I am always struck by the saturation quality of moonlight. The colours have a rich and understated vibrancy.
This is a small bay on the far south coast of New South Wales captured using only the light of the moon … the Super Moon of 6th may 2012 to be exact. The exposure time is 12 minutes @f/9 and you can see there was plenty of light … and colour! Our eyes simply don't see the colours of moonlight … they're physically incapable of doing so. In fact seeing by moonlight is perhaps the closest we will ever come to naturally viewing a scene in monochrome. (In brief, it's to do with the rods and cones that lie in our retinas and something I will do a separate post about.) It was close to midnight and although the surf was pounding in on a king tide (presumably to do with the perigee of the moon) with waves reaching to a couple of meters from the tripod … the long exposure has effectively smoothed everything out.
About the 'Super Moon'
The Moon’s distance from the Earth is not always the same due to the elliptical shape of the orbit and variations in the gravitational attraction between the Moon, Earth and Sun. When a full moon occurs close to the perigee of the Moon (the point of its closest approach to the Earth) we observe a “super moon” phenomenon.There are anywhere from 4 to 6 super moons every year, not all appear as intense or last as long in their 'super' effect. The perigee of the Moon on the 6th of May was the most powerful in years and caused many discussions in scientific circles. There was even a claim circulating that a Super Moon contributed to the 'sinking of Titanic' (wtf!) occurring as it did 100 years after the sinking in April 1912 … my mind boggles when I reflect that some people believe this!
What about you? Did you see the Super Moon? Did you watch the moonrise or do anything special other than perhaps go outside and look and think 'hey, it does look a little bigger'?
That image is truly amazing, love the colors and the softness that you’ve captured. I feel a strong connection to the moon but struggle with nighttime shots. I really need to figure out the whole lighting/exposure aspect of photography.
Give it another go … I’ve found it nearly impossible to overexpose a moonlit shot if that’s any help? 😉
I expose for what I think is an appropriate time and then find myself at least doubling that time on the next frame.
Ahh, don’t scoff of the effects occurrences can have on the human body , mind or soul. Nature is alive , we are a part of nature and though we are not always aware of it or can’t explain it but nature does have very strong influence on our every day lives. AND my friend often says that if God wants to punish you , he takes away your mind. Are these things true – can I say for sure? I don’t know but I can’t say no for sure either.
I remember one time I looked at the moon and it was huge. Also, like in the cartoons, it sprang from the horizon in an arc half way up the sky – like boink, one moment here, the next way up high. All in the blink of an eye. Did it really happen – the person I was with, thought me crazy , but I saw it with my own eyes – I mean really happen despite what I saw??? I can’t say but I believe it did. It was just fantastic and a marvel to see.
Also, my friend – and others of her family – very often few the effects of solar explosions.
All things unexplainable but I think possible nonetheless. Too wonderful and mysterious this nature of ours is!!!
I don’t think I was really scoffing … well Ok maybe a litle…
I went outside quite late and simply watched it in awe and wonder. The following night I tried to take a few photos of the not quite full moon and had an epic fail. It was still beautiful to see.
Epic fail is such a great expression. At least you got to see it … it was a very cool sight.
really an incredible result, a creative idea indeed, your photo is perfectly equilibrate in a unique sense of lightness e elegance. The upper part is stunning with this soft layering of blue, another inspiring photo!!!
stunning image. the story about the moon and the titanic is just weird…. it was cloudy here, so you couldn’t see a thing. and freezing cold… next time 🙂
Thanks Petra, crazy what some people believe…
Wish those clouds away next time 🙂
Beautiful image. Love the light, colours and smoothed sea.
It was cloudy here in the night of the supermoon. If I remember right it was said that it will be seen best around 4 am or so in the morning, I meant to get up to have a look and then forgot. However, when I was in Dubai earlier in March, I saw a huge, yellow full moon rising – it was so amazing. I hurried to my friends house, grabbed the camera and climbed up to the roof and, of course, failed to capture it. But the memory remains. One of the most beautiful moons I’ve ever seen rising above the skyline of Dubai.
Oh I’d love to go to Dubai … it looks simply amazing … do you get to go often?
Sometimes the memory is a better visual than any capture 🙂
Yes, the memory is often a better visual and I remember things best in pictures, especially all the little apparantly unimportant things. I read a lot and even then I actually see the stories rather than just the words. Which makes me wonder a bit why I got into photography that late.
As for Dubai…my former boss is working as expat in our office there for a few years and he and his wife are good friends so I stop by as often as I can during the cold German winter. So far I’ve been there three times and will probably be going again later this year. It’s certainly an interesting place, a bit crazy sometimes, ever growing and expanding, connecting the old and the new world. This reminds me there are still pictures from the last trip that I wanted to post in my blog 🙂
Perhaps you needed to let your story images build into a critical mass that allowed your photography to flourish in a well-prepared and nourishing garden? Perhaps I need more coffee…
Get those Dubai pics out! It looks like an amazing place – that collision between tradition and modernity. I want to visit Shanghai for the same reasons. I want to see! 🙂
Your photography is so stunning Geoff
We spent ages looking at the super moon – the kids were entranced – it really did look huge from here
Ally,
thank you, you’re very kind … sometimes I feel just as clueless believe me but I try and get what I can. Sometimes I find something while post-processing that achieves close to what I was attempting when taking the picture and I can work with that. Your photography literally takes my breath away sometimes…
Your beautiful images looks like a moonscape. Ethereal.
That’s coz they’re lit by the moon! 😉
The smoothing of the waves lends etheriality for sure 🙂
Thank you Elena.
I love the colours and their softness – what a beautiful landscape shot in a wonderful moment. Those are moments to die for when it comes to photography 🙂
It would have to be a pretty impressive moment for me to want to die for it … I mean who would process the image for a start! 😉
Absolutly amazing shot. I love the foggy water covering the stones around. Can’t believe you got these colours from moonlight.
Thanks. Moonlight is after all sunlight reflected off the moon’s surface … it has essentially the same spectral qualities as sunlight. It is our eyes that render moonlight as monochrome. Try it on the next full moon … the colour is remarkable 🙂
What a gorgeous, well-executed long exposure shot.
Thanks Kala – it was a magical night and so bright!
Bewusst habe ich den “Super Mond” nicht wahrgenommen. Wenn im Winter in einer klaren Nacht der Mond die verschneiten Berge und den See beleuchtet, bin ich immer voller Freude. Letzen Dezember versuchte ich dies zu fotografieren. Nun ja, die Bilder sind nicht hässlich, aber sicher verbesserungswürdig: http://alltagsblick.wordpress.com/
Nicht nur der Mond war super, auch deine Aufnahme ist es! Die Farben und Weichheit – Excellent!
Google translate version: I’m aware of the “super moon” is not perceived. When illuminated in the winter on a clear night, the moon, the snow-covered mountains and the sea, I am always full of joy. Last December, I tried to photograph it. Well, the pictures are not ugly, but surely improved: http://alltagsblick.wordpress.com/
Not only the moon was great, and it is your reception! The colors and softness – Excellent!
Thank you Claudia. I would love to see snow covered mountains in moonlight … they must literally glow! I will go and have a look at your pictures 🙂
Google translate version: Vielen Dank Claudia. Ich würde gerne schneebedeckten Berge im Mondlicht sehen … sie müssen buchstäblich glühen! Ich werde gehen und einen Blick auf Ihre Bilder 🙂
That is amazing and thanks for all the details on how you got the shot. My family had a picnic under the moon in the front garden of our house on the shores of Hervey Bay – wine, lemonade, pizza and chips on a rug on the grass – lots of fun (normally my little girl and I would go howling at the moon on the beach but we thought we better not on a super moon night 😉 )
Thanks Gabrielle, this howling thing is a common theme I’m thinking 😉
It makes me glad to think that you liked what I had to share 🙂
so lovely. 🙂 Sam
Thanks Sam and welcome to Pictures with Words 🙂
The Moon makes us do strange things, if you are in-tune with Nature! But, that’s okay and I applaud it. The Moon I saw just the night before last was quite big and bright and I love moonlight (I think I must be a mooonbaby), but all I did was view it through my lounge-room window, no pix. Your photo has some great intensity and light that is wonderful!
The moon (and the surf) was truly intense that night. Thank you 🙂