You’ve walked this trail a hundred times before. Usually, you have a hand to hold or a baby strapped to your chest. Tonight, you are alone. It’s not until you see milky clouds streaking across the sky you realize how weird the woods have become. A rabbit darts across the trail and the word “mad” comes to mind. We are all mad here.
Shifting your weight and shaking your head, you decide it’s the light causing everything to look wrong. Despite it being winter you feel warm and take off your jacket. A wolf howls nearby, but you aren’t scared. You listen as the sound echoes off the black skeletal trees. The branches reach toward the full moon. You feel yourself doing the same. You sway in place, moving with the wind. The moonlight feels good when it enters. Vast.
“As if you were on fire from within.
The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
—Pablo Neruda
When you fail to capture the full moon properly with your camera, you create something different. I hope you enjoyed these moody shots and let me know if you have a favorite. Although I promised myself no challenges this year, I’m going to photograph every full moon. Maybe I’ll get better.
These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
I like the framing on number nine. Fantastic work, my friend.
Thank you. I tried editing these in a variety of ways and ended up liking these darker, moodier versions best. I’ve got more to learn to really capture the moon.
I thought you did a fantastic job. 😊
I needed that. Thank you.
You’re most welcome.
I like each photo for its uniqueness, Bridgette! Ethereal beauty. ❤️😊
That means so much, John. Thank you! I was a bit down because I couldn’t get my settings right, but I ended up being happy with these.
You are very welcome, Bridgette! Try shooting in Auto once in a while, there isn’t always time to set the camera up for the shot. You can correct a lot of boogers in your photos during processing. That’s what I do but do like using the Nikon in Manual too.
I did auto and a whole bunch of other settings! I just couldn’t get the moon and the clouds to both have detail no matter what I did. Time for more research.
You aren’t alone, Bridgette, I have never taken a good photo of the moon. I see moon photos from others that are beautiful! It can be done! 😂
Is that a shooting star in #7 or a trick of light? Either way, I love them all.
I was hoping someone would notice that. I’m not sure. If you zoom in close it looks like 3 figures, which could be 3 lights on a plane. Or maybe a shooting star…or who knows??
A spaceship!🛸 Lol when I zoom in, it does look like the trail from a plane. Maybe the plane is distorted from the photograph. How cool would that be to capture a shooting star.🌠
Lovely! I especially like #4 and #9 for how both tree and moon are vivid.
Thanks, Ali. Those are my favorite too. I’m excited to see how photographing each full moon will develop my skills over the year.
I love #3
Well, implicit over explicit, you know is my taste. Here, yes, moonlight over the moon itself I most adore (#0, #2). Suggest the moon rather than show the moon. Two is a visual poem all in and of itself. I could write a poem but it would only be a distraction.
Very very honorable mentions include #1, 4, 6, 7 (but I’d remove the contrail), 8 (oh yea), #9 (happy halloween, I love). So yes, for a brief moonlight stroll, definite good results Bridgette.
I’m glad you liked so many of these Neil. I thought #7 looked a bit like a shooting star and so that’s why it remained. Mystery it says to me. I’m starting to see how my photography can be poems themselves. I’m going to lean more and more on the relationship of that too. What happens next? What informs what? Let’s see. Mystery.
I love the moon with the trees kind of framing it, like 4 and 6.
Me too! Those are my favorite shots, but I also love the trees at night. I always get a little afraid of them, perhaps it was watching Wizard of Oz too young. I’m worried they will sprout arms and grab me or a face will appear and yell at me.
A great gallery Bridgette. I love how you used the vegetation as well 🙂
I’m so happy you liked these! Yes, I think trees and moons go together quite perfectly.
Very nice photos
Thank you so much.
You’re welcome
Bridgette, six and nine call to me, The moon slightly hidden pokes through the branches, and like fingers they gently touch it’s presence. Framing it until they can hold on no more, Then it leaves and they long for more. Welldone Bridgette moonscapes shadows and reflections enhance the way we look at the world ☺️🙏
I’m so happy you like those! Yes, I think trees do seem to always be trying to reach the moon, to catch it. I’m glad these photos reflected that for you and told you a story. That’s the direction I’m going with my photography, a story of sorts.
It’s going to be hard to get better, these photos are terrific! I love the way you centered your shots. The mood is captured perfectly. I love the accompanying text as well. Number eight is my favorite, although they are all breathtaking.
You’ve made my day with your kind comment Marylou! Yes, it will be fun to see what happens over the year with these photos. I want to see what kind of relationship I can foster with the moon…what story I can tell of the year through these photos. It’s an exciting challenge.
I felt like I was right there with you. Favs: #9, #6, #4.
I’m so glad you were along with me, Patti! Thank you so much.
That description was visceral and the photography, chef’s kiss 🤌🏼✨
So glad you enjoyed both! Thank you 🙂
Every photo is so captivating and bewitching. I loved your writing, it was so vivid and enthralling. This was one of my favourite pieces from you.
All great spooky, moody shots. Oddly enough, #2. Photographically, meh. But in the context of the others, it’s the little girl or boy you think is going to kill the family when they fall asleep.
Haha! Yeah, I can totally see that. The night actually wasn’t this dark and gloomy, but my mood was. I promise not all these moon shoots will be this dreary. At least I hope not!
I much like & ❤️ 4th & 9th. Superb photography. So net & clean capture all photos. Amazing cleariety. Wonderful photography of Full moon. Very interesting written words in poem. Nice quote “As if you were on fire from within.
The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
—Pablo Neruda
I’m so glad you liked those! It was fun to photograph the full moon and I look forward to doing it again.
Most welcome 🤗! Good doing that again!
All are winderfully evocative, Bridgette.
How kind of you to say, Judith! Thank you.
Haunting quality to these, Bridgette! 💞💞💞
Thanks! Although it’s not October (the typical haunting month) it was what I was going for. I promise not all these full moon shoots will be so gloomy.
The haunting vibe is alluring 💞
hard to pick a favorite! this shots are exquisite 🌝
I’m so happy you like them. I’m not sure why I’m so drawn to black-and-white photography, but it seemed to really fit my mood.
love that following your curiosity!
Stunning shots!
Thank you so much!
dark, haunting, gothic; perfect backdrop for Dracula —
Totally! I could see him rather liking this atmosphere.
Beautiful and atmospheric! I loved both the writing and photos 🙂
Thank you! I really love photographing the moon.