What's a Lunagraph?

A lunagraph is a moonlight-photograph. Ed uses film, not digital for his photos. Photographic prints are as captured on film, with no fancy retouching.

A lunagraph is exposed at night and uses moonlight instead of sunlight to create the image. This is around the night of the full moon.

Moonlight is much less strong than sunlight. Unusually long exposures are required. Exposure times can last from a few minutes to many hours. During this time the camera is mounted on a tripod and the shutter is locked open. This allows the moonlight to gradually build up detail on the film.

Solid objects such as rocks appear normal. Objects such as waves, stars and clouds have their movement captured on film. This imparts a magical and luminous quality to the image.

I used to believe there was no colour at night. This is not true. Our eyes have two different types of light receptors, called rods and cones. Cones are receptive to bright light, and also perceive colour. The cones are switched on during the day. Rods are receptive to low levels of light and cannot perceive colour. We use the rods at night. So although the colour is there at night, we don’t perceive it. Cones are like colour film, while rods are more like Black and White film.

When I create a lunagraph using colour film, I am able to record the colour which is truly there, but not seen!

Next time there is a full moon, take the challenge and go for a walk outside. Try to find a place that does not have any artificial light. Look up at the sky and you will see that the sky is indeed blue at night.

To find out when the next full moon is, simply email us studio@lunagraph.com.au and ask to receive the full moon alert.

Lunagraph is a trade mark of Ed Hughes