A moment of ‘Lunar Magic’

The Blood Moon as seen from the Taupō foreshore on September 8. Photo: Dave Gallacher

Local photographer Dave Gallacher took more than a passing interest in the recent Blood Moon.

Setting up his camera for a composite image he calls Lunar Magic, the time has been rewarded with more than half a million views online.

Dave explains the process

“Lunar Magic documents the September 8 lunar eclipse as viewed from the shores of Lake Taupō. This composite image combines multiple exposures of the moon with a wide-angle foreground scene to create a complete visual record of the event.

The lunar sequence was captured using a Nikon Z9 paired with a NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6 lens set at 500mm. The camera was mounted on a sky tracker aligned to lunar speed, allowing precise tracking of the moon throughout the eclipse. This setup enabled sharp exposures at each stage — from partial shadow through to the deep red tones of totality.

In parallel, a Nikon Z6 II fitted with a NIKKOR 14–30mm f/4 lens was used to photograph the landscape foreground. Multiple compositions were taken to ensure optimal framing and lighting conditions along the lakefront.

The final image was created in post-production using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. The moon exposures were composited into the wide-angle frame, with careful attention to scale, alignment, and tonal balance. The result is a technically accurate yet artistic representation that merges astronomical precision with the natural beauty of the New Zealand landscape.”

NOTE: A lunar eclipse happens about every six months and can last for up to two hours. The reddish hue is because the only light hitting the Moon is that which is reflected off Earth’s atmosphere.