I have been getting some great results recently shooting long exposure images at night.  So I got all excited when the full moon came around, thinking that I would have a chance to get some really interesting photos.

First of all i have to tell you about a GREAT application called The Photographers Ephemeries that I use that gives you the sunrise/set and moonrise/set times and angles for anywhere in the world.  All this is overlaid on a map.  Really nice piece of work.  I have been using it on my Macbook, but now have it on my iPad.  Check it out here: http://photoephemeris.com

Back to the moon...

The moon is like a really good looking girl at the prom.  When it's out full, it's great to take pictures of, but it doesn't really care about how anything else looks.  So the full moon, in its vanity, washes all the rest of the colors out in a bright glare which ruins the great dark blues and such that make night shoots so cool.  Stars?  Forget about it!

ISO 800, 17mm, f/11 29sec

The interesting light glowing in these shots are actually from the building down the beach more than the ambient light.  Pretty cool, but limiting, and certainly not worth getting out of bed at 2:30 AM.  It also turned the sugary white sand our beach is famous for into a brown shade worthy of the Texas oil coast.  I guess I could have adjusted the colors, but it's a different look than what I usually get, and I kind of like the bronze tones.  At least it wasn't too cold...

ISO 800, 26mm, f/11, 24 sec

ISO 800, 17mm, f/11, 29sec

Even though the moon was a small light source relative to the subject, the reflection off the dunes really made a great, creamy light for this impromptu shot of the planet-killer.

ISO 2000, 25mm, f/11, 9sec

So, go outside and kick around in the dark.  I'll probably never be a really good photographer because have way more fun experimenting with new things than I do perfecting anything.  Oh well, guess I will have to seek fulfillment and enlightenment through meditation and watching black and white horror films!  :-)

In honor of the full moon, tonight is a screening WereWolf of London.

Lock your doors and shutters!   Aaaaaoooo!

- mike