Shoot By Moon Light

Forget flash – Claire Gillo shows you how to shoot a landscape lit by the moon.

2 hrs In the heart of winter, when the daylight hours are short and the nights long, make the most of the dark conditions by shooting a moonlit landscape. By using a long exposure time you can capture a scene that you’re unable to see with your naked eye.

For this project we don’t want to actually photograph the moon, but instead have the landscape lit by it. This means we need to make sure we’re on location at the right time, when the moon is at its brightest. The best way to ensure this is to check the lunar calendar. search online and you’ll be able to find out when the moon is full (or almost full) and also what time it rises, sets and when it’s going to be in the right position. The Photographer’s ephemeris (www.photoephemeris.com) is an excellent desktop and mobile app for checking this information.