THE BIRD ON THE MOON SHOT
Wow! How did you do that? How long did you wait to get it? Is it real?
Common reactions to my bird by the moon shots.
Yes, they are all real, no Photoshop trickery. And no, I usually don’t wait that long to get the shot.
To capture such a photo, one has to acquire several skills: Facility photographing birds in flight, mastery of an astronomy app for photographers, knowledge of bird behavior. Add to this favorable weather and some luck, and you’ll get the shot.
Some helpful tips.
CHOOSING A RIGHT LOCATION:
Wetlands at Staten Island Road. A location with lots of birds.
Let me state the obvious: The location has to have lots of birds. Only a few birds will fly by the moon. The more there are, the more the likelihood of success.
The location should have an open field of view. Hindrances such as trees or buildings that could temporarily conceal the moon can result in lost opportunities.
The location should be nearby and one you know well.
My own favorite location is Staten Island Road in Walnut Grove, California. It fulfills all the above requirements and is full of migratory birds in late autumn through winter. Thus, for me a successful bird by the moon shot is a seasonal phenomenon.
TIMING THE MOON:
The shot is most dramatic in full moon.
Ducks by full moon.
The moon is at its best when near horizon where it is the largest.
Moonset at horizon. Point Bonita Lighthouse, Golden Gate.
Choosing a right time requires astronomy apps for photographers such as TPE or Photopills. These display time and position of the sun and moon anywhere, anytime. They are crucial in proper timing.
It is important to select a day when the moon is visible for a long period of time while there is decent ambient light. This allows more opportunity to capture the shot.
TPE display. Geography & times.
Birds are more active at sunrise and sunset. That’s when you need to go for the shot. For those who live in temperate climates, good news: This is when the full moon happens to be near horizon.
For me moonrise-sunset combinations work best. I prefer one or two days before full moon. On those days the moon rises earlier and is around for a longer time. On the day of full moon, moonrise is close to sunset, not enough time.
Geese by full moon, at moonrise.
Moonset-sunrise combos can also work. With those, you need to select days when the moonset is a while beyond sunrise so that you have the moon near horizon in good light.
On certain special occasions you can turn east and shoot birds at sunrise and, at the same time turn west and shoot birds at moonset.
Birds at sunrise, taken at the same time as birds at moonset below.
Birds at moonset, taken at the same time as birds at sunrise above.
PHOTOGRAPHY
CAMERA SETTINGS: The bird by the moon shot is a bird-in-flight photo. It is NOT a moon photo. Whatever bird in flight setting you work with will be your best.
COMPOSITION: The bird must be in sharp focus. The moon doesn’t.
Moon in focus, bird off focus. Not a pleasant photo.
If you capture both the bird and the moon in focus, great. But an off-focus moon can still be dramatic as a background to a sharp bird.
Bird in focus, moon off focus. A more pleasing result.
ANTICIPATE: You need to keep a keen eye on the trajectory of flying birds. It is crucial to get a focus lock on the subject BEFORE it passes by the moon.
My Nikon Z9 set to 20 frames/sec.
BURSTS: The camera needs to be set to fast bursts. The subject bird(s) will fly by very fast. More photos mean more to choose from and capture that stunning, singular shot.
STATIONARY BIRDS: A perched bird offers a wonderful opportunity, if you don’t screw it up.
Great horned owl with a full moon background. Not good picture. It took an effort to turn it to the more dramatic one below.
The trick is to move around the subject without spooking it and line the moon behind the bird. If the bird flies off, all you have is a bare moon, a lost shot.
This great horned owl, perched after sunset, took an effort to line up with the moon without spooking the bird.
With perched birds the photography is easier. These shots often result in a sharply focused bird and off focus moon. They can be quite dramatic.
POST-PROCESSING: Cropping is important in obtaining a dramatic composition.
Swan by moon, original uncropped version.
High megapixel cameras can allow severe cropping without much loss of detail. Enhancement tools such as Topaz Sharpen and Gigapixel can help with cropped photos.
Swan by full moon, final version. Cropped and nearby flock deleted.
Silhouetting your bird vs exposing it in detail is an option you can work out with masking tools. Either can produce a dramatic picture.
Swan by full moon. Silhouetted version.
Sandhill crane in silhouette.
A BONUS:
You can get the same shot with airplanes. It is easier. Planes move more slowly across the sky than birds do.
Plane descending into SFO. Shot from Burlingame.
You have to select a safe location near a busy airport and check your astronomy app for a time when flight paths coincide with the moon. Familiarity with location and flight patterns in crucial.
For novices, I suggest you get to your site early, before the moon is in position and practice on the planes to get the best shutter speed for a sharp subject.
