How to Plan a Photo of the Next Supermoon | Step by Step Tutorial

👉 To start planning your photos: www.photopills.com/
Learn how to plan a photo of the next Supermoon with PhotoPills from start to finish. So you gain the power to be at the right place, at the right time to capture the Supermoon photo you want.
TIME INDEX
00:18 What’s the Supermoon?
00:47 When is the next Supermoon?
01:45 Find your subject
03:26 Figure out the shooting spot and shooting time
07:48 Check the natural light
08:47 Plan the field of view and the depth of field
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PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE MENTIONED:
- Moon Photography guide:
www.photopills.com/articles/m...
+ 15 Photography guides collection:
www.photopills.com/articles
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T-SHIRTS:
www.photopills.com/shop​
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PHOTOS PLANNED BY PHOTOPILLERS
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SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS (PHOTOPILLS AWARDS)
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INSPIRATION
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- The 36 Best Photos in 2020
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PHOTOGRAPHY FUNDAMENTALS
- Understanding Natural Light: Golden Hour, Blue Hour and Twilights
• Understanding Natural ...
- Understanding Depth of Field (DoF) and How to Calculate it
• Understanding Depth of...
- Understanding the Hyperfocal Distance
• Understanding the Hype...
- Learn How To Focus at the Hyperfocal Distance in 1 Minute!
• Learn How To Focus at ...
MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY
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• Milky Way Photography ...
- Learn Milky Way Photography
• Milky Way Photography ...
- Milky Way Photography Masterclass with Alyn Wallace
• Milky Way Photography ...
- How to Post Process the Milky Way with Nick Page
• Milky Way Photography ... ​
- How to Calculate the Milky Way Photography Exposure Time
• How to Calculate the M...
- Photographing the Milky Way with a Natural Arch
• Photographing the Milk...
MOON PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan a Photo of the Next Full Moon with a Building
• How to Plan a Photo of...
- How to Photograph the Moon with Foreground
• How to Photograph the ... ​
- How to Get in Focus Both The Moon and The Subject
• How to Get in Focus Bo...
- Moon Photography Masterclass with Jennifer Khordi
• Moon Photography Class...
- Photographing a Full Moon Silhouette from Another Galaxy
• Photographing a Full M...
SUNSET & SUNRISE PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan a Powerful Sunset Photo | When You Know the Date
• How to Plan a Powerful...
- How to Plan Any Sunset Photo You Imagine
• How to Plan Any Sunset...
- How to Plan a Sunset Photo in a Valley | Or a Sunrise
• How to Plan a Sunset P...
- Photographing the Sun setting through the natural arch of Es Pont d’En Gil
• Photographing the Sun ...
LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
- Landscape Photography with Nigel Danson
• Landscape Photography ... ​
- Landscape Photography Post Processing with Albert Dros
• Landscape Photography ... ​
- How to Edit Your Landscape Photography in Photoshop with Sean Bagshaw
• How to Edit Your Lands...
LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LENS FILTERS
- Calculating Long Exposure Times Using ND Filters
• Calculating Long Expos...
SEASCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
- Seascape Photography Masterclass with Francesco Gola
• Seascape Photography C...
METEOR SHOWER PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan Any Meteor Shower Photo You Imagine
• How to Plan Any Meteor...
- How to Plan a Photo of the Perseids Meteor Shower 2021
• How to Plan a Photo of...
- How to Plan a Photo of the Geminids 2020
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- Perseids Meteor Shower Photography Masterclass with Ian Norman
• Perseids Meteor Shower...
- Photographing the Perseids Meteor Shower with an Ancient Oak Tree
• Photographing the Pers...
SOLAR ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan a Photo of the 2020 Total Solar Eclipse
• How to Plan a Photo of...
- Annular Solar Eclipse Photography Masterclass with Joshua Cripps
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LUNAR ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan the Total lunar eclipse with the Giza pyramids
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STAR TRAILS PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Plan Any Star Trails Photo You Imagine
• How to Plan Any Star T...
- How to Photograph Star Trails
• Star Trails Photograph...
CONJUNCTIONS
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TIMELAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY
- How to Calculate Timelapse Settings
• How to Calculate Timel...
LEARN PHOTOPILLS
- How to Enable and Use the Widgets
• How to Enable and Use ...
- How to move the Red Pin of the Planner
• How to move the Red Pi...
- How to Save, Share and Import Plans and Locations
• How to Save, Share and...
- Mastering the Load button of the Planner
• Mastering the Load but...
- Calibrating the Augmented Reality Views
• Calibrating the Augmen...
- Understanding the Map Buttons of the Planner
• Understanding the Map ...

[@PhotoPills]

Need help with planning or photographing the Supermoon? Comment below! 👉 To Download our Free Moon Photography guide: www.photopills.com/articles/moon-photography-guide 👉 To Watch our Free Moon Photography course: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2myfYepgLl3rbs

[@BANOT]

thanks!

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks!

[@joemellebuna6367]

Supermoon later!! Whoooo. Watching from Philippines. Thanks a lot.

[@PhotoPills]

Yeah!

[@eagleofnight7760]

The best app i've ever used. The best!!!

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks so much!

[@photooutdoor2574]

I agree!

[@chunkmuncher1715]

Every time I think I know how to use photopills well, Rafael comes along to remind me that there are so many crazy things you can do with this app and it makes me feel like a beginner again. Such a wonderful feeling

[@PhotoPills]

Awesome! Thanks so much David!

[@alessandraantonini7813]

thank you for this explanation i haven't a Lighthouse but I have a little island in front of

[@PhotoPills]

Nice!

[@claudia_peters]

Great !👍😊 thank you!

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks!!

[@Pasadenahitop]

Wonderful!! Thank you.x

[@PhotoPills]

Thank you Cat!

[@azalbalushi]

Another great video 😍 thank you . I’ll go and find me a nice spot to shoot the next supper moon 👍🏽

[@PhotoPills]

Cool! Thank you!

[@m.witter5115]

Finally getting it right for height above the object and place to be for the shot!! Thanks so much for addressing this part of the pin placement process. !!

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks so much!

[@m.a.stough4994]

Excellent tutorial! Gracias.

[@PhotoPills]

Muchas gracias!

[@bobsheridan6692]

Thanks once again for a detailed explanation. Hopefully the night skies will be clear enough for me to get the shot. Now I only have to discover an interesting foreground subject!

[@PhotoPills]

Foreground is king!

[@michaelbennett4170]

Thank you, fantastic app and people and I've finally sussed out how to work it .

[@PhotoPills]

That's great! Cool!

[@JGSmit]

Top again!!

[@PhotoPills]

Thank you!

[@merrillthompson8248]

PhotoPills is the best app on my iPhone! So cool! Now I just need to find a good subject. Thanks

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks so much Merrill!! Love you too :)

[@elaprendiz007]

Saludos desde México!

[@PhotoPills]

Saludos!!

[@cathco9]

Thank you Rafael! I had an a-ha moment yesterday watching this tutorial. I was having such a hard time any time I tried to plan a moonrise. This video did it for me. I now understand how to incorporate the height of the subject in the frame (lighthouse) and also how to use the hyperfocal distance. I just don't understand how to use the hyperfocal distance number. Should this number be more or less than the distance to the black pin? And the number behind the black pin? I'm going to search the Photopills library of videos now to see if there is a tutorial on hyperfocal distance. I'm going to be shooting the moonrise tonight with the Statue of Liberty, my first time, so I want to get it right. Thank you so much!

[@cathco9]

Just re-watched the Free Moon Photography course. It made more sense to me this time after this video. Now off to watch the hyperfocal distance video linked from the course. Thank you so much!!!!

[@PhotoPills]

Awesome! The subject needs to fall behind the hyperfocal distance ;)

[@cathco9]

@@PhotoPills I also watched the DoF video. I'll be using a Canon EOS 90D camera. It has a crop factor of 1.6. I'll be using a 400mm lens. When entering the Focal length, do I switch to 35mm equivalent and use 400mm or stay with real and enter 640mm? And, is the symbol for the hyperfocal distance the one that looks like a pine tree? You've been great to answer my questions. Thank you so much!!!! -Cathy

[@romansellier62]

Gracias por este video muy interesante! Estoy sacando fotos con la luna frecuentemente y uso vuestro app casi siempre. A partir de mediados de abril estaré en Menorca con mi familia y ahora ya se, donde voy a sacar el super moon con mi tele objetivo :-) Saludos desde Alemania.

[@PhotoPills]

Hola Roman! Pues genial, es buen sitio :)

[@romansellier62]

Ya estoy muy anxioso de viajar. Me podrias recomendar un bello lugar cerca de la costa donde haya restaurantes abiertos en abril y donde convenga alojarse? Gracias

[@z1982_]

Thank you! But I didn't understand the swap pin part .. what is it for exactly? Thanks !

[@PhotoPills]

It helps to quickly find the shooting spot to have the Moon aligned with the Black Pin :)

[@davedelap4944]

Thanks for yet another great tutorial, but mostly thanks for such an amazing app. In this example PhotoPills calculates that the moon height will be 38.2m from the black pin. Is that 38.2m to the bottom edge of the moon or to the center of the moon? Given that PhotoPills estimates the moon size to be 47.6m I'm guessing the moon's height from the black pin is being calculated to the center of the moon. Is this correct?

[@PhotoPills]

Yes... to the center of the Moon :)

[@dayu8945]

Hi Refael, that’s very cool. I have a plan to photograph the super moon on 26/04/2021 , the location will be Byron Bay Lighthouses Australia. . I am select my shoot place will be at the beach of Belongil Beach. The distance is 3.5km. I am not sure this is correct or not. Would you mind help me to check the plan is correct or I need change. Thanks.

[@PhotoPills]

One way to know if the plan is correct is to go to the shooting spot and use the AR view and see if the moon is more or less where you need. Also on the planner check the Height of the Moon above the black Pin. It has to make sense vs your subject height.

[@MrFreakwent]

Complicated, but I have time to learn. :-)

[@PhotoPills]

Never Stop Learning!

[@shupingyin8082]

I realized while planning the super moon shot there is a time difference between you and I. It will be nice you mention that in the vid. But it is not a big deal for I figured it.

[@PhotoPills]

Hey! PhotoPills always works on local time. So no worry about my plan, it's for Menorca, Spain. Follow the same steps for your location and you'll be fine :)

[@sumorichis]

Hi Ralf, after my planning is done.. How can I find the correct location (coordinates) of the red pin if I drive to the planned place? Thanks

[@PhotoPills]

If you tap on the pin you'll get the coordinates. Also, if you tap More (bottom right)>Action>Maps. You'll be able to send te Red Pin position to your maps app and calculate the route. And finally, you can switch on your position on the map by tapping the (+) map button and then the arrow head (4th button from the right). Then you can walk till you get to the red pin position.

[@sumorichis]

​@@PhotoPills That's it what I am looking for. Many thanks

[@robvercouteren]

happy shooting tonight, we still have one day left of curfew :( (everything planned and packed)

[@PhotoPills]

Thank you Rob!

[@dadactor1272]

Same question as Dave Delap: In this example PhotoPills calculates that the moon height will be 38.2m from the black pin. Is that 38.2m to the bottom edge of the moon or to the center of the moon? Given that PhotoPills estimates the moon size to be 47.6m I'm guessing the moon's height from the black pin is being calculated to the center of the moon. Is this correct?

[@PhotoPills]

Yes, that's correct :)

[@chantalbourgault9025]

Thank you for this valuable video. This is my initiation to Photopillers (and astronomy!!!). If I may ask a question: I am in Montreal (Canada); when I do my planning for the next SuperMoon (May 26th 2021) I get these: Moon rise at 21:10 (-53m of my subject); at 22:30 the Moon is now at -3m approximately. After that, I don't get any data on the Moon height (only the Galactical Center height etc). Why is that ? Does it mean that the Moon will not be visible after that ? Thank you so much !!

[@PhotoPills]

Hi Chantal, switch off the Milky Way layer, so you only work with the Moon and Sun. Tap on the Map settings button, you'll find it on the map, next to the (+) button. Then tap the eye icon next to the MW layer. Also, watch this other video to plan Moon alignments: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2myfYepgLl3rbs

[@chantalbourgault9025]

@@PhotoPills fantastic ! Thank you so much !!!

[@PhotoPills]

@@chantalbourgault9025 Thanks!

[@shupingyin8082]

What does it if the direction of travel for the moon is a double line? I’m new to the app and couldn’t find answers. I’m thinking it means moon is not visible?

[@PhotoPills]

If it's dashed when aligned with the black Pin it means that the center of the Moon is hidden behind the terrain.

[@jaimemontilla7675]

Just so I understand, for the supermoon in April PhotoPills says that the supermoon will be at 11:33pm (my time) on April 26th. In order to photograph the supermoon at moonrise and moonset do I plan for the morning and afternoon of the 26th or the afternoon of the 26th and the morning of the 27th?

[@PhotoPills]

Yes, you have the rise and set times in the Planner and also in the Moon Pill. I'd plan rise and set if possible :)

[@jimwheeler5278]

@@PhotoPills Sorry, but you didn't really answer the question, and it's a good one. Does the supermoon set on the 26th in the morning and then rise on the 26th in the evening or does it rise in the evening of the 26th and set in the morning of the 27th?

[@PhotoPills]

@@jimwheeler5278 It depends on your location... In this video we explain how to know the supermoon time, so you can know when exactly happens.

[@MrTwister3356]

I did the expand map and swap of the black and red pins but the planner is not showing the dashed line that you mention to drop the black pin on at the 5:35 mark of the video.....did I miss something?

[@PhotoPills]

That's so weird. If you tap the expand lines button like I do... The thin blue azimuth line of the moon will be expanded backwards.

[@MrTwister3356]

@@PhotoPills Thanks for the reply....I reset the layers and the dashed line re-appeared....cheers!

[@michaelhenn6333]

My calendar says April 26 in the US

[@PhotoPills]

Yes, it depends on the location you are (26 or 27th) :)

[@rralhex07]

Hello Rafael, the fine line of the night does not appear to me, it appears of the day and the golden hour, but at night everything is blue, can you help me?

[@PhotoPills]

Hi Victor. What's the fine line of the night? I think I'm not understanding the question. Are you planning a moon shot or a night shot? I think it's better if you send us an email to [e-mail] with a screenshot :)

[@michaelmoser4115]

@@PhotoPills I guess he means the dotted blue line of the moon position. When I activate the hybrid map mode and the time is later than blue hour the fine blue dotted line is almost not visible. When changing the map mode to "terrain" it is better visible.

[@deejayroman]

I don't have any dashed red and blue lines in the app. So I can't recalibrate the black and red pins if I swap them.

[@PhotoPills]

Tap the "+" button on the map and then the 7th button in the toolbar that appears to enable the extended lines. Tap again the button to disable them.

[@deejayroman]

@@PhotoPills Many thanks for the quick response. I have now noticed that you have already shown it in the video. Sorry for that :-)

[@PhotoPills]

@@deejayroman Thanks!

[@sportpicturescymru]

I've started to plan mine. A picture of a lighthouse then I realised I have mountains behind the shot, so the moon won't rise where I thought! How would I know when the moon rises above the mountains an at what point please?

[@PhotoPills]

Hi! Check this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4K6iIljeb5pg5I

[@sportpicturescymru]

@@PhotoPills Thank you

[@ksnmurthy4476]

How can I find exact location for photographing moon?

[@PhotoPills]

You need to find an interesting subject, and they try to find a shooting spot that allows you to photograph the Moon with it. Follow the workflow in the video :)

[@ksnmurthy4476]

@@PhotoPills Ok. Can I shoot with iPhone 12 promax also? If so do I need to add an external tele lens?

[@ksnmurthy4476]

@@PhotoPills I feel PhotoPills is complicated. I bought it. I don’t know some things to follow, as sometimes difficult to understand English pronunciation. You can keep subtitles also better. My suggestion

[@PhotoPills]

@@ksnmurthy4476 Thanks for the suggestion. We use dslr cameras with telephoto lenses... don't have experience with iPhone and telephoto lenses. I suppose that you can find lenses for iPhone in amazon?

[@PhotoPills]

@@ksnmurthy4476 Also, this guide will help you: www.photopills.com/articles/moon-photography-guide

[@tomhoffelder4535]

Why limit this to a "Super Moon?" They only happen a few times a year, and it might be cloudy on that evening after sunset, or the morning before sunrise. Because there is very little difference in apparent size of the moon any time, you can get the exact same view with any full moon, which happens every 29.5 days. The moon's orbit ranges from 356,400 to 406,700 km, which is a difference of only 14%. That is also the difference of apparent size in the sky, so if the moon is farthest away at a full moon, you only have to zoom 14% more than you did for a Super Moon to get the same image size. Say you zoomed 50X for a Super Moon image; you would only have to zoom 57X to get the same size of the moon on the image. It's fun to photograph a super moon, but you might be missing photo ops by not considering every full moon, especially since the location near the horizon can vary by as much as nearly 60 degrees!

[@PhotoPills]

We already have several videos about how to plan the moon: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2myfYepgLl3rbs m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4mVi2lrqL2ifLM m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHjRkIaeo9mKqsU

[@flameout12345]

I am stressing the f out

[@PhotoPills]

Relax, relax :)

[@z1982_]

Thank you! But I didn't understand the swap pin part .. what is it for exactly? Thanks !

[@PhotoPills]

It helps to quickly find the shooting spot to have the Moon aligned with the Black Pin :)

[@grepompier]

@@PhotoPills Can we just relocalize the red pin and the black pin stay there ?