Experts Reveal How Your iPhone Can Capture This Week’s Jaw-Dropping ‘Snow Moon’

Here it comes—the full “Snow Moon!”

You’ve probably noticed our natural satellite waxing towards its full phase these past few days and nights, but on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 it will reach 100% illuminated and, crucially, rise during dusk.

It’s all eyes east for that as #SnowMoon inevitably trends across social media for 24 hours—but don’t forget your smartphone’s camera.

There are many wonderful images of the full Moon taken each month—including last month’s “Wolf Moon” and December’s “Cold Christmas Moon”—and though February’s “Snow Moon” won’t be much different it’s sure to be a spectacular sight that’s captured across the world.

But can you take photos of the “Snow Moon” using just a smartphone? Sure you can. Here’s how.

MORE FROM FORBESWhen, Where And How You Can See Next Week’s Dazzling Full ‘Snow Moon’ At Its Biggest, Brightest And BestBy Jamie Carter

When, where and how to see the ‘Snow Moon’

Check the moonrise times where you are for Wednesday, February 16, 2022 and find yourself a good view of the eastern horizon in advance. If your sky is clear of cloud you’ll be treated to the sight of a beautiful orange full Moon rising. It’s full at 16:56 UTC, so it will be very close to 100% full as seen from the east coast of North America and Europe at moonrise.

The six secrets to photographing the ‘Snow Moon’ with a smartphone

There are plenty of ways to capture incredible photos of the night sky using a smartphone. “It’s partly down to optimising your phone camera’s settings, as well as technique and environment,” said Karlo Jacutan at Lafayette Photography. 

Here are Jacutan’s top tips:

1. Switch-off the flash, switch-on HDR 

If the flash is on in your iPhone’s camera app then you’re effectively trying to illuminate the full Moon yourself, which is both 240,000 miles away and currently being illuminated directly by the Sun. Don’t bother! It will only degrade your image. “Flash ruins night-sky images, so make sure this is switched off if you’re shooting pictures of the Moon,” said Jacutan. “However, High Dynamic Range (HDR) settings are ideal for shooting still images of the night sky.” HDR combines several different exposures, effectively makes it possible to have both extreme bright and dark subjects within the same photo.

2. Lower the ISO

“When photographing the moon you want your camera to capture as little as possible so an ISO of 100 is ideal,” said Jacutan. ISO is a measurement of the sensitivity to light of your phone camera’s digital sensor. On an iPhone, you can change the ISO setting by tapping the plus icon (+), which is the fifth of six buttons above the shutter button within the camera app. You can then drag the toggle to the right to lower the exposure. That way you won’t blow-out the full Moon and be left with an ugly bright orb.

3. Slow the shutter speed

Hold the iPhone up to the night sky and it will go into low-light mode, automatically limiting the shutter speed to between three and 10 seconds. “You want a slow shutter speed when taking pictures of the night sky,” said Jacutan. That’s true, but since the full Moon is very bright do experiment with various settings.

4. Don’t zoom in

The iPhone has a poor zoom. Plus, it’s digital, not optical, so all you’re doing is degrading the image, not improving it. “The best night-sky photography includes the darkness of the sky as well as the celestial object,” said Jacutan. “People like to see the contrast, so don’t be afraid to leave it in when taking photos of the Moon.” Context makes a photo of the Moon more interesting.

5. Use a tripod

Although it’s a pain you’ll get much better results if you use a tripod to steady your iPhone. That way you won’t get a blurry image. It’s especially important at night when you’re likely to be using slower shutter speeds, which will accentuate any wobble. “You want a slower shutter speed because this allows you to capture clearer, crisper images,” said Jacutan. “But, when using this setting, it is absolutely vital that you hold your camera extremely steady. A tripod is ideal, and stops the natural shaking of a human hand, but if you don’t have one, try using a wall or window ledge to balance and steady your arm while you take your photos.”

6. Look for a ‘moon road’

You don’t have to take a straight-on image of the full Moon. Be creative and look for reflections on water, which are especially apparent just after the full Moon has risen above the horizon. However, it’s most impressive if the full Moon is still orange, so you have only a short window of time to capture it. If you use a tripod you can even capture moonlit environments and moon-shadows during the night of the full Moon—especially if there’s snow on the ground, which reflects it nicely.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.