The Supermoon presents a perfect opportunity for both shutterbugs and aspiring photography enthusiasts to attempt to capture beautiful images of the moon. In this article, we will help you learn how to capture the best possible shots of the Supermoon using just your smartphone.

Tonight’s Supermoon to be Seen in the Sky

Sanjay PatilAugust 1, 23 moon, photography

Today, on August 1, the Supermoon, a rare occurrence, is anticipated to make an appearance (at 12:02 AM IST on August 2nd in India). This extraordinary event offers a great chance for photography enthusiasts, whether professional or amateur, to witness and endeavor to capture stunning images of the moon, which will be nearly 14 percent larger and significantly brighter. In this piece, we will provide you with instructions on how to capture the most exceptional shots of the Supermoon using only your smartphone.

Tip 1: Use a tripod for stability

Using a tripod or monopod for long focal length photography, such as bird or wildlife photography, will help keep your images sharp. In smartphones, the sensors are small and need a longer shutter speed to let in more light. Using a tripod helps stabilize the phone and produces a sharp, unsharp image.

Tip 2: Use your phone’s telephoto lens

If you want to take pictures of distant objects and make them appear larger than they appear to the naked eye, use the telephoto lens on your smartphone. If you have a smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, you can take very detailed photos, but even a telephoto lens with 3x to 5x zoom can produce better images with good background compression, making the subject appear larger than life.

Additionally, modern smartphones with periscope telephoto lenses often include artificial intelligence algorithms that can also help bring out more lunar detail.

Always use a telephoto lens when clicking subjects like the moon.

Tip 3: Choose the right exposure

When taking pictures of high-contrast subjects like the moon, make sure the exposure is correct. The moon appears as a bright spot against a dark background, so to properly expose your photo, tap the moon to adjust the exposure accordingly. Depending on your smartphone, you may also be able to lock the exposure so it doesn’t change when you crop the shot.

Tip 4: Use a slower shutter speed

Using a slower shutter speed when taking photos of stationary subjects with moving foreground and background elements can create a dramatic effect. For example, if you’re shooting a Supermoon and there are clouds in the sky, using a shutter speed of one second or faster will result in a dramatic photo where the clouds create a smoky trail. So try the shutter speed if your smartphone has manual mode. However, remember that you need to use a tripod to keep the camera stable if you want a sharp image.

A slower shutter speed allows more light into the camera sensor. (Image: Shaurya Sharma)

Top 5: Look for foreground elements

You can add a cool cinematic effect to photos taken of the moon or the sun by including a few foreground elements, such as the silhouette of a bird or tree branches. This way your photos will definitely stand out more than a regular photo.

Tip 6: Click RAW, not Jpeg

Today, most modern smartphones, including the latest Pro iPhones, allow users to take photos in RAW format. This saves the most data that can be edited in post-processing. Later, you can choose a more stylish look that wouldn’t be possible if you only shot in JPEG format.

Tip 7: If you don’t have a tripod, use the built-in timer to take pictures

A tripod is not the only way to avoid camera shake and blurry images. You can also use the camera app’s built-in timer, place the phone on a stable surface like a book or wall, set the timer, and leave the phone to take a sharp photo.