Eclipse 2019: How to photograph the Blood Moon? Veteran photographer David Noton's tips
THE Blood Moon eclipse tomorrow night creates a rare opportunity for photographers and astronomers alike to capture a snapshot of the total lunar eclipse. Here are four tips from veteran photographer David Noton.
Blood Moon: Time-lapse shows progression of eclipse
The incredibly rare Super Blood Moon is an incredible sight to behold, casting a red glow onto the face of the Moon’s rugged surface. The first and last Blood Moon of the year peaks on Sunday evening, January 20, in the US and on the morning of Monday, January 21, in the UK. In both cases, the eclipsed Blood Moon will journey through the starlit skies and cross paths with the darkest portion of the Earth’s shadow in space. When this happens, the gradually darkening Moon will start to turn red – a breathtaking opportunity to snap the perfect image of the Blood Moon eclipse.
1. Find the perfect spot and locate the Moon in the dark skies
David Noton, the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award winner and Canon Ambassador in the UK, starts every single eclipse shot by scouting the perfect location.
The photographer then uses the Photographer’s Ephemeris and Photopills apps to pinpoint precisely where the Moon will be on the day of the shoot.
Finding the ideal spot for your photos does involve a great deal of preparation and patience but the results will speak for themselves.
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This year, Mr Noton revealed to Express.co.uk he will shot the Blood Moon eclipse against the picturesque backdrop of the Jurassic Coast in the UK.
He said: “I need to double-check the location, but it’s from the cliffs east of Ringstead, looking back towards Portland, and the Moon should be hanging in the sky just to the south of west.
“So from 4.40am for the next hour, that will be my opportunity.”
And should poor weather spoil the view, the photographer will make the best of the day by still capturing a beautiful landscape photo.
2. Grab a camera lens with a wide viewing angle
During the Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse on January 31, 2018, Mr Noton opted to shoot the Blood Moon in a tight frame against the unmistakable monoliths of Stonehenge.
This year, however, the photographer will shoot the eclipse as part of a wider landscape involving the Jurassic Coast.
Eclipse events involve such meticulous planning and perseverance
For this shoot, Mr Noton has opted for a Canon EOS R camera coupled with a wide angle lens for low light focusing.
He said: “I’m not going to be shooting with a super long sense like Stonehenge. I’ll probably be shooting somewhere in between 35mm and 105mm.
“I haven’t quite finalised my composition yet but it will be with that kind of focal length.”
Shooting a wide angle lens, as opposed to a telephoto lens, will avoid “astronomy photos” of a zoomed-in Moon and add more creative freedom to your shots.
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3. Steady your camera with tripod, turn up the ISO and avoid low shutter speeds
Shooting along the Jurassic Coast, Mr Noton will be working in pitch-black conditions, meaning his camera sensor will need to absorb as much light as possible to expose his frame.
Turning up the ISO setting on your camera will allow more light in for each shot but it might come in at the cost of loss of quality.
Pricier camera models tend to handle higher ISO settings quite well although lower-end DSLRs might introduce digital noise to your pictures – find the perfect setting which works for you.
Mr Noton also advised you stabilise your camera with a sturdy tripod and avoid blur in your photos by not dropping your shutter speeds too low.
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Low shutter speeds allow more light to hit the sensor but go too low and your moving subjects will be blurry.
Mr Noton said: “This is a really tricky shot to do because exposing for the Moon and trying to get detail in the landscape below in the complete darkness is difficult.
“So you need to use a very high ISO, but still use a tripod, and don’t use a shutter speed that is too long, in which case the Moon will just streak through the frame.
“And learn from your mistakes as always. I have learned to have faith in my planning and I learned how exhilarating it is quite frankly.”
Lunar eclipse: Blood Moon footage from Cape Town
4. Enjoy the experience
Mr Noton said: “Because the eclipse events involve such meticulous planning and perseverance that goes into it when it all comes together it’s really, really exhilarating.
“It’s one of the biggest kicks I can get in photography and I think it’s a special thing to go out in the middle of the night and to stand on the cliff top of the Jurassic Coast – not many people do that – but photography is the impetus to go and these sort of things and to see these phenomena.
“I probably wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for that stimulus of photography and it’s a really special thing to do.
“I feel very privileged when I do witness these amazing events.”