How to Capture a Moonlit Scene in Canyonlands

The Grand View overlook is a short walk from your car.

Visually, it’s a fantastic view any time.

Plan the Shot

I was at Grand View hours after sunset. My goal was to capture a moonlit scene.

Feature Image Details

This is a panorama composite of seven images. There were huge cumulus clouds illuminated by a full moon.

Even still, my exposure was 2 minutes, beautifully blurring the clouds, but also making the stars streak.

I used a Canon 16-35MM F4 L Lens at 20mm, F7.1, for 2 minutes at ISO 800 for all the shots.

Cloud Movement

I like the cloud movement. Two minutes seems about right.

With my iOptron SkyGuider Pro, I could have captured the scene without blurring the stars.

However, by tracking the stars, I would have blurred the land. Thus, I would have needed to take two sets of images, one for the land and one for the sky.

Given the speed of the clouds and the time it would have taken to setup my equipment, perhaps the perfect image was not realistically possible.

It may be difficult to see what I describe. Here is a screen snip of a a tiny portion of the image.

Star Blur Movement

The maximum exposure time to capture stars without movement is governed by the equation: E = 400/FL.

E = Exposure time in seconds
400 is a constant derived by experience.
FL = Focal Length of the lens in MM

I was at 20 mm. Thus my maximum exposure time without stars streaking was 20 seconds.

I exposed for 2 minutes. Thus, I had significant streaking.

Some may like the movement. Some won’t. It’s a matter of taste.

Other Canyonlands Images

Mesa Arch, Murphy Point, and the Grand View Overlook are all easy hikes.

Nearby

If you are at the Canyonlands Island in the Sky district, then Arches National Park is nearby.

For most, it’s probably the reverse, visiting Arches then going to Canyonlands as a side trip.

Arches National Park Images

Equipment List

Those interested in my equipment and recommendations can find it here: Mish’s Equipment List.

Please Subscribe: Click to Subscribe by Email.

More Canyonlands National Park images coming up.

Please Subscribe and Follow.

Thanks!

Mike “Mish” Shedlock

One thought on “How to Capture a Moonlit Scene in Canyonlands”

I liked the big western vista. Clouds make it pop. Blurry stars…meh..Not so much. Reminds me of taking shot on ski slopes with snow flurries coming down.