It was great to wake up today to see my “Strawberry Moon” – the midsummer full moon - on the front pages of the Irish Times and The Times Ireland. Using The Photographers Ephemeris yesterday morning at about 4.30am, I was lucky enough to capture it setting behind the Poolbeg chimneys. Although it was a fine clear night, it was quite breezy when I arrived on the North Bull Wall. Fortunately, I able to use one of the bathing shelters as a windbreak to keep everything steady. I took these shots with my Canon 7D Mark II and my Canon 100-400mm lens, mounted on a Manfrotto 055 carbon fibre tripod and a 410 junior geared head. The shot in the paper was exposed for 1.3 seconds, f20 and ISO 100 at a focal length of 190mm. So, you could say I’m absolutely over the .  .  .  ahem .  .  .   thrilled!

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These moonshots – mainly around Dublin Bay – are my long-term photo project since 2008. Seeing one of them in front of so many people this morning makes up for the 3am summer starts and the freezing winter nights – although having said that, when I do get out there, I love being on own on the bay capturing the moonlit landscapes. You can see, and buy, many more of them at  www.johncoveney.ie/moonscapes.

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