A few words about "Moon and Bridge."

Thank you all for your support in the last photo contest. I’d like to post a few thoughts about my winning picture, “Moon and Bridge.”

I love this photo for three reasons. First, it’s a simple composition, with only three elements, the moon, the bridge, and the sky. There is nothing else to confuse the viewer. Second, it contains an optical illusion. The cables on the bridge appear to run normally along the sides of the bridge, and then they appear to crisscross in front of the tower, and then they seem to go back to where they belong. Third, of course, is the precise timing that it took to get the moon positioned perfectly behind the tower.

No one would blame you if you thought this was a photo composite of two separate images. After all, what are the chances of catching the moon at that exact position? Well, as it turns out, there are several apps for a cell phone or computer that makes photos like this possible. Some of them are Photo Pills, Photographers Ephemeris, or in this case, Planit! and Planit! Pro. You can enter a location, date and time into these programs and they will tell you exactly where and when the sun and moon are going to be. Some of these programs are very simple to use, and others have a bit of a learning curve, but they all work great.

In this case, I found myself on a hilltop in San Pedro, overlooking L.A. Harbor, with about thirty other photographers who keep in touch on Instagram. I’m sure that there are probably similar groups in most cities around the country. There are probably photography clubs that do the same thing in your area as well. I was able to get there about thirty minutes before the alignment took place, which gave me enough time to frame a good composition and do some test exposures. Thanks to Planit Pro! We all knew the exact moment that the moon would cross behind the bridge.

I’ve posted a few other photos in the last year featuring lunar and solar alignments. They’re some of my favorite shots. Let me know if you’d like more information about these apps.