After the July supermoon showed up in a clear, bright sky, it's time to see the next batch of supermoons coming this August 2023.
Many people want to savor the rare moment of witnessing a full moon in its "whole" glory and color. It's a mesmerizing sight indeed for typical moon gazers. Well, for those who want to photograph them vividly, investing in a good camera is a must, but sometimes, it's quite expensive.
If you're short on your budget, you can just use your smartphone to capture the splendid image of the glowing supermoon.
August 2023 Supermoons
For those wondering about the schedule for the arrival of the twin supermoons this month, Scripps News reports that the first full moon is slated to appear at 2:32 PM ET on Aug. 1.
It's not recommended to view the moon during mid-afternoon since it won't be visible at that time. Once the sunset kicks in, you will slowly notice that the moon is rising for a full-display view in the southeast.
There's nothing to worry about missing your first attempt for the first supermoon since the second one is coming on Aug. 2.
The so-called blue moon is expected to come 29 days later after its appearance on Wednesday. It will be viewable in the southeast at 9:36 PM ET.
Again, if you miss the "once-in-a-blue moon" opportunity on Aug. 2, you can still continue your moon gazing journey with it on the nights of Aug. 29 and 31.
How to Use Your Smartphone to Take Pictures of Supermoon
Did you know that you can actually turn your supermoon photography to the next level by merely using a smartphone? Of course, the quality of the photos is still better in high-quality cameras, but if you have no money to buy one, settling with your handset is still a decent idea.
According to The Guardian, certain apps on iOS and Android can help you achieve a photography-like setting in low light.
Carl Earl, the picture editor of Guardian Australia, says that adding an extra subject gives the viewers a new perspective of the moon's view.
Earl adds that your smartphone should have a zoom lens for better capturing of images. The longer lens is the better option for this type of photography.
You can also use a tripod that can allow you to execute a two-second delay timer before the shutter clicks. It does not only prevent the camera from shaking, but it also helps you get the fullness and the sharpness of the photo.
Of course, each smartphone camera has different settings, but if you want to maximize your ISO, just set it to 100 for a higher image quality.
Make sure to designate the file size to Raw so you can choose the largest possible size of the file that your camera can photograph.
Earl also says that while the aperture is not usually important when taking supermoon photos, you could just use one with f8.
Remember to create a story within the picture so the viewers can decipher the beauty of the supermoon and its background in a single frame.
