How It's Made: An HDR-moon with a 'shadowside' effect

F/11.0, 1/160 sec., ISO-100, 600 mm

The concept: Making the dark side of the moon visible

Normally, from Earth, we see the brightly lit side of the moon. The other half of the moon, which is not illuminated by the sun, is in darkness and therefore invisible. However, by using a photographic technique where the full moon is darkened and a picture of a non-full moon is projected brighter, a visual illusion can be created. This gives the impression that the shadow side of the moon is visible, something that is not normally the case, but can be beautifully created through HDR photography and post-processing.

1. Equipment needed and preparation

To take this unique photograph, it is important to use the right equipment and technique. The basic equipment for taking the photo consists of:

• A camera with manual settings: This is essential for shooting with different exposures.
• A tripod: Since multiple pictures of the moon are needed, it is crucial to keep the camera stable to avoid alignment problems.
• A telephoto lens or telescope: To take detailed images of the moon, you need a lens with a long focal length (e.g. a 400mm or 600mm lens).
• HDR software: Software such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop or another photo editing software is needed to combine the images and create the desired effects.

The following equipment was used to take this photo of the HDR moon:

2. The process: Creating the dark side

Step 1: Photograph the full moon

The first step is to take a picture of the full moon. Since the full moon shines very brightly, exposure must be adjusted properly to avoid overexposure. A relatively short shutter speed (such as 1/500 second) and a low ISO value (e.g. ISO 100) are ideal to capture the moon's surface clearly and in detail.

This photo will serve as the ‘shadow side’ of the moon. Although this is actually the exposed side of the moon, the image is darkened in post-processing to give the impression that this side of the moon is in shadow.

Step 2: Take a picture of the non-full moon

The second photo needed is that of the non-full moon, for example, a quarter moon or a waxing moon. This phase of the moon already has some degree of shadows on the surface, but the illuminated side is not as bright as with the full moon. Since we want to simulate the shadow side, it is important to keep this image lighter so that it can be projected on top of the dark full moon without losing detail.

Step 3: Project the non-full moon

The real artwork comes in post-processing. In photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, the two photos are merged. This is how the process works:

• Load both images into Photoshop: Import the full moon photo and the non-full moon photo. Make sure both images are properly aligned so that they can be combined seamlessly. Using the same exposure and camera settings ensures that the images match in terms of colour temperature and sharpness.
• Darken the full moon: Since we want the full moon to be the ‘shadow side’, this picture is darkened. This can be done by lowering the exposure or increasing the shadows. The idea is that the darker parts of the full moon give the effect of the invisible side of the moon, as if it were in shadow.
• Project the non-full moon: The picture of the non-full moon, which is lighter, is now placed on top of the dark full moon. By using masks or layer settings in Photoshop, this photo only becomes visible where the lit side of the moon should appear. This creates the illusion of a moon partially in shadow, with a partial rendering of the light side.
• Fine-tuning and finishing: Now the result can be fine-tuned by adjusting the contrast, brightness and colour balance. The goal is a smooth transition between the dark full moon and the lighter projected non-full moon, so that the overall look is natural. The transitions should be subtle so that the effect of the shadow side remains believable.

Step 4: Finalise the image

After combining the images and adjusting brightness and contrast, the final result can be edited for further details. Here, additional adjustments can be made to the colours and contrast to enhance lunar textures and strengthen the illusion of the shadow side.

3. The end result: The illusion of the dark side

The end result of this process is a breathtaking image of the moon, where it appears as if the shadow side is subtly visible, when in reality this side of the moon is invisible to us. The dark picture of the full moon acts as the shadow side, while the lighter projected non-full moon represents the illuminated side of the moon. This creates a unique, visually intriguing image of the moon, which can capture the viewer's imagination and offer them a new way of looking at our nearest celestial body.

F/11.0, 1/160 sec., ISO-100, 600 mm

4. Tips for taking this photo

Pay attention to lighting:

The key to success is the balance between the different images. Make sure that the photo of the full moon is correctly dimmed so that the dark shadow side comes across convincingly.

Use high-quality photos:

Make sure the images of the moon are of high quality, with plenty of detail and sharp focus. This makes it easier to preserve the textures and details in the final image.

Experiment with moon phase:

Choosing the phase of the non-full moon affects the shadows and lighting of the image. Try different phases for unique results.

Conclusion