Skygazers over the moon as they capture rare sight

Aug 19 sighting is first supermoon of 2024 and also a rare seasonal blue moon

- Fatimah Mujibah

Mr Ivan Goh raced to Merlion Park right after knocking off from work on Aug 19 to secure a spot to capture the first supermoon of the year.

The 53-year-old manager told The Straits Times that he had even visited the site a day earlier to plan his shots, but was unsuccessful due to thick clouds.

When he reached Merlion Park at 6.28pm on Aug 19, he began to practise his long-exposure shots while waiting. He anticipated that the Moon would emerge at the top of the Marina Bay Sands building between 7.45pm and 8pm. Fortunately for him, his hunch was right.

"I'm very pleased with several shots," he said. "My main intention was to take the shot of the Moon placing right behind the pointed sculpture of MBS SkyPark, but too bad, the best vantage point was taken by another photographer.

"I waited until he had taken his shots before I took over his position and that is why the risen Moon is much higher in my photos."

He credited his well-liked photos to Canon R7's mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens, adding that it enhances the clarity. His patience and camera work paid off - he gained more than 1,000 likes on his post in a Facebook group called CloudSpotting and SkySpotting Singapore, which boasts more than 100,000 members.