June, as a month, has a lot of superstitions that come attached to it, especially when it comes to weddings. One such superstition or famous saying came from the song "June Bride" of the 1954 musical "Seven brides for Seven brothers," wherein if you're married in June, you're a bride all your life, per the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library's website.
A similar saying or superstition takes the spotlight, but this time, this particular saying involves the moon.
Here's a bit of knowledge on why the appearance of the moon in June is sometimes called "strawberry moon" and how to best take a picture of it.
What is a Strawberry Moon?
Contrary to its meaning, a "strawberry moon" doesn't necessarily mean that the moon would turn red, just like in a lunar eclipse, although it could happen if the timing is astronomically correct. In this case, the strawberry moon is expected to rise as a full moon on June 14.
A strawberry moon is a term used before modern times to describe the appearance of the moon when strawberry farmers of the Algonquin tribe harvest their crops, according to Live Science's article, which cited Maine Farmer's Almanac.
A strawberry moon is a term used before modern times to describe the appearance of the moon when strawberry farmers of the Algonquin tribe harvest their crops, according to Live Science's article, which cited Maine Farmer's Almanac.
There are other names for the appearances of the moon in other parts of the world. In Europe, the appearance of the moon that coincides with the honey harvest in Europe is called a "Honey Moon," according to NASA. The "honey moon" is also the origin of the term "honeymoon" used in post-wedding celebrations of the newly-wedded couple.
How To Take A Picture Of The Strawberry Moon
The coming strawberry moon will appear bigger and brighter than the moon's usual appearance. However, the principles of taking a photograph of the moon remain pretty much the same.
Much like taking pictures of a lunar eclipse, you'll get the best results when using a DSLR camera with a high-quality, wide-angle zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. According to Space.com, this configuration will give you to flexibility you need to frame the moon in a scene.
If you want a higher resolution photograph, you'll want to use a longer telephoto lens to get the moon's features. A lens around the 200-400mm focal length is ideal in this situation. This type of lens is also useful for a close-up of the moon, according to BH Photo and Video.
Alternatively, you may want to use a teleconverter to extend the lens you already own.
Of course, unlike a lunar eclipse which doesn't give out that much light, you'll need to adjust the aperture, ISO, and a shutter speed of the camera to get a detailed shot. Otherwise, you may end up with a solid white circle for a moon photo than a picture of the actual moon.
Since the strawberry moon is bigger and brighter, a low ISO, aperture, and faster shutter speed value could net you a decent shot. A good rule of thumb is to keep your camera's shutter speed at a 1/125-second minimum for photographing the moon.
