All glory comes from daring to begin – Eugene F. Ware, American soldier There’s no better time for moonlight photography than when you are on holiday with a large territory you are free to wander over. Here’s a memorable evening at summer’s end with a cool southwester still about, as indicated in this well-clad group […]

When inspiration arrives I want it to find me working. –  Pablo Picasso “Some highway” means that I do not know exactly where this was taken. On Easter holiday near Tongariro National Park (central North Island), we were off for a drive-about, on the night before full moon. Here we might be on the Turangi […]

Low-flying cloud on the outskirts of New Plymouth accompanies this uncommon perspective from a high point near Barrett Domain. Running the beam over this attractive specimen from a steep ridge nearby, I spotted another outline in the background. Although deceased, the second tree adds depth, twisting the perspective further – mostly we look up at […]

You can boost minimal moonlight by using its reflection for a silhouette – another way to employ the wan light of a slender moon. “Moonlight photography” for me means not photographing the moon itself (another subject entirely), but rather making pictures by its light. The term is freely abused by amateur photographers. For a sharp […]

North Taranaki this week has been clear and mild for night photography by the  crescent moon. These slender new moons might give only the feeblest of light but if you can see your shadow by them then there is enough for moonlight photography! Nature also provides some magnifiers for moonlight, the best being its reflection […]

Twelve hours before the Christchurch earthquake I was somewhat wearily walking the quiet waterfront at Kaikoura, 150 km to the north on the east coast. I was happy after a perfect evening of night photography, and had the moon well up behind me when I spotted these trees high above. They fringe the cliffs which […]

Out for some night photography, you’d think that the simple equation of dark = dark at least ensured you had plenty of time to set up your masterpieces as you came upon them. That is, without finding the common daylight problem of something changing your scene. Alas, so often this is not the case! Of […]

This took around 15 minutes at a small aperture, on Fuji slide film. It was a perfect summer’s evening at Paritutu Centennial Park, and I spent the interlude chatting with a friend. I’m only guessing that the stripe is Venus, but as she often accompanies the early moon it’s a good bet. For trails like […]

The vacated frame and its variables: ghosting by pure moonlight

Inshore study in gold and aqua under a full moon; ideal exposure and post-process rescue

Long exposure outdoor portraits: problems and solutions

Effective light painting with mixed sources, using very high ISO

Further along the road less travelled; sometimes your first shot is the best one, sometimes your only one.

Uncommon natural lighting with an extra touch

Golden fluff in moonlit motion; creative control and its inevitable decisions

An unexpected colour at second quarter; a wild coast made easy for the townie

Moon and artist’s cloud over no. 2 shellfish processing factory; wide angle and mixed lighting

Dramatic study in amber, green and blue; composition using the foreground in a classic thirds

Full moon, full cloud; adding foreground highlights with Incandescent and an LED torch

Streaks of unexpected colour on a moonless night; “It must be film!”

Simplicity and multiplicity; vertical frame with a wide angle

40-minute exposure by muted moonlight, where film still has the upper hand

Two minutes in the twilight; highlighting a volcanic bomb

Geothermal ugly in yellow and blue; a mixture of light plus an LED torch

Simple imagery; it pays to look around the back