Take your cameras and capture the blood moon



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On July 27, 2018, South Africans can testify to a total lunar eclipse, because the shadow of the earth completely covers the moon.

Also known as blood or red moon, a total lunar eclipse is the most dramatic of all. lunar eclipses and presents an exciting photographic opportunity for any aspiring photographer or budding astronomer.

"A lunar eclipse is a rare cosmic sight.For centuries, these events have inspired wonder, interest and sometimes fear among observers.Of course, if you are lucky enough to To be there, you will want to capture everything on camera, "says Dana Eitzen, Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager at Canon South Africa

Canon ambassador and acclaimed landscape photographer, David Noton, provides his best advice to keep at the mind when photographing this opportunity.

In South Africa, the total lunar eclipse will be visible from 19:14 on Friday, July 27 until 1:28 on Saturday, July 28. L & # 39; lunar eclipse will see sunlight blocked by the earth when it passes the moon.

The moon will turn red due to an effect known as Rayleigh Scattering, where green light strips and violet will be filtered through to the moon, the atmosphere.

The partial eclipse will begin at 8:24 pm when the moon begins to turn red. The total eclipse will begin around 9:30 pm when the moon is completely red. The eclipse will reach its maximum at 22:21 when the moon will be closest to the center of the shadow.

Download the right apps to be aware

The position of the sun in the sky at any time of the day varies considerably with latitude and season.

This is not the case of the moon because its passage through the heavens is governed by its complex elliptical orbit of the earth. This orbit causes monthly rather than seasonal variations as the moon moves in its lunar cycle. The result is great differences in the timing of its appearance and its trajectory in the sky.

Fortunately, we no longer need to rely on weight tables to consult the behavior of the moon, we can simply download an application on our phone

The Photographer's Ephemeris are useful for giving the times lunar and moon phases and lunar and lunar phases; while the Photopills application gives full information about the position of the moon in our sky.

Armed with these two applications, I intend to turn the Blood Moon that rises in Dorset, England. I aim to capture the moon in the first fifteen minutes of the moonrise so that I can catch it low in the sky and juxtapose it against an object on the horizon line to scale – it could be as simple as a tree on a hill. 19659003] Investing in a lens with an optimal zoom

On July 27, one of the main challenges we will face is to photograph the moon in the frame so that we can see each crater on the surface of the planet. 39 asteroid hail. This is a task normally reserved for astronomers with super-powerful telescopes, but if you have a long telephoto lens on a full-frame SLR with approximately 600 mm focal length, this can be done, depending on the composition.

use the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with an EF 200-400mm f / 4L IS USM Ext. 1,4 x lens

Use a tripod to capture intimate details

When you frame your shot, a thing becomes immediately apparent; Lunar tracking is incredibly difficult as the moon moves surprisingly fast in the sky. As you will use a long lens for this shoot, it is important to invest in a solid tripod to capture the best possible picture.

Although it's tempting to take the picture by hand, it's important to remember that the subject is over 384,000 km from you and even with a high shutter speed, the less movement will become exaggerated.

Integrate the Moon into Your Landscape

While the images of the moon can be beautifully detailed, they are essentially astronomical in their appeal.

Personally, I am much more attracted to the use of lunar pace as an element in my landscapes, or the use of moonlight as a source of light.

The amount of light reflected by the moon is tiny, while the lunar surface is so bright in comparison. Until now, night photography meant long and long exposures, but with cameras such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV now capable of amazing performance in low light, a whole new night world of opportunities has been opened.

Master the shutter speed for your subject

The most evocative and most authentic use of the moon in landscape portraits results from situations where light on the moon s'. balance with twilight in the surrounding sky. Such images have a subtle appeal, mood, and credibility.

By definition, any scene incorporating a medium or wide angle view will make the moon a tiny puncture of light, but its presence will always be felt. Our eyes gravitate naturally, as insignificant as it may seem.

Of course, the question of the shutter speed is still there; too slow an exposure and all we will see is an unsightly lunar trail, even with a wide-angle lens.

On a clear night, controlling the shutter speed of your camera is integral to capturing the moon 1/250 sec @ f8 ISO 100 (depending on the focal length) is what you need to prevent motion blur and if you want to get the right technique, with the high quality of cameras such as Canon EOS 5DS R, you might even be able to see the twelve cameras that were left there by NASA in the 60s.

About David Noton: With a portfolio of landscapes and travel images, including the BBC Wildlife's photographer of the year several times, Noton runs his field for more than three decades. At 60, Noton is still specialized in landscape photography and travel with his camera and his favorite Canon lens being the EOS 5DS R, the EOS 5D Mark IV, the EF 24- 70mm f / 2.8L II USM