Darn, the gate was locked on the Walhalla Plateau road so Point Imperial was out for the Perigee Supermoon.
Then I screwed up. Even after looking at several different websites I got the time wrong. Sunset at 7:10. I read moonrise at 8:35.
1/125s F/11
So Mike and I picked up Karen about 7:15, plenty of time to catch the last glow after sunset and set up for the Perigee Supermoon event. I even brought along a compass and guided everyone towards the Bright Angel trailhead. So while we’re all taking photos of the sunset the moon had already risen behind us.
1/40s F/5
Grabbing tripods with cameras we hurriedly moved down the trail a bit and set up again.
1/40s F11
Yet that old moon just didn’t seem as big as I’d expected. Seems I’ve read a lot of people saying that.
30s F22 (Looks more like the sun)
But that’s OK because we brought along two Nalgene bottles full of ice and one of premixed Margarita with prickly pear cactus syrup and plastic glasses. After all, it was Cinco de Mayo.
1/125s F/11
Lots of experimentation with the camera. Started off with some recommended settings and then just played around.
After about an hour we were getting cold so packed it in but not before turning around to see Venus high in the sky.
1/25s F/11
Took Karen back home and stopped for one last look at this years Perigee Supermoon through the pines.
To view more skies, and probably moons, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.
If you plan to photograph the upcoming astronomical events like May 20th’s Annular Solar Eclipse or June 5th’s Venus Transit remember that looking directly at the sun can damage your eyes and your digital camera. You can buy protective glasses and filters here. I hunted all over the web and was given this link by Martha’s Musings, an excellent photographer who travels all over California and beyond. Even with the high shipping on this $10 filter it was a better deal than the $900 plus I kept seeing. I couldn’t bare the thought of not taking photos of these events. And I’m not getting paid for this, although maybe I should.
Good foresight. No disappointment is quite as disappointing with a margarita in your hand.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson says the supermoon was to an “ordinary” moon as a 16″ pizza is to a 15″ pizza. Which is more pizza, if you ask me.
Interesting photos. Friends, good views, and margaritas–what more could you ask for?
Hey, despite all that you got some great pics. I love the view through the pines the best, but they are all great.
Those drinks sound delicious:) I could go for one right now. And I felt the same….I thought the moon would be bigger for some reason. Sometimes it appears bigger than that! Anyhow, it still sounded like a fun time with some great results:)
Wow, you got it right! I did not get the chance to go moon shooting, had a very hectic day, even on Sunday.
The moon in Zion was HUGE when it rose up over the mountains and quickly diminished in size as the earth’s rotation took us further away…. or vicey versey… can’t remember which! LOL
BUT, I was at work and could neither take photos or drink margaritas…. lucky lady, your photoa are great!
That right there is my idea of a perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration! Yeah, it was sorta’ really cloudy on the “big” moon night here, but early (very early) the next morning it woke me up shining in our br window! Your pix are delightful!
You got a good shot and not as colored by pollution as mine was. We missed moonrise as Hubby forgot to put a card in his video camera (I never would have heard the end of it if it had been me) so we were a few minutes late getting back to our view spot. Now we have to figure where we will go to view the eclipse.
Lovely skywatch series, Gaelyn! A Happy Cinco de Mayo celebration, watching the sunset and see the super moon. Wonderful photos.
Nice to see the same moon in different places in the world 🙂
What gorgeous shots!
Excellent photo set of a unique event. Have a wonderful week-end.
Now THAT was a Super Moon celebration indeed. Wish I had thought ahead. We did notice that in our location the moon was larger upon rising and got steadily smaller with less color as the night went on. Great photos & fun!
Your enlarged moon shots turned out beautifully. I actually missed the super moonrise, too, but we have been turning the telescope on the phases of Venus.
Same here ! Margaritas first with a couple friends. Then out hunting for the supermoon. I saw it . It was big but seemed far away. My photos did not turn out. To many Margaritas maybe?? Well it was a fun evening.
You got a couple good photos Gaelyn.
You got some lovely shots, but most importantly you had a good time. I wasn’t too impressed with the super moon here, but then it didn’t clear the trees, and that was in the wee hours of the morning. Perhaps we got a different view here in the north. We’re rapidly sliding into Midnight Sun time, with sunset at 10:55 pm and only about an hour-and-a-half between the end and beginning of civil twilight.
I am dying to go to the Grand Canyon, especially after these photos! Thanks for dropping by my blog- love your header!
Wow, you got some good ones. Sounds like quite an adventure getting there but it was worth it. Great shots. It was a tad cloudy here.
I didn’t get to see it – it was rainy and cloud-covered here. I’m so glad you shared these pictures! It may not have been as big as you’d expect but wow! It was sure glorious!
The main thing is you got some great photos and had an experience few others did. You came out of the experience well!
Great shots… I do like the ‘pines’ one best! 😉
That Nikon is doing great things! Keep it up… 😀
The moon is stunning. You last sentence or two I agree with. I just thought the other day how I would love to be a professionbal traveller and be able to photograph and write about it all.