Explanation: A Full Moon rising can be a dramatic celestial sight, and Full Moons can have many names. For example, Monday's Full Moon was the one nearest this year's autumnal equinox for the northern hemisphere, traditionally called the Harvest Moon. According to lore the name is a fitting one because farmers could work late into the night at the end of the growing season harvesting crops by moonlight. This serene telephoto image captures this September's harvest moonrise from Turin, Italy. In silhouette against an orange lunar disk is Turin's hilltop Basilica of Superga.
How much of this photograph do you think was luck? Obviously the bird was luck, but there seems to be an element of careful planning. This photographer is quite a ways away and the Basilica is perfectly centered in the moon. Do you think he/she calculated this position in advance? If so, I say "nice work!"
The bird looks like a well fed pigeon. I'm not very familiar with owls, but I've noticed that pigeons don't mind gliding with lots of dihedral in their wing positions. They can permit themselves a noisy ascent when desired, but an owl, being a bird of stealth, would naturally opt for a more efficient flight behaviour, in my totally amateur opinion.
many thanks for you comments!
Yes I confirm that I planned the shot in advance, also visiting the shooting site a couple of days before. Of course I did not plan the bird, even if I must say that it is not the first time that one of my Moon/Basilica pictures is blessed by the entrance of such a special guest
The photo is in Italy....it is a dove.
But, I think that the name of the church is wrong. The beautiful church in Turim is the Duomo della Sacra Sidone.
rachel heininger wrote:
The photo is in Italy....it is a dove.
But, I think that the name of the church is wrong.
The beautiful church in Turim is the Duomo della Sacra Sidone.
I saw this just a few days ago. We had a spate of good weather here in the northwest with clear skies and you could not miss it. I have seen the moon lined up with the tip of Mr Rainier years ago as if sitting on it. But I did not have the camera. Lucky shot ? only lucky you have the camera handy and set up, with really good charged up batteries. I always have one in my car. If it wasn't for that giant cloud, I would have caught that meteor that flashed over Oregon a few months ago. I was taking movies of the AMTRAK train coming from that direction at that exact time. But alas, I get to sit down, have a cool one and not be famous....sigh
I was very afortunate to swim at 02:00 in the shallow beach of Tulùm, Mexican Mayan Riviera, The full moon was a spectacular beacon that allowed us to swim in turquoise waters and white sand beach in the middle of the night.
September's Harvest Moon
Very beautiful photo. I am torn on the avian so I won't hazard a guess. But I would very much like to know. 
