Full Moon

Full Moon

Chasing full moons in the valley can be a long drawn out process but also can produce a one in a lifetime image. Rising in the east, the night before a full moon actually works better for photography since it will rise while the sky has a hint of color and also provides enough light to include a foreground silhouette of the ridgeline.

Nighttime isn't the only time to photograph a full moon. Keep in mind that in the summer a full moon rises at sunset but sets at sunrise. This photographs captures the Harvest Moon in September setting in the west as the sunrise illuminates the Tetons and clouds. I shot this from the highway because I needed quick mobility to track the setting moon that morning.

Don't forget that the moon doesn't have to be the subject but it can also be what illuminates the mountain range. Like in the photo at Jackson Lake or the image of the mountains on the Photographers page showing Comet Hale-Bopp. A long exposure opens up a new world in the night, that always amazes people.

Photo by Jonathan Adams