Minneapolis Photographer Mitch Rossow presents daily photos of Minneapolis. Cityscapes, People & Perspectives: Mitch explains composition and techniques.
I found a new perspective on the emerald city of the Northern Plains. You have to bike a lot or work for BNSF to know this location. This was one of my more planned out shoots; I tracked the moon for the last few days knowing that last night was a full moon. I searched this area for an angle that would get the moonrise in the frame with the city. I changed locations several times last night and will be showing them over the coming days. This was my first spot, chosen because it was the highest.
A lot of night scenes with the moon are photoshopped together. I wanted to make sure that this one was obviously natural. It was tricky to get the exposure right, because the moon is so darn bright. Had I exposed the moon correctly, the city would have been severely underexposed. So I chose to blow out the moon and enjoy the illuminated haze around it. One of the cool features of a sub-zero atmosphere is ice crystals. That’s what is going on with the moon, it’s not schmutz on the lens causing the halo, it was clearly a real-life effect. The glowing ice-haze ties the moon to the buildings; both compositionally and technically.
On the techy side, I set the exposure at 2.5 seconds and then moved the aperture up and down. I wanted to blur the traffic, yet keep the exposure times to a minimum so I could keep the moon sharp — the darn thing moves faster than you think!
This baby is the successor to the Thanksgiving Rush Hour I35 photo, which one do you like better? Let me know.
Hey Cuz
GREAT SHOT! did you see the moon Saturday when it was eclipsing a plant?
I think you are forgetting something on you photo excursions…..ME!
[...] moon threaded the Minneapolis skyline Tuesday night. After I captured yesterday’s picture, I went down to the sculpture garden to catch this image. Here’s the problem: I need better [...]
I like this one becuse of the mooniness. Seems we were all moonstruck. (but without Cher).
I tried my best the other night with a moon pic that was aglo with a spectacular moondog around it. And as I do enjoy to do, I set up with the moon and moondog behind a large ash tree where the limbe prefectly framed the moon. Trouble is, even on the tripod I got blurred fuzzy pics. The little bit of movement with my finger depressing the shuuter caused too much vibration. That, and I realized afterward, I forgot to turn the IS on the lens off.
Lessons learned the hard way.
Liking both alot but always have had a warm spot for moons!
Hope all is well dear- talk to you soon!
Michelle