Everyone is familiar with the beauty of rainbows. Fewer people, however, have seen a moonbow, either live or in pictures. If one gets the rare opportunity to view this phenomenon, it would be great to have a photo to remember and share the experience. Taking a quality shot in the conditions that need to be present is not easy. Thus, it's good to know some basic information beforehand regarding moonbow photography.
Moonbows are also known as lunar rainbows. They are created in the same way as rainbows except that they are produced by the light of the moon, not directly from that of the sun. Due to the lower level of light they are much fainter than rainbows and it is often difficult to see their colors with the naked eye. The colors can appear in photographs with long exposures though.
In order for this to occur there are certain conditions that must exist. The moon needs to be relatively bright and low with the sky being dark. The best chance of seeing one are near times of the full moon. Also, there must be falling rain opposite the moon. This combination of conditions explains their rarity and the difficulty in photography.
In some places one may see what is known as a spray moonbow when the moonlight reflects off of the mist of large waterfalls. Victoria Falls in Africa, between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is a site where this is known to occur. Two locations in the United Sates are also known for this, California's Yosemite National Park and Kentucky's Cumberland Falls.
You'll want to be sure to have the necessary items on hand if you're going to try to get a picture of a moonbow. One of the most important is a tripod for steadying the camera for a long exposure. If you have a remote control for the shutter this can be very helpful as well. If using a DSLR, you will want to have your widest angle lens in order to be able to take in the whole scene. Because of the presence of water, having something to protect your camera is advisable as well. Finally, bringing more than one battery and extra memory is always a good idea.
There are a few basic points to keep in mind when the time arrives to actually take the picture. Setting the camera for a long exposure is necessary to capture a sufficient amount of light. To prevent blurring, the camera will have to be held as steady as possible. Do not use the flash as this will ruin your shot and possibly those of other nearby photographers.
As with most photography, you will likely want to take a number of different shots. The more exposures you have, the greater the chances are that some will be to your liking. If you have the means to do so, a bit of post-processing may be in order depending on how the shots look straight out of the camera.
The rarity of a lunar rainbow is part of its beauty and allure. Moonbow photography can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Being properly prepared to capture the moment will greatly enhance your odds of getting a memorable photo.
Moonbows are also known as lunar rainbows. They are created in the same way as rainbows except that they are produced by the light of the moon, not directly from that of the sun. Due to the lower level of light they are much fainter than rainbows and it is often difficult to see their colors with the naked eye. The colors can appear in photographs with long exposures though.
In order for this to occur there are certain conditions that must exist. The moon needs to be relatively bright and low with the sky being dark. The best chance of seeing one are near times of the full moon. Also, there must be falling rain opposite the moon. This combination of conditions explains their rarity and the difficulty in photography.
In some places one may see what is known as a spray moonbow when the moonlight reflects off of the mist of large waterfalls. Victoria Falls in Africa, between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is a site where this is known to occur. Two locations in the United Sates are also known for this, California's Yosemite National Park and Kentucky's Cumberland Falls.
You'll want to be sure to have the necessary items on hand if you're going to try to get a picture of a moonbow. One of the most important is a tripod for steadying the camera for a long exposure. If you have a remote control for the shutter this can be very helpful as well. If using a DSLR, you will want to have your widest angle lens in order to be able to take in the whole scene. Because of the presence of water, having something to protect your camera is advisable as well. Finally, bringing more than one battery and extra memory is always a good idea.
There are a few basic points to keep in mind when the time arrives to actually take the picture. Setting the camera for a long exposure is necessary to capture a sufficient amount of light. To prevent blurring, the camera will have to be held as steady as possible. Do not use the flash as this will ruin your shot and possibly those of other nearby photographers.
As with most photography, you will likely want to take a number of different shots. The more exposures you have, the greater the chances are that some will be to your liking. If you have the means to do so, a bit of post-processing may be in order depending on how the shots look straight out of the camera.
The rarity of a lunar rainbow is part of its beauty and allure. Moonbow photography can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Being properly prepared to capture the moment will greatly enhance your odds of getting a memorable photo.
About the Author:
You can visit the website artisticzoom.com for more helpful information about The Basics Of Moonbow Photography
No comments:
Post a Comment