Last year I tried to
capture an image I had in my mind of the moon over the state capitol
and failed miserably. The moon came up at the wrong angle and too late.
Thankfully Ian Buckley turned me onto
The Photographers Ephemeris, a
wonderful program for knowing when and where the moon will rise. I
checked my dates, then waited months to get my shot. In that time I
also bought a specific lens for the occasion, a Tamron Mirror lens. Not
exactly a versatile lens, as the aperture can't be changed, but perfect
for the situation and it only cost $180, a full $8,220 cheaper than the
new Nikon 500mm f/4. All the preparation came together on August 1st,
with the moon rising directly behind the capitol at 7pm. Of course it
didn't show until 8pm, but the wait was worth it.
