Moonlit Dreams

Hillsboro Lighthouse, Hillsboro, Florida.

The Supermoon is a remarkable phenomenon that occurs when the Moon's orbit is closest to Earth during a full Moon. This noteworthy occurrence results in a notably bigger and brighter Moon than a regular full Moon. Supermoons typically only happen three or four times yearly, making them highly anticipated events. So when I learned that the upcoming Supermoon would overlap with the Hillsboro Lighthouse in the frame, I started making plans months in advance to capture this stunning sight.

I was very excited about this particular shot since the Hillsboro Lighthouse is just under an hour away from my home, and the location would be a perfect opportunity to use a Lens Compression photographic technique.

The Lens Compression technique is achieved by using a powerful telephoto lens that makes distant objects appear closer to the foreground subject than they actually are. In other words, this technique creates the illusion of compressed distance between the Supermoon and the Lighthouse by making the Moon appear bigger than it does to the naked eye.

The day before the shoot, I was so excited that I shared my plans and explained the Lens Compression technique during dinner with my family. They saw how passionate I was about this photo shoot. They asked if they could join me to witness the Supermoon and even offered their help. So, of course, I agreed. I was delighted to have them aboard my adventure, and I felt lucky to share something unique and special with my family.

On the day of the shoot, we arrived at the location a few minutes before sunset. The scene was perfect, and I carefully set up my equipment, selecting the best position to capture the beauty of the Supermoon and the Lighthouse. It was a sunny day, with a beautiful sunset behind us and an almost surreal mirage of the Supermoon in front of us.

As we waited for the Supermoon to peak behind the Lighthouse, we were delighted by the sound of the waves and birds while the wind brought us the fresh scent of the ocean. Eventually, the Supermoon took its place on the scene. At the same time, a fading cloud whimsically positioned itself underneath the Moon as if the sky were offering the Moon to the Lighthouse. It was a surreal mirage that I was lucky enough to capture.

Once back in my studio, I color-graded the shot using shade settings that enhanced its mystical look. The resulting image appears like a frame grabbed from a fantasy tale. I love how the colors enhance the uncanny look accompanied by the unusual gorgeous brightness and size of the Supermoon that seems to be brought by a ramp of clouds from the tip of the Lighthouse to the Moon.

In the end, the total experience hugely exceeded my expectations, not just because of the image itself, but because I learned that whether it's the exuberance of a long-awaited success or the simple pleasures of everyday life, joy is always more meaningful when we have someone to share it with.