Showing posts with label moon. Show all posts

Monday, November 29, 2021

Setting Sun - Rising Moon

The Sun, The Moon, One Outing

Once a month (sometimes twice!) we get treated to a wonderful event - a full moon. What makes it even more special is that the moon rises within minutes of the sunset, giving the landscape photographer two wonderful opportunities. I will admit that I don't often get excited about a full moon, I have the obligatory near frame-filling image of the moon but if you've seen one, you've seen them all. I like when I can shoot the moon as I would a sunrise or sunset, as it emerges from (or sinks below) the horizon with a good supporting foreground. Since the full moon rises (and sets) within minutes of sunset (or sunrise) there is still a lot of ambient light allowing shorter shutter speeds. Once the moon gets higher in the sky you often get a white blob unless you exposure stack.

Setting Sun

Sunset - Divine Lake
1/10 @ f/16 - 22mm (35mm)

I often get asked, "Which do you prefer, sunrise or sunset?" The honest answer is, "How is the cloud cover?" For me, the clouds make all the difference. I am usually up before sunrise and awake well after sunset so that isn't a consideration. The sunrise is a bit more challenging because you are setting up in the dark, which makes composing and focusing a bit challenging but there is a certain "magic" about watching the new day arrive. A sunset means you are packing up and going back to your car in the dark which brings it's own challenges.

The sunset here was made at Divine Lake in Spring Lake, a location that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I like to plan my photo trips and arrive well ahead of time but this day was one of the exceptions; it was a last-minute trip and I got there as the sun was nearing the tops of the trees. My intended subject was on the west side of the lake, hoping to get the golden hour light on the trees and one of the foot bridges. Immediately upon arrival I had to scramble for an alternative because the sun was already too low. This was one time when previous scouting paid off.

I usually set up with St. Catharine Church as my main subject with the sun setting behind, hoping to get some nice reflections in the lake. I went out one afternoon this past summer to look for other areas of the lake that had potential. I already had a nice composition for foliage (see Autumnal Beauty - Does It Get Any Better?) but I needed more sunset and, potentially, sunrise compositions. I found these stairs during that trip, along with a few other possibilities.

I try to go out periodically for the sole purpose of scouting new locations. I carry my gear with me, just in case, but I go to places looking for possible compositions or areas of interest. If anything looks like it has potential, a snapshot or two are made with my phone, make some notes in a notebook and I move on. I will write another post about scouting in the future as I don't want to stray too far from the real subject here.

Rising Moon

Rising Moon - Silver Lake

1 sec @ f/14 - 47mm (75mm)

When I was satisfied I had a couple good images I packed up and headed for home. I decided to take the longer way home and drive along Ocean Avenue, I was only a couple blocks away and it is a nice drive. Almost immediately upon turning onto the road I noticed the (near) full moon set against a dark blue sky and surrounded by whispy, pink-tinged clouds - I was not going straight home!

I knew exactly where I wanted to be, Avon-by-the-Sea at the inlet to Shark River. Though I didn't know if the tide was high or even if it was coming in, that was where I wanted to be so that I could use the rocks and get a nice reflection in the ocean. As you can see from the image here, I never made it. As soon as I crossed into Belmar I remembered a sunset I did at Silver Lake, it was when I discovered this beautiful little tree (you can find images from that day on my Instagram feed - here, here, and here.) If luck was on my side, the moon would be close to the tip of the tree. It turned out that the moon was much higher in the sky than I thought but it was still low enough to be included in a few compositions. The image presented here is my favorite of the bunch, you can still see some of the sunset color in the clouds, even though they a bit more subtle than what I saw earlier.

The full moon was the next day and I had planned to return, hoping to catch the moon "under" the branches on the left of the tree or precariously perched at the top of the tree. Unfortunately, that plan had to be scrapped but I made some notes and added a few entries in my calendar to remind me when upcoming moons would be in position - hopefully one will be a "Supermoon." If I get my image, you will find it here and on my Instagram feed.

If you enjoyed these images and would like to see more of my work, consider checking out (and following) my Instagram feed - https://www.instagram.com/valencia32photo/. If you enjoyed this post, please do me a small favor and share it with others. You will find buttons for many of the popular social media platforms at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

Technical information:

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i (crop sensor - 1.6 factor)
Lenses: Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Tripod: MeFOTO Roadtrip Classic
ISO 100
All focal lengths are as-recorded - the full-frame equivalent in parenthesis.
Shutter tripped with wired shutter release.
While on the tripod, "image stabilization" is turned off.
I will often use auto-focus to focus on my subject and then turn it off. This makes bracketing easier and I can take successive images without the camera hunting for focus each time - this is particularly useful when it starts getting darker.
All images where made using "M"anual exposure, using "live preview" and the histogram as guides. I will often use the built-in bracketing but find that I like the flexibility of manual.

Note: I mention my focusing and exposure techniques for reference only. This is what works for me, at this time. When shooting sunrise and sunset I typically use manual exposure - most other times I will use aperture-priority when shooting landscapes. Find what works for you.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

App Review: SunCalc and MoonCalc

Setting Full Moon - Maclearie Park
Belmar, New Jersey

I have referenced a few apps over the past few months and I promised to do some reviews. Today I am going to review two (2) apps that are essentially the same but different; SunCalc and MoonCalc. Their functionality and interface are the same, it is just the subject matter that is different. SunCalc shows information pertaining to the sun, while MoonCalc shows the same information but in relation to the moon.

SunCalc screen capture

A few years ago I wrote a review of Excate Golden Hour - App Review: Exsate Golden Hour. You could probably replace Golden Hour with SunCalc but I would recommend using both, as each has their strengths and weaknesses.

So. Why would you want either of these apps? If you are a landscape photographer it is helpful to know the times of sunrise and sunset but it is even more helpful to know where the sun will be at any given time. Using SunCalc, you can see exactly where the sun will be on the horizon when it rises - at any location on earth. If you have been wanting to get the sun rising (setting) over your favorite fishing pier but never seem to be able to time it right - this is the app for you!

I used MoonCalc to determine the date the full moon would be setting directly over "the tree" at Maclearie Park and was able to capture the lead image just before it dipped below the horizon. Using the app, I knew exactly when and where the moon was going to be, allowing me to set up in the dark with confidence.

SunCalc app menu

If you take a look at the screen capture on the right, you will see that the app is rather simple to use. You can either use your current location or any location you want to check out. You can even create a custom list of frequently visited locations using the "heart+" icon in the upper right corner. I wanted to take a look at Manasquan Reservoir (one of my custom locations) and got a snapshot of where the sun was at 10:40 AM this morning.

Date & Time input screen

The app shows "Azimuth", "Altitude" and "Shadow" for the time selected as-well-as the time of "Sunrise", "Sunset" and "High Noon", or when the sun is directly overhead. Using this information you can plan your outing. If you want to see where the sun will set, just remove the check in the "Live" box and slide the time to when you will be shooting. As you move the time slider, you will see the position of the sun move - when it changes from orange to gray, you have gone beyond sunset. You can also set the time and date by touching anywhere on the date above the slider which will bring you to another screen allowing you to set a precise date and time.

If you want to zoom in (or out) - you can do so by "pinching" the screen. If you want to move to a different location within the general area, just use your finger to move the map to where you want the center point to be. You can get to a specific location/address by touching the screen (in this instance to the left of the green "on" button) and enter the address in the search box. There are three lines in the upper-left corner of the app - pressing this icon will open the menu where you can directly access any of the functions discussed above.

Sunset - Maclearie Park

As you can see, the app is rather simple and easy to use but provides quite a bit of useful information. I won't go into MoonCalc because it is exactly the same except it relates to the moon instead of the sun. The really nice thing with these apps is that they both have web-based counter-parts so you can sit in the comfort of your home and pre-plan your landscape shoot. The websites are https://www.suncalc.org/ and https://www.mooncalc.org/. The websites contain quite a bit more information, the ability to print what is on the screen and links for downloading the apps. To be honest, I use the websites more than I do the app; the app is used primarily for when I go out on a spur-of-the-moment shoot.

You can change the type of map displayed by using the "Settings" menu option - the illustration used here is the basic map, there is also an option to show streets or a satellite image. I use the satellite image on the website to give me a better idea of compositions while I have the default or street maps on the phone app to give me a general idea of where the sun will be.

As a final example, the Maclearie Park sunset was planned using the SunCalc website. Knowing where the sun will be setting in the sky long before it actually approaches the horizon is a great advantage. I was able to find this composition and set up at my leisure.

The bottom-line is this - download and install both apps and keep them on your phone. They don't take up a lot of space and you never know when they will give you the information you need to grab the perfect shot! Oh, did I mention? They are 100% free!

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A Rare Photo Shoot With a Friend

Sunset Sky and Reflection
Manasquan Reservoir

Collaborating

If there is one thing you have probably noticed about me is that I tend to shoot alone. There are very few times when I get together with another photographer and virtually never a group. It's not that I am particularly anti-social but I value my solitude and, honestly, most of my shoots are last minute events. That is not to say I am always alone, my wife and I enjoy going out to parks and I will shoot. My son has also accompanied me on a couple occasions recently. This past Monday was one of the rare exceptions.

Jim and I grew up in the same town and have known each other forever. I think Monday may have been the first time we have seen each other in more than 40 years.... I've been meaning to get together with Jim for a while and we even had a shoot scheduled once before but I had to cancel. I sent Jim a quick message on Sunday to see if he was available to shoot a sunset, fortunately he was.

Where Should We Go?

I checked Clear Outside¹ to see what kind of conditions we could expect for the sunset; it was calling for 98% high cloud coverage. That isn't good but it's better than low clouds - at least we had a fighting chance of some color. Luck was on our side because the full moon was appearing on Monday, this gave up a second opportunity for images. I decided on Chestnut Point at Manasquan Reservoir because I knew we would be able to come away with some images even if the sunset was a bust. A quick check with MoonCalc¹ showed me that the moon was rising at just about the same time as the sun was setting. I was actually looking forward to the rising moon than the setting sun.

Full Moon Rising #1

So Many Compositions!

This was Jim's first time at the reservoir and I wanted to make sure he came away with some good images so I arrived a little early to look around. I have shot here before (Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend) but things change with the water level of the reservoir, dramatically changing the landscape at times. It didn't take long to find this little pool of water, the water was almost mirror smooth making a nice contrast with the small waves in the reservoir. It has a nice foreground, too.

We broke out our tripods, set up the cameras and waited for the show to begin. It was nice catching up after all this time and having someone to pass the time with while waiting. As the sun was setting the reality hit - we weren't going to get the amazing sunset that I was hoping for. The cloud cover was just too thick, although there was a nice red glow around the Environmental Center, just no decent composition to go along with it.

Full Moon Rising #2

This is one reason I don't often invite others - it is one thing to drag myself out and leave empty-handed but it is another thing when you drag someone along with you and they come away with nothing. I think that is one reason why I haven't done any workshops....

It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon. – Galileo Galilei

The Silver Lining

As it became clear that sunset was a bust I was desperately looking for something to salvage the excursion. That is when the moon made it's first, faint, appearance over the distant trees. Okay, we are going to witness something special if the moon peeks thru the clouds for us. We stayed where we were but turned the cameras slightly to the north and awaited our chance. I took a couple shots but decided there was too much foreground and that moving closer to the water would make for a better composition. I don't want to brag, but I was right.... 😉

The word of the day was "bracket" and I did. The last time I had the moon in a landscape I ended up with little more than a bright orb in the sky. I knew I wasn't able to get a well-exposed moon and well-exposed landscape so I went to far extremes in exposure; the plan is to use blending in Photoshop to come up with a good composite image. I will do that at a later date and dedicate an entire post to composites and exposure blending. The images shown here are all processed from a single exposure - there was no HDR or exposure blending used.

In the end, I think I walked away with a few reasonably good images and hope that Jim did the same. I haven't seen his work yet but hope to soon.

At The End of The Day

When all is said and done, I'm glad that I invited Jim to join me for a shoot. The intended purpose of the get-together was for me to deliver a calendar to him and we originally were going to meet at my office for the exchange. I had to cancel that somewhat last minute and it turned out for the best.

I may have to re-think some of my planned outings and change them from solo outings to collaborations. Only time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the story and images. I would love to hear your stories about plans that go awry but turn out better than expected. Leave me some comments below. Thanks again!

¹ I wrote about Clear Outside and MoonCalc in Manasquan Reservoir - A Sunrise & Sunset Weekend. I will be writing full reviews after I spend more time working with them.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Sunset and a Peek-a-Boo Moon

Sunset

After a particularly rough day at the office I decided to shoot a sunset on the way home. The conditions were okay but I knew I wasn't going to get an incredibly spectacular sky. This shoot wasn't necessarily about getting a great image but rather unwinding and getting rid of a bad day.

When I got to MacLearie Park in Belmar I had about 30 minutes or so until sunset so I took my time finding a composition. I have shot here before but always at the westernmost point so that I can get a sailboat and small tree in the shot. I wanted something different this time so I walked along the water towards the east until I found the tree that is in the first image. I now had a subject but that is a long way from having a composition that I was happy with. I finally settled on the somewhat wide, landscape shot and waited for some color on the horizon.

While waiting, I took out my phone and wandered around - I turned towards the west and got this image of the sky. You can see the edges of the clouds just beginning to get some red and magenta along the edges. I shot this with the camera in Lightroom for Mobile, did some on-location editing and used this as my "I am here, where are you?" social media shot for the night.

I was happy with the first composition but wanted to see if I could isolate the tree a little more so I moved a bit to my left, went from wide angle to a moderate telephoto focal length and shot. I cropped it to a square in post-production and really like the way it came out. This is definitely a tree that is going to get more exposure in the coming weeks and months.

Peek-a-Boo Moon

Don’t pack up your camera until you’ve left the location. – Joe McNally

When the sun was down and I had gotten what I came for I picked up the tripod and headed back to the car. It was a chilly evening but nice so I took the long way. I had not gone far when I decided to take a look at "my" tree from the opposite side - maybe it would be a nice subject for a sunrise one of these days. I turned around and was confronted by the scene shown in the last image. The moon was peaking thru the cloud, I had the lights of the marina and bridge in the distance. I quickly set down the tripod, composed the image and grabbed a few shots before the cloud ate the moon for good.

The quote above is one that I found a while ago and I pull it out every once in a while. I used to pack up my gear when I was done shooting and then head back to my car - it was easier to carry and I could just get in the car and leave. I did this even after I saw this quote! I don't do it any more.... I had an instance where I packed up and an unbelievable composition with near perfect light jumped out at me - I grabbed by bag, set up the camera, pointed it and then muttered a few words that I won't use in polite company. The moment was gone.... I have not packed up before reaching the car ever since.

All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

Exploring Photography with Joe Valencia