Pilbara Gems: Staircase to the Moon

You may have heard of this phenomenon - Staircase to the moon. It is heavily promoted in Broome, where you can sit on the beach at low tide and watch the full moon rise. The reflection on the mudflats looks like a staircase leading to the moon. It's pretty, but it's also a heavily romanticized  occasion. The tide and moon rise need to coincide.

Those in Broome would have you believe it only happens there, but this is incorrect. It is supposed to be pretty spectacular up there, but it only happens three times a year. Here in the Pilbara, it happens five times a year.

My first experience trying to photograph the staircase to the moon was tarnished by grumpy grey nomads. The moon was no where in sight and I needed my torch to set up my camera. I got yelled at.

Then of course you have to contend with people taking photos...with the flash on. You feel like screaming, 'the flash won't do you any good!!' but yet there is always one.

This photo is from our last attempt at the moon. It doesn't have the same stairway effect because it was taken a little late in the piece - clouds were on the horizon when  it rose - but I do love the golden glow it created. I've also included an edited version to try and capture the moon-glow in a colder, crisper, more moon-like tone.

This night was actually really great, it was the night of the lantern walk and we sat on the beach for ages. Have you ever watched the tide come in? By this I mean, watching the waves roll in, but not out. You could see the water heading over the mud flats, coming straight for you it was incredible! Another Pilbara Gem.

Canon EOS 50D, f/5, 4sec shutter, ISO 500, 50mm. Golden glory! Edit free. 

As above except edited in Adobe RAW - cooler tint and contrast adjusted. 

Just a note: Compression has decreased the quality of these photos - they are quite sensitive if they have a high ISO.