Lighting Up the Night ~ God’s Superb Moon

Hidden behind the clouds

With my camera and tripod in tow, I joined the throngs of people from across the globe who captured shots of the gorgeous Supermoon this weekend.  A Supermoon occurs when the moon is slightly closer to Earth than typical, with a more noticeable effect when it occurs at the same time as a full moon.  This weekend was the moon’s closest encounter with Earth in 2013, and it was full and spectacular.

Moon, close up and milky white

These photos were my first attempt at moon shots.  Since I do not have an adequate telephoto lens, my pictures are not nearly the quality of many I have seen.  These close-ups resulted from some cropping in Photoshop.

Candlelight ~ intentionally tried to get this one to look grainy ~ has a sculpted look to me

Moon with clouds

My husband is not a photo enthusiast, but was kind enough to drive me to a place where I could try to get some silhouettes.  Unfortunately, the lighting was already much too dark for these to give me the crisp outlines of the shadows I was wanting.

Peeking behind the trees

This shot looks more like a sunset than a moonrise!

Many of these pictures are grainy, which happens with a high ISO.  I wanted to experiment with the settings to learn more about nighttime photography.  The one thing I learned from my first experience at this is that I need much more practice!

So grainy that it looks furry ~ kind of pretty, though

The moon is one of my favorites of God’s creation.  I have often wondered, though, about a verse found in Revelation describing heaven.  When I read it, it makes me wonder whether there will still be a moon there.

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
Revelation 21:23

When my son was young, he and I discussed this verse and my concerns.  This discussion came about because we both love the outdoors and used to spend time stargazing.  I told him that even though I understood that with Jesus in heaven we would have His light, I would still miss the moon.

I love what can come out of the mouth of ‘babes’ when discussing deep spiritual matters.  His response to my perplexity was this:

“Mom, it doesn’t say that there won’t be a moon in heaven, just that there won’t be a need for one.”

I like that interpretation.  I am just going to trust what God has in store for us in heaven, and that it will be more spectacular than what we have now.  If not a moon, then something better.  Should there be one, though, I cannot wait to photograph it.  I imagine it will be on the order of a superb supermoon!

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