moon photography can be a very challenging task. Lots of people attempt it, but few achieve a good picture without a few tools. The most important tool is a camera that can be mounted to a tripod. Even a point and shoot camera can achieve a good picture with a tripod. As with most things, the better your equipment the better your results, but even a cheap tripod from a big box store will improve your chances of getting a perfect moon photo. 

Location is also important. For the best viewing, you want to be away from city lights and have an unobstructed view of the horizon.

Some of my Top 5 locations for moon gazing in the 501 area are Toad Suck, Cadron Settlement Park, Petit Jean, the River Market in Little Rock and Lake Conway. 

Time of the evening or morning is also important. Moon rising or setting during dawn or twilight will render a moon larger and a moon with vivid color. Moon pictures taken during dawn or twilight will also allow you to include the background in your image. 

An additional tool that will aid in timing of moon watching is an app for both the computer and smart phones — The Photographer’s Ephemeris. This app shows the location of rising and setting of the sun and moon. It also predicts moon phases.

I must warn you photographing the moon can become an addiction as I demonstrate with this narrative I wrote recently about chasing the moon. I have decided that I am a chump for a challenge.

I chase moonlight, or rather I chase capturing moonlight on my camera sensors. I can’t explain the obsession I seem to have in catching this great reflector in the night sky.  

I use various computer applications to analyze her paths as she crosses the dark heaven. I study her phases. I search constantly for a foreground object that will give perspective and interest to a moon shot. I find myself in crazy locations with camera in hand when it’s just the right moon phase and just the right time of night.

Time is of most importance, because you have only minutes to catch the moon as she rises above the horizon or sets for the morning. The moon’s bright light makes it hard to obtain just the right exposure to photograph her textures and color. I study the science of photography and camera operations just to get that perfect shot. Every camera setting must be considered. The exposure triangle of ISO, shutter speed and aperture are worked over and over. 

This moon fixation requires that you carry considerable amount of equipment. Not only do you have to have a camera capable of capturing the moon’s luminosity, but you need a lens for foreground, lens for the moon, a sturdy tripod and a remote shutter release.

So why do I work so hard to catch her light? Because she gleams through the clouds and lights my path as I wander through the night looking for just the right spot to record her countenance. Or could it be I love a challenge and maybe I have caught a tad bit of moon madness from wandering in the wee hours of the night.

Linda Henderson
Latest posts by Linda Henderson (see all)
Tags: