PhotoPills Friday Ep 5: Learn How to Plan a MOON Image (even when not on location)

Welcome to Episode 5 of PhotoPills Friday! Today, we put together all the stuff we’ve been learning about so far and plan a moon image together! The plan will be of the full moon behind the torch of the Statue of Liberty, but the process can be applied to any moon composition you would like to create when you need to figure out:
1. where you should set up your camera to get the shot you want
2. what date and at what time the moon will be in the right position, and
3. you are not on location to scout it out.
**IMPORTANT UPDATE** - PhotoPills has updated the app so that you NO LONGER need to add both the height of the building and the elevation difference between the red and black pins when calculating the apparent height of the moon over a building -- you only need to input the height of the building.
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[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

***IMPORTANT UPDATE*** - PhotoPills has updated the app so that you NO LONGER need to add both the height of the building and the elevation difference between the red and black pins when calculating the apparent height of the moon over a building -- you only need to input the height of the building.

[@jfm2301]

Is it ever necessary to take camera height into account?

[@antonioquiroz4]

Thank you for that specific note - great help!!

[@han5k2]

My Stuff - Settings - Device Usage Height...

[@jettrex9287]

InstaBlaster...

[@mikeqable]

Is that why my pins for the pier and SOL say 0ft altitude difference?

[@sngtey]

Brenda, you are absolutely fantastic as a teacher because you are capable of reading the minds of learners. While Rafael at PhotoPills is great, I find his speed (the screen and speech) and accent very difficult to follow. Also, the inclusion of the smartphone screen when necessary, and highlighting what you are referring to, makes it a breeze to follow what you are teaching. I am very grateful to you as a brilliant teacher. Thank you very much!

[@janettraynor8590]

Brenda, everything you explain is concise, clear, and unbelievably simple. I wish I had teachers like you throughout my life, and I wouldn't need Google. You are brilliant.

[@rolfmeier8469]

I can't imagine a better way to explain the basics and especially the plan in PhotoPills. You are an excellent teacher, Brenda.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks very much, Rolf! I appreciate that.

[@tugrultekbulut]

Agreed. Great teacher. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@HaiNguyen-kv1ho]

Yes, she is a great teacher!

[@PhotoPills]

Thanks so much for another great video. Moon planing is a really unique skill. Those who master it, will master any other photography planning skill in just seconds 😜

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

That means a lot - thank you!

[@bks720]

I watched this twice and have now saved my first plan. I can’t imagine having done it without your tutorial!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Woohoo - that's awesome Brian!

[@MrAppoline]

Same for me!

[@JohnBaxter-g7c]

Outstanding Brenda. Very few have your teaching and communication skills. A joy to watch and, to my mind, you are the only instructor who gives a clear account of this wonderful but totally confusing app.

[@MrTwins95]

I love the straight face saying “I always have the option of trying again in 2024” haha

[@davidarkin6166]

Thanks for this great series. For completeness the statue is on Liberty Island. Back to learning

[@ronbarnhill6025]

Brenda, many thanks for making these Photopills videos. You do an amazing job explaining the concepts very clearly and in practical terms. You are a great teacher.

[@rachelb216]

The best Photo pills t tutorial ever! Thank you so much.

[@EwStanzani]

This explanation is perfectly clear! Thank you

[@alwyng572]

Hands down the best PhotoPills tutorial on how to use the planner.I hope the folks at Photopills are paying attention because THIS is how tutorials should be done. It's a great series and I've come back to it again because I've now been using the app for a while and needed a refresher on how to plan for the sun being in a specific location and height relative to my subject.

[@kk6t]

Very nicely done. While PhotoPill's videos are entertaining to watch, they're not always easy to follow. Your video perfectly explains every detail of planning a moon shot. I will be bookmarking this video for future review. Thanks so much!

[@randallhartman9515]

Good golly miss molly! (Haha. Showing my age!) Can't believe there's an app that can do this. LOVE your channel. UR a gift to landscape photographers.

[@amnonsuodai9145]

HI DEAR !!! Brenda. You are an excellent teacher, i look 4 many videos . your is a BEST & better way to explain (5***** ) the basics and especially the plan in PhotoPills. thank you very much ,all the best,Amnon in NYC. .

[@garryhughes3747]

Amazing! Finally, I understand the way it works. Many thanks.

[@stevemaloney7305]

Nice Job. Very clear explanation of how this tool is supposed to work. I've watched two other YT vid's and afterward had more questions than answers - this vid made creating these sort of plans very understandable. Thanks!

[@csyang1234]

This is an outstanding series, she is the best teacher, period.

[@ramnoham593]

I love this series of videos. Made my first plan and I'm going to try it next month.

[@itsgmani]

Your my new best friend. Thank you.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

:) Glad I could help.

[@bernym4047]

Very impressive. Thank you for a very comprehensive explanation.

[@seaned8]

Even if I wasn't interested in taking pictures, this would be one of the coolest things ever.

[@andrewcollier5667]

Thank you for a simple explanation and easy to follow tutorial

[@louiseroherty4694]

Intro extraordinaire!

[@michaelmckeag960]

Brenda, thanks! I’ve been using PhotoPills for a few years, but have worn a limited number of deep habit trails. It is only week 5 and I have already learned so much that is new and will be useful. I’m impressed by how much capability is packed into this cryptic little app. By episode 52 there may still be more to be revealed.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Ha - yes! I'm still uncovering little secrets myself. :) I'm glad that you are finding the series helpful.

[@vaschro]

Thank you an extremely accessible and very useful breakdown .

[@markrudnick9975]

Brenda, thank you so much for offering these PhotoPills tutorials. You've made what was a very intimidating app comprehensible. You truly are a gifted teacher !

[@stanburman9978]

Thank you Brenda! You teach via the fire hose method, but I brought a towel. And I think I am getting some of this stuff. The only part I don't totally follow is the height differential between your photo location and the top of the subject. It seems like funny math.

[@joits]

I was watching another tutorial and while I'm sure they meant the best, it was a bit confusing. Love the way you break things down episode by episode and I'm learning so much more in a shorter time. Can't wait to plan future shoots!

[@7775Kevin]

You are a very good teacher. You speak very clearly and the lessons are well prepared. Thanks!

[@conrada9477]

You cannot get easier than this. Very well explained, so easy to understand. Thank you for all the efforts. I bought this app but never had a chance to explore it's planning capability.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You bet! So glad I could help.

[@TheGadgetGuru]

You are a wonderful teacher! Subscribed!

[@davon8561]

Thank you so much for a brilliant clear explanation, This could not be understood from a book . You cover everything so well . God bless

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awesome - thanks, David! Very glad to hear that.

[@ponymoore6140]

That's amazing, Brilliant Brenda! :)

[@truckingpix]

that's awesome!! I got so excited when everything started to line up I hope you got the picture!!! 😂😂

[@rickdeckard5653]

Very precise explanations. Love it!

[@glarvenz]

I'm just new to photopills and I'm so glad I found your videos! Your way of speaking is so clear and concise. Very easy to understand. Thank you so much!

[@DonPastor1]

I have a hard time working with cellphone. This is where you talk about the 11 white dots for different pills. I use Samsung tablets and there are only 6 white dots. After the tablet I realized that on the tablet each white dot is actually good for two pills. For example the first white dot shows Sun and Moon on one side and then the two dots for distance and Azimuth. Once I understood that my life became just a little easier.

[@ShaneBaker]

Thank you. Your videos are brilliant.

[@shimonnaveh4152]

Excellent, user-friendly, clear and practical, many thanks Brenda🙏🙏

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're so welcome!

[@jeffinbulgaria]

photopills is such an amazing tool !!

[@davidharris4062]

Amazing, so glad I found your videos 👍👍👍

[@steveloudon7491]

Where the heck have you been? I've had this app several years but never really mastered it... until I saw this. You are excellent. Thanks.

[@chantaljacques7664]

Awesome tutorial.... it gives me hope that one day I might be able to plan an a great moon image. The whole PhotoPills series is wonderful. Love the flow, the pace and the clarity of these tutorials. Thanks for making this available!

[@shirleycecilia8882]

Thank you very much Brenda, a simple step by step explanation!!! Love it!!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joetagg1961]

Wow!! I’m gonna have to watch that a few more times !! But thanks!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Practice helps! :)

[@derekthomas4471]

Thanks for a great practical tutorial. I now understand so much more about PhotoPills since following you, I’m now planning my own Moon shot against a local landmark! 👍

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Yay - that's exciting!

[@bijukuriakose59]

Absolutely amazing video!

[@suzanneross1451]

Another fabulous explanation Brenda. Thank you.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're most welcome!

[@halwagle]

Well done, as always! I couldn't help thinking that you should warn some authorities somewhere about what is likely to happen in that corner of the pier on December 29, 2020. I am imagining a bunch of camerapeople bashing each other to get that one spot. LOL. You have done a great job presenting this, and I thank you very much for that. Any planning I do will be of this (at home) type since my photography is done in forays according to a schedule created by my wonderful wife so I pretty much get what's there when I arrive. At least this way, I can see what might be available and plan for that. I will not be on the pier as I'm too far away, but I am marking my Calendar to check the news this December. Be safe and be well.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

LOL! Glad you enjoyed it and can have some fun planning. In all honesty, the majority of the photography I do is unplanned, but it's still good to know how to plan and use the various tools out there when you have the opportunity to use them.

[@Islandgirlann]

WoW you made it seem so easy but my head is about to explode! I couldn't imagine doing this without your tutorial so thanks!

[@johnpryor7162]

Wow! Fabulous presentation! I have been so confused by how people plan their shoots. This step by step example was perfect! I expect to mess it up the first few times I try it for myself, but at least I know the steps now!

[@conniechristenson4833]

Wow! I am binge watching your outstanding episodes Brenda......instead of Yellowstone! You are quite impressive. This will need to be watched a few times before an actual photo shoot of moon set over Mt. Whitney. Wish you could be there!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Ha - nice! :) That's great to hear! I hope the shot turns out great!

[@alwyng572]

Fantastic tutorial. I had to watch it twice but I've got it now! Thanks for this, I can't imagine how hard this would be just reading instructions. Excellent training!

[@carljarvinen1189]

Thanks again for putting the video together. Definitely will need to watch again to get it all in...alot to remember.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

It definitely helps to practice!

[@Jonasgronholm]

Thanks a lot for your awsome serie of PhotoPills. Love every epidsode. Curious if you och anyone else made the shot of the statue? Next chance is just a couple of years away. 😊

[@davidlong3653]

What a great episode

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, David! I'll do more planning videos in the future.

[@myalias111]

This is super exciting. Was was just at a lighthouse the other evening wondering how I could figure out how to catch the sunset exactly behind it. Thanks so much! You made it seem easy

[@wykaye]

You are awesome! Thanks a million.

[@TonKuipers134]

I just bought the app and looked for how to get ahead. I watched the first 5 episodes of your program, these are really excellent tutorials for beginners (as I am). Many thanks for posting and greetings from the Netherlands

[@marcelzwart3527]

Hi Brenda, I just purchased the PhotoPills app. Your lessons/explanations are so helpful to figure out how it works. Thanks so much 👍🏼

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

I'm so glad Marcel! I hope you enjoy using it.

[@bobsheridan6692]

Thank you for such a clear explanation on planning a very detailed and precise shot. I'm looking forward to practising full moon shots with buildings or other icons in the distance. Much appreciated.

[@tylerlee2833]

I just discovered this app, which in turn led me to discover your channel. The capability of this app is insane. The way you break it down is extremely helpful, and you have a gift for teaching. Thank you for your channel, you have a new subscriber in Oregon. I’m assuming Photo Pills is compensating you, but if they aren’t they should be. Very well done and thank you again.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Tyler! I appreciate that. No - not getting anything from PhotoPills - still hoping they'll send me a free t-shirt, but not yet ;). I hope you are staying safe and well in OR. We had some of the smoke even here in VT!

[@timothyschindele6288]

Wow. Super informative. I have PhotPills, but never used it the way you showed. Thanks!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're welcome! I'm glad it was useful.

[@JetonAliji]

Magnificent! I understand so many things now! Truly appreciated Brenda.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Yay! That's great! Have fun with it!

[@fredkrieger278]

Thanks for the demystification!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Glad it was helpful!

[@doug411]

This is a perfect video for learning to use the planner. You are awesome!

[@wanderinglensphotos]

Omg this was so helpful! I’ve been wondering how people do it. I’ve done the night AR and played around with the moon position but this is way more precise!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Terrific, Angie! I hope you have fun planning some images for this summer!

[@jorgeflores9714]

Hi Brenda, excellent video, thank you

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're very welcome!

[@artnelsoncreative]

You have the best tutorials on KZbin to help people understanding PhotoPills. Thanks for doing this. If I could make one suggestion, please slow down. Your rate of speech is too fast, and it’s difficult to follow your instructions without stopping and replaying the video. Thanks again.

[@alnmp7541]

Ok now I know how to handle this better, but of course it requires practice. Thanks fro covering these PhotoPills topics!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You bet! And practice definitely helps with solidifying all the steps.

[@bio7021]

This was awesome! Thanks so much

[@richardbatcheldor9225]

Thank you Brenda. I live in the DC area and thought a shot from Lincoln Mem with the moon over the Washington Mon would be cool. Could even get a nice reflection. I see I can’t get the shot I’d like but now know when I can get the next best shot. Thanks again.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awesome! I bet that would be beautiful.

[@p823596]

as always - a pleasure to watch - thank you for sharing

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You bet - thanks for watching and learning!

[@charlenenagel7962]

Great explanation - and I sure am glad I can watch it again!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks, Charlene!

[@AlfredoAlegrett]

Wow this was fantastic, thank you

[@kpower4362]

I have owned PhotoPills for over two years now, and thanks to your videos I am "getting it"! Thanks so much. One thing isn't working for me in this episode no matter how closely I follow the video however - after I get to the point where I place the two pins, I am getting the identical values you show in the geodetic pin panel EXCEPT the altitude difference is always 0 feet. I have entered, and re-entered the Object Height but get the same result. I think this affects my search results when PhotoPills calculates dates, because it finds no dates. Please help. Thanks again, and keep up the great work!

[@swanalong]

Well explained

[@valeriehoffman8180]

This was so incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to create this series. Outstanding!

[@aysolar]

Excellent!

[@canaltirsa9917]

Thanks for the video, great infor

[@DavidBrown-wf6pz]

Brenda, very well done! This is so helpful! I hope things are going well in my home state.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks David! So far so good here. Most people are being really good about staying at home measures. We'll see how things change once they start opening things up again.

[@DavidBrown-wf6pz]

@@outdoorphotographyschool7366 I'm glad to hear it Brenda! Let's hope Vermont stays on the informed side of the situation. Thanks again for the great videos on Photopills. I've been using it for quite a while, but there was so much functionality I was missing and didn't know it.

[@philipculbertson55]

That was pretty darned impressive Brenda.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Philip!

[@lisapeterson6097]

This is so helpful. Thank you!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Yay - I'm so glad, Lisa!

[@miket.1933]

That's amazing thank you! I learned a lot.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're very welcome!

[@jimwilliams4170]

Great Prestation, very informative

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks, Jim!

[@timkasper544]

Excellent

[@PaulHeagen]

Your videos are way more helpful (and easier ot understand) than those from Photocells. What I still do not understand is how to START with picking an upcoming date for the full moon and then track down a location. I live on a bay so I'm fine with getting a shot with the moon reflecting on the water (rather than trying to coordinate its position with a stationary building or object. Can you help with that?

[@RolfAalders]

Great explanation. To be very nitty gritty: Height of the black pin was discussed, but what about the height of the red pin? The height of the camera / pier needs to be taking in account as well.

[@merrillthompson8248]

Thanks again for another informative video. I look forward to PhotoPills Friday. I’m confused about one thing: I thought PhotoPills already takes into account the difference in elevation between the red and black pin; therefore you don’t need to add that to the statue elevation. But I noticed you added it when calculating the apparent height. Please confirm this. Many thanks!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Hi Merrill, Glad you're enjoying the series! PhotoPills does take into account the elevation difference between the red and black pins *except* for when the black pin is on a man-made object, such as a statue or building. In this case, the black pin takes into account the elevation of the structure at ground level, which is why you have to research the height of the structure to be able to calculate the desired apparent height of the moon.

[@merrillthompson8248]

@@outdoorphotographyschool7366 . Hi Brenda. Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I understand that we have to add the height of the statue to determine the apparent height we want the moon to be. But I thought PhotoPills already took into account the ground level elevation difference between the red and black pin - meaning we only enter 305ft in the elevation box for "Apparent height above blue pin". That is what I was trying to say in my first comment. Thanks again.

[@rbboser]

@@merrillthompson8248 - I believe Merrill is correct. An earlier version of photopills required you to adjust manually for differences in elevation between the red and black pins. But the current version already accounts for this. So an adjustment is no longer needed with the latest Photopills version. Excellent video instruction by the way. I've taken a Photopills workshop from one of the designers, and I'm still learning from this series. Thank you Brenda!

[@divye.ruhela]

Kudos to you for an amazing explanation! By the end, I wanted to see the actual Moon Shot over Liberty! 😅

[@KeanBurke]

Excellent, I go to this location all the time and I’ve been trying to get a shot with the sunsetting behind the torch and the moon as well. But I didn’t have PhotoPills to help.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Super cool! I hope you get the shot then!

[@AngeloTullio]

Great!!!

[@raystone5985]

great videos. I wonder who will be on that pier December 29th. haha

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Haha - good point!

[@jcaff6963]

Thank you for this episode. I am planning a Blue Moon shoot @ Coronado Bay Bridge. Kudos to the Bard, but he talks very fast with a little accent, so I can't always keep up with the pace.

[@jimfair2842]

Great explanation, can’t imagine attempting to use this app without you’re in depth and step-by-step tutorials. Seems like a great app that would really benefit my landscape work, but very difficult to use, obviously it’s something I have to practice and continue to use to become even minimally proficient with it. Why did they make it so confusing?, Thank you for being there, I plan on using this on my Oregon coast trip next month

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! Best of luck! Let me know if you have questions. It took me about a year to figure the app out, so you are not alone. I'm still learning new things.

[@waynechase6950]

Hi, thanks for the great video. Easy to follow and understand. The question i have when it gives the time of the moon, is the time your time or local time?

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Hi Wayne - great question. The time in the timeline of the planner is the time of the location of the red pin. You can move the timeline forward and backward to change the time, and you can also tap on the timeline to pull up the date and time settings to set the time and date manually. From there, you can also select whether or not your current location's timezone is autodetected or not.

[@LeeMansfield]

Hi Brenda, big fan of your photos, work and videos - full respect to you. This video is excellent as you go through the basics to the end, one question. On duplicating the location on the same subject my distance, azimuth is the same as yours but the altitude difference on my ipad is 0ft / -0.01 degrees. My moon height is 1.71mi from black pin (size 70ft). Where your figures are different - could you please advise (many thanks Lee)

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Hi Lee - thanks! Glad the videos are helpful! Yes, it seems that when people get different results as you describe, it's because we are using different elevation providers. So, go to My Stuff --> Settings --> Elevation Service Provider. I use Google because it's supposed to be more accurate.

[@mosherbl]

Thank you so much for making it simple and easy! Looks like 12/29 is going to be packed with moon shooting of the Statue of Liberty 😄

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Ha - that may be true! Let's hope we won't have to social distance by then...