26 September 1996

Total Lunar Eclipse at 19:19

I was presented with many technical challenges when I photographed tonight's total eclipse of the moon. My cheap camera didn't have an interchangeable lens, so I was stuck with a wide-angle view. Scott helped me make the best of this difficult situation by providing a visual guide for the untrained eye. I was concerned that the flash might fill in the moon's shadow rendering the contrast unacceptably low, but an Expert assured me my shutter would have closed before the strobe light reached the lunar surface. The photograph was acceptable, but in retrospect I'd have to say that a lunar eclipse is like a kiss: it's one of those natural events that's better to experience without a camera getting in the way.