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On July 27, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America will be treated to a Blood Moon. The phenomenon happens when the moon is in full eclipse which results in it looking red.
Since the upcoming lunar showcase is the biggest this century and will actually last long, there might be a part of you that wants to document the event. If so, what will you need and how can you capture such a spectacle?
The Equipment for Blood Moon Photography
Video courtesy of Chris Cloud
When viewing a solar eclipse, you have to wear special glasses. Taking a photo also entails putting on ND filters on your camera. Enjoying a lunar eclipse, on the other hand, doesn’t require anything fancy. You’re free to gaze at the phenomenon without damaging your eyes or equipment. To get a good view or capture a great shot, make sure you bring a telescope and a zoom lens.
How to take a Great Blood Moon Photo
There are some things you can control, and some things you can’t. A clear sky would definitely be best for getting a good shot. However, the weather isn’t always predictable. You can, however, use apps like PhotoPills, to plan your shot.
Where you shoot also adds something extra to your image. For example, you can shoot near a body of water for reflection shots in addition to just the moon in all its glory.
Zoom Lens and Shutter Speed
Since the moon is rather far away, you will need a zoom lens, and a lengthy one at that. A 200mm zoom will work fine, but it is best to use one 400mm and over. Knowing that you need a long lens and will be shooting at night means bringing a tripod is necessary.
Set your camera to use a high shutter speed to get sharp photos. You will also need to push your ISO to the limit. You can start with 200 then work your way up from there.
Aperture must be set wide so you can capture the entire beauty. For best results, try to stick to Manual and tinker with settings and see how you like the results.
The Next Eclipse in 2019
If you miss out on this one, there’s another one coming in 2019. Save the date for the 21st of January, but that won’t be as big or as long as this one.
