Full Moon by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

Photo of the full moon taken in the early hours of July 4th from the Eleven while the moon was between Legacy and Stonebridge. 

On the morning of July 4th, I went out at 5:15am to take photographs of the full moon setting. I had planned to take the photograph from a location on the Stone Arch Bridge when the moon was above the Mill City District. The City’s closure of the bridge disrupted that plan. My alternative location was from our condo amenity deck. From the deck I was able to see the moon setting in the open space between the Legacy and Stonebridge condominiums before sunrise. On July 4, the moonset was at 6:42am and the sunrise was at 5:32am. By 5:30am the moon was out of view behind Stonebridge.

The best time to take a moon photograph is when moonset or moonrise is close in time to the sunrise or sunset. For instance, on July 2, 2023 the moonrise and sunset were both at 9:03pm. Since the sky remains bright for a time after the sun appears to set below the horizon, there is an opportunity to photograph a moonrise while the foreground in front of the horizon is still illuminated. This particular image is one photograph, not a composite or blend. I set exposure, aperture and ISO to capture to the maximum extent possible, both detail in the bright moon and in a dimly lit foreground. Of course while I am dialing in those settings both the moon and sun are constantly moving and the brightness of the sky constantly changing.

On July 16th the moonset will be at 8:52pm and the sunset will be at 8:56pm. But only 0.7% of the moon will be visible, so its hardly worth the time and effort. However, on August 1st there will be a supermoon and the moonset and sunrise will be 41 minutes apart, and the sunset and moonrise will be 36 minutes apart. My next step will be to determine from where to take the photograph.

You can see more of my work @ricrosowphotography.com and @Tres Leches Art Gallery.