lunar eclipse, Dec 21

FrankS

FrankS

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So, did anyone stay up late and photograph this event? It is somewhat uncommon to have an eclipse and solstice occur together, so the kids and I stayed up. It began in our location at about 1:30am. I had film in a mechanical Nikkormat FT2 that I could trust in the cold. For a lens, I used a beat up old Soligor 350mm f5.6 (pre-set aperture) as it is my longest lens. Film roll is still to be finished and developed.
 
I considered taking my 400mm Soligor preset out but even though I woke up about 1:30, decided not to. 4:00 am wakeup time just comes too early. sigh

Waiting to see yours.
 
My periodic insomnia "allowed" me to be awake at the time. Put the 100-300 zoom on my Canon 40D, and shot some pics. I found it difficult to get the exposure correct, i.e., so that both light and dark sides were clear/visible. I assume that this was probably due to the dynamic range of the digital sensor. Went with the digital because my longest lens on a film camera is 85mm.

Post some shots when you get th film back, Frank. My digital shots are not worth posting.
 
lunar eclipse

lunar eclipse

This is how it looked at our house

5280429485_2fda569c0f.jpg


We had good intentions, camped out in the living room by the fire. Just didn't happen though.
 
It was very overcast here Frank! We got almost 4 inches of snow during that time, nothing to see from where I am! I was up at that time but to no avail!
Tom
 
Nah, getting up at 2:41am EST didn't seem worth it, given that a lunar eclipse on the winter solstice looks exactly like one on another night (not being of a Pagan persuasion, myself).

Interestingly, my wife was awakened at about 3:30am by our dog's barking, but she didn't think to look at the sky to see why he was barking. :bang:
 


















Taken with Nikkor 800 5.6 IF-ED AIS with TC-14C on Nikon D3




I took some with the Noctilux but haven't souped the film yet.
 
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Wow! Some amazing shots!

Thanks for posting!

It was overcast and rainy here in Portland, so I didn't even bother trying to take a picture of what I couldn't see. But these images more than make up for it.

Ellen
 
I am so bummed that in our location at about 11:45 PM that night we were so socked in with fog and overcast that I got nothing. So it is very gratifying to see all these posts. Thanks to all... now I can be happy again.
 
Thanks you guys/girls. I really appreciate it.
There were clear skies and it was really cold: 24 below zero. I was going to shoot the event from my deck but the moon was high and I couldn't get a view of it.

I wrote about this earlier but when the Earth's shadow completely covered the moon, it got really dark and coyotes started to howl in a nearby field, Airdrie being a rural Alberta city. Moved by the whole moment, I started to answer back with my own howl. It was quite something. My neighbours must love me.

Standing there, I felt very small in the huge universe and very much alone. Then I started to think about everyone else who, at that moment, was looking up at this incredible event and I felt a little better.

I am really glad you guys like the images. And thanks for the opportunity to share my experience.

 
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Stunning Images Greg, thanks for posting these, I couldn't get my kids out of bed so I'm grateful to have these beautiful pictures to show them..
 
Great images Greg, a lunar eclipse is always worth a howl or two! Unfortunately, although we had the chance to witness the sun and the moon in the sky at the same time as the eclipse, good old British Cloud offended any sort if view from South West London.
 
I had a grand-stand view from the kitchen window (outside was -7 and snow everywhere).

Greg, I really appreciate your pictures.

Al
 
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