Giraffe and the moon: analyzing the photo

We are back after a long day of safari in Masai Mara, in Kenya. Now it is later than other days, and we slowly (but also without pauses) walk towards the camp. We want to arrive at a reasonable time to upload the day’s photos and have dinner.

Accompanying some animals on the way back is quite normal, but this time something special happened: the moon met a giraffe which slowly walked over the horizon.

To take this photo, big goal, with a focal length of 600 mm. Although the giraffe and the moon are at a reasonable distance, this lens will allow us integrate both in an African savannah setting, creating a very attractive composition.

This remoteness As for the elements, it has another advantage: we can use this to convey in the image that the giraffe is walking accompanied by the last rays of the sun and the first glow of the moon, which can be felt between the soft clouds.

Shooting data: ISO 3200; f/4; 1/50 second; lens 600 mm; full frame DSLR camera; beanbag

Something important about this photograph, as with most photographs of fauna in their natural habitat, is that speed with whom we must to react; and even more so if photography is an action. It is important that we are always aware of the situation.

We see a giraffe in the distance and notice that although it walks slowly, it moves faster than we would have liked a priori. Again, we must have photographic knowledge and quickly adjust the camera so as not to lose this photo.

We post beanbag (a bean bag that serves to stabilize the lens and camera) we place our equipment on the car window and try not to move too much; That speed excerpt 1/50 and if we do this, the final image may be blurry.

There were a few moments when we saw the giraffe stop, but we waited. It is when the animal is to the right of the Moon and stops that we take the desired shot. Thus, compound It will be more balanced And the giraffe won’t move. And by the way! Also try to ensure that the giraffe’s legs are not too covered by the tall savannah grass; This will add a lot of interest to the composition.

Supermoon among the skyscrapers of Madrid: analyzing the photo

For diaphragm, we set it to f4. He focus we post this on a giraffe because the clouds make the moon no longer in focus. Finally we need to configure ISO. Since there is little light, we raise it to 3200 to get endurance; Because otherwise, even the slightest movements – our breathing or the gait of a giraffe – can ruin the final result.

And thanks to this you have everything. You will be able to capture that very moment when the moon has not yet touched the horizon and the giraffe has not touched the moon. Plus, you’ll have the pink lights of the sunset, the magnetism of the full moon, and the clouds crossing as it passes… The result is magical.