How To Photograph The Full Moon With An iPhone — And When To Try This Weekend
A few minutes after moonrise where you are on both Friday, Aug. 8, and Saturday, Aug. 9, is when to look to the southeastern sky (from the Northern Hemisphere) to see the moon appear on the horizon. That will occur during dusk, soon after the sun has set in the west.
Taking a great photo of the full moon using an iPhone isn't easy. Despite the full moon looking big when it's close to the horizon, it's not — that's the "moon illusion" tricking your brain. The iPhone's lack of optical zoom is a serious limiting factor, while the brightness of the moon is another challenge. However, it's possible to get a photo of the full moon you'll love. Here are some tips:
1. Time It Right
If you're photographing the full moon with your iPhone, don't wait until it's high in the sky. Your best chance is at moonrise, when the moon is low on the horizon and glows orange and yellow in dusk or twilight. With more light around than at night, your iPhone will better handle contrast and balance exposure. Check the time of moonrise and be in position 10 minutes beforehand, choosing an east-facing location with an unobstructed view (rooftops and beaches are good locations).
2. Use a Tripod and Timer
Your iPhone is capable of sharp images, but only if it's kept still. Even a slight shake from pressing the shutter can blur your moon shot, especially with slower shutter speeds in low light. A small smartphone tripod and a universal mount make a huge difference. The iPhone's built-in timer can delay the shutter by three seconds, giving you a chance to steady the shot. If you're without a tripod, rest your iPhone on a wall, bag, or stable surface to keep it as still as possible.
3. Lock Focus And Adjust Exposure
To stop your iPhone from overexposing the bright moon, tap and hold on the moon in your camera preview to lock focus. A yellow box and 'AE/AF LOCK' will appear. Then slide your finger down to lower the exposure until the moon's surface detail becomes visible without losing the surrounding scene. This manual adjustment is crucial because otherwise the iPhone attempts to balance the shot and struggles to do so.
4. Use RAW Mode
If you're using an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, or later, turn on Apple ProRAW in your Camera settings (Settings > Camera > Formats > Apple ProRAW). This mode gives you more data to work with when editing, preserving shadow and highlight detail that compressed formats miss. Combined with Smart HDR (enabled by default on newer iPhones) you'll get a more balanced image with more texture and contrast. Stick with ISO 100 when possible if using a third-party camera app.
5. Think Creatively And Avoid Zoom
When you zoom in on an iPhone, you're mostly just cropping and degrading your image. So resist the temptation to zoom and instead, frame your photo to include objects in the foreground — such as tree branches, buildings, mountains or silhouettes of statues or street furniture. Shooting through a gap in buildings or capturing a reflection in water adds atmosphere and depth, something even the best zoom can't replicate. Keeping the moon in the background of an image with another subject is often much more powerful than an image of just the moon.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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