A supermoon is definitely a magical sight! Tonight, after 70 years, the full moon will be bigger and brighter than ever! So it's the perfect opportunity to capture it!
So, here are some useful tips to take the best possible photo with your smartphone:
- Find a vantage point
The shot will be more impressive if it has a sense of scale. Try photographing the moon when it is close to the horizon, so the image includes a close-up. Another good idea is as it rises over a city or monument, or over a headland if you are near the coast.
According to NASA senior photographer Bill Ingalls, being in an urban area where there is more light can make shot more panoramic, including some new elements.
- Get your equipment
According to smartphone photography expert Leigh Stark, a smartphone with a better camera can help. “iPhone 7 owners are able to have an advantage because of the magnification provided by their camera. The iPhone 7 Plus will let you zoom in with optical zoom, while the iPhone 7 works with digital zoom.”
It's also worth using a tripod to eliminate the wobble. If you don't have one, use something to prop up your phone. Also, don't forget that you could use a telescope to which you attach your smartphone.
- Download the right apps
Stark also recommends that budding photographers download the free iOS and Android Adobe Lightroom app. Its most important feature? RAW support.
If you're not familiar with RAW, think of it as a digital negative, capturing more information and detail than a JPEG standard and allowing you to export it later. In the app, click on the camera, where you should be offered two options – “DNG” or “JPG”.
Choose DNG. “DNG is Adobe, also known as Digital Negative, and when you shoot in that format, you’re able to get more detail out of it later,” Stark explained. Using RAW, you’ll be able to combine the images later to get the best possible shot.
- Practice your focus technique
If you're using a smartphone camera, make sure you tap the moon on your screen to focus and adjust the brightness.
A good technique if you are high enough to photograph the moon over your city is to focus on the less bright buildings, thus getting a much brighter photo of the moon.
