The Buck Moon rising over Old Harry Rocks
Category
Low Light Photography
Location
Taken from Studland, Dorset, towards Old Harry Rocks
Gear
Canon R6, Canon RF100-400mm lens with x2 extender i.e. 800mm equivalent
Description
I have tried for this composition on several occasions, usually to be scuppered by various issues, in particular unexpected low cloud obscuring the full moon. Hence, it was all the more fulfilling when it eventually all came together in July 2026. And I was also blessed with a lovely arrangement of sailing boats with masts in the foreground. The transition of the moon, emerging from low haze towards the horizon, and then revealing its full beauty as it ascended, adds to the drama, in the context of a stunning coastal location This shot required careful planning including waiting for a full moon with correct orientation (azimuth) to allow for this composition, and then precise setting up at the correct location assisted by Photopills, but choosing my composition with the sailing boats to their optimum arrangement. My 100-400mm lens with extender is a slow lens (f16 maximum aperture at full zoom), and hence I needed to carefully balance exposure (using bracketing) with just sufficient ISO to allow fast enough shutter to minimise 'trailing' of the moon as well as noise. Precise focusing was achieved whilst there was sufficient light beforehand, and then I switched to manual focusing to 'fix' the focus. The bracketed exposures with pre-set white balance allowed to compensate for rapidly falling ambient light, such that roughly similar sky exposures could be selected to more accurately depict the changing colour and brightness of the moon. The changing position of the moon was blended using layer masks in Photoshop, choosing images that allowed for nice separation between each of the 4 moons. The camera remained in the same landscape position throughout all images captured, except the final moon capture (to the right and highest) in which the only adjustment was slightly rotating the camera upwards to avoid cropping out the moon as it ascended.
Photographer
Saleem Taibjee
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saleem.taibjee
Website: https://saleemtaibjeephotography.myportfolio.com/
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