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.
Rainbows and moonbows have one distinct difference. The former is created by direct sunlight while the latter comes from moonlight, leading to the alternate name of lunar rainbows. Because direct sunlight is many times brighter than when it is reflected off the moon, lunar rainbows are the much fainter of the two. In general it is difficult or impossible to see their colors live but they do show up in pictures taken with a long exposure.
One will only have the opportunity to see and photograph one of these under certain conditions. The moon has to be relatively bright, at or near full, and not too far above the horizon. The sky must be dark and there must be rain opposite the moon. These conditions are not only rare but also make for challenging 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.
There are several things that you'll want to have ready if the opportunity to photograph a moonbow does present itself. Since these only occur when the light is relatively low, necessitating very slow shutter speeds, a tripod is definitely advisable to allow for a clear photo to be taken. A remote control for the shutter can be helpful in this regard as well. For DSLR cameras, a wide angle lens may be preferable so that you can capture the whole scene. In addition, something to protect your camera from the damp conditions, an extra battery and spare memory would all be wise to have on hand.
To take the actual photo, you will have to set your camera for a long exposure time in order to let in enough light for a quality shot. While it may be tempting to use the flash, this is likely to result in a poor picture and could affect other photographers nearby. Also, the camera needs to remain completely still in order to prevent blurring.
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.
Lunar rainbows are a rare sight. Because of this, moonbow photography is both challenging and rewarding. It certainly pays to be prepared to capture the moment when it does indeed occur.
Rainbows and moonbows have one distinct difference. The former is created by direct sunlight while the latter comes from moonlight, leading to the alternate name of lunar rainbows. Because direct sunlight is many times brighter than when it is reflected off the moon, lunar rainbows are the much fainter of the two. In general it is difficult or impossible to see their colors live but they do show up in pictures taken with a long exposure.
One will only have the opportunity to see and photograph one of these under certain conditions. The moon has to be relatively bright, at or near full, and not too far above the horizon. The sky must be dark and there must be rain opposite the moon. These conditions are not only rare but also make for challenging 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.
There are several things that you'll want to have ready if the opportunity to photograph a moonbow does present itself. Since these only occur when the light is relatively low, necessitating very slow shutter speeds, a tripod is definitely advisable to allow for a clear photo to be taken. A remote control for the shutter can be helpful in this regard as well. For DSLR cameras, a wide angle lens may be preferable so that you can capture the whole scene. In addition, something to protect your camera from the damp conditions, an extra battery and spare memory would all be wise to have on hand.
To take the actual photo, you will have to set your camera for a long exposure time in order to let in enough light for a quality shot. While it may be tempting to use the flash, this is likely to result in a poor picture and could affect other photographers nearby. Also, the camera needs to remain completely still in order to prevent blurring.
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.
Lunar rainbows are a rare sight. Because of this, moonbow photography is both challenging and rewarding. It certainly pays to be prepared to capture the moment when it does indeed occur.
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