Skip to content

Full Moonrise from BU Bridge

Photo of Andy Gatchell
Hosted By
Andy G.
Full Moonrise from BU Bridge

Details

Let's go back to shoot the moon from the BU bridge! I am being a bit optimistic with this one. The cloud forecast is not favorable, so you'll have to watch the comments. But, if the clouds shift, we'll have a choice of shots over the city from different parts of the bridge or even from Memorial Drive.

Our last moon shoot from here

This will be a full moon rising above the Boston skyline 4 minutes after sunset. If you want to shoot a moon streak, it'll be rising right through the blue hour.

The bridge is a quick walk from the MBTA Green Line via Boston University West Station or Boston University Central Station. For those who will be driving, the Magazine Beach is a short walk up Memorial Drive. To get there, you'd have to go past the BU Bridge and find a place to turn around. There is no access driving from the rotary at the bridge.

Setup:
We will meet on the bridge at 6:30 pm. I will try arriving earlier and suggest arriving early if you can to snag a spot to set up (and maybe get some sunset or blue hours shots). The bridge is a popular spot for photographers and otherwise has some crossing pedestrians and bikers. You can set up your tripod/camera from the stone railing (see attached photo) to avoid taking too much sidewalk space, but don't drop your gear into the Charles River! :) DO NOT BLOCK THE WALKWAY!

Composition/Shooting:
You can attempt a range of various shots: single shots of the moon over the skyline, single shots of just the moon, or a moon streak (see Jurgen's blog post for more info). If you want to try the streak, plan on pressing the shutter at 7:11 - a 10-stop filter at F11 and ISO 100 should buy you close to 30 minutes of streak.

Suggested equipment:
Zoom lenses of 200mm or greater to capture the telephoto views of the city/moon. Wide angle lenses for capturing the distant city skyline with the Charles River and the railroad bridge. Bring a 10-stop filter for a streak. And, of course, a sturdy tripod and spare batteries.

After:
You can continue to shoot the moon and the city as night falls. (And the tracks under the bridge are where I shot my most awarded image.)

Current forecast indicates clouds and temperatures in the 50s - again, watch the comments. It is possible that this will be canceled and replaced by a Monday meetup. (I probably can't make that, because it's my wife's birthday; Kevin probably can't make Sunday, because it's his wife's birthday.)

Photo of Greater Boston Night Photographers group
Greater Boston Night Photographers
See more events
Boston University Bridge
· Cambridge, MA
Google map of the user's next upcoming event's location
FREE
10 spots left