Photographing the Super Moon

A few days ago, we were treated to a Super Moon, and I took the opportunity to capture a couple of photos of the moon just before midnight. I was lying in bed, casually watching Netflix and scrolling through my phone, when I came across a notification that tonight would feature a Super Moon, also known as a Blue Moon. Without much hesitation, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my camera, and headed out onto the balcony, still in my underwear.

I shot the photos using my Sony Alpha 7 III with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, which is pretty much a permanent fixture on my camera these days. This was actually the first Super Moon of the year, and every now and then, I like to seize these opportunities to photograph the moon. I remember doing something similar while in Thailand, capturing the moon when it was particularly close to the Earth.

For those who might not be familiar with the term, a Super Moon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. This optical phenomenon is due to the moon being at its perigee, the point in its orbit where it's closest to Earth. The effect can be quite striking, especially when the moon rises or sets on the horizon, where the illusion of its size is even more pronounced.

Seeing the Super Moon that night was a breathtaking experience. There’s something almost magical about gazing at the moon when it feels so close, as if you could reach out and touch it. The subtle details, the craters, and the shadows all become so much more vivid, making it a perfect subject for photography. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love capturing the night sky, even if it means stepping out onto the balcony in the middle of the night.