All eyes were raised to the dark skies when the lunar eclipse was imminent. There was to be a super blood moon.
“A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow.This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned with Earth between the other two, which can only happen at a full moon. The eclipsed moon appeared as a faint red disk in the sky due to a small amount of light being refracted through the earth’s atmosphere; this appearance gives a lunar eclipse its nickname of a Blood Moon.”
Weather forecasts scrutinised. ✅
Potential locations scoped.✅
Astrophotography techniques researched.✅
SD cards cleared and ready ✅
Camera batteries charged…… ✅
It was nearly time for the big event – the night of the lunar eclipse had arrived.
BUT THEN…. in swirled the fog and cloud cover. Down plummeted the temperature. Desperation set in and I was so frustrated – why did I choose to stay at Twizel instead of Tekapo?
Deciding that if I didn’t at least try, I wouldn’t see anything at all, so no matter the gloomy forecast, out I went under the foggy and cloudy skies.
I wore many layers of merino jumpers and scarves, thermal tights, a good wind jacket and fingerless gloves. I even had my hot water bottle wrapped in lambswool at the ready in the car. And my thermal mug filled with turmeric latte.
Arriving at my location, I was not surprised at all to find that no-one else was there – apparently they were all at Lake Tekapo instead. Sigh!
Undaunted, I set up the tripod and took a few trial pictures. Hmmm that cloud cover was a bit tricky but at least I could see the beautiful moon intermittently ithrough the clouds. It was still early as yet so there was still a chance it would clear so crossing my cold fingers, I set up the intervalometer and waited. This was to be my first attempt at capturing a lunar eclipse. As per normal, I had decided on a capturing multiple exposures of each stage of the eclipse – a tad ambitious in hindsight.
So here are my embarassingly pathetic images. But at least I tried….!
Umbral shadow 
Penumbral 
Foggy full moon rising
I did manage a few photos of the penumbral and the umbral shadows stage but very foggy so focusing through the clouds was a major issue. Then the first camera battery died (of the cold). Changing the battery meant taking the camera off the tripod first so that ruined the continuity of focus and composition. I waited a while and tried again.
Not quite eclipsed 
Almost eclipsed 
Partial
Several images later, the moon had almost reached totality – and you guessed it – the second camera battery also died (of the cold). Me too, I grumbled to myself. By this time the clouds had almost covered the skies and the temperature had dropped to Minus 4 degrees. I drove back to camp through the ever-increasing fog and drank a comforting glass of red wine (which looked redder thats the Blood Moon).
And the very next day: Social media were filled with images of the penumbral shadows, umbral shadows, partial and totality eclipse. I was very envious.
But wait – there is another almost total lunar eclipse coming up 19 November 2021…. watch this celestial space!
LightWriteLife 