Chasing Shadows: Capturing the Lunar Eclipse Over Shoal BayMy Pre-Dawn Adventure on Stephens Peak

There’s something about a lunar eclipse that sparks a sense of adventure and awe, especially when the forecast promises clear skies over a spot as beautiful as Shoal Bay. With enthusiasm (and a hint of sleepiness), I decided that this eclipse deserved more than a casual glance from my backyard. I wanted a striking foreground to pair with the celestial show—so, Stephens Peak it was, and 4am became my time to shine.

Planning the Perfect Night

The ecliptic event was due to begin at 1:30am, but with the eclipse reaching its peak at around 4am, I wasn’t going to risk missing a moment. My alarm buzzed at midnight and, after a quick coffee, I packed my camera bag. I brought along a 16-35mm lens for sweeping wide shots, my trusty 24mm tilt-shift lens for stitched panoramas, and a hefty 100-500mm lens for detailed close-ups of the moon itself. That’s a fair bit of glass to lug uphill at that hour, but I figured it was better to have too much kit than not enough.

The Trek Up Stephens Peak

Shoal Bay was still and quiet as I made my way up the trail to a tiny ledge on Stephens Peak. The full moon lit up the track, casting long shadows and giving the whole scene a silver-blue glow. The ledge itself wasn’t much wider than my boots, and with a long drop on one side, I was glad for the bright moonlight to steady my nerves—and my footing.

Adjusting to the Unexpected

As the lunar eclipse began, I quickly realised that at a 60º elevation, the moon would be perched quite high in the sky. Shooting in portrait orientation became a necessity to capture enough of the sky and foreground. This meant that my 24mm tilt-shift lens, while great for panoramas, just couldn’t offer the height I needed. In hindsight, I could have left that lens at home and saved some weight for the climb. The 16mm portrait setup became my go-to for the wide compositions, and I made peace with the extra exercise—after all, who’s going to complain about a bit of a workout with views like this?

Dealing with the Dark

During totality, the moon’s light faded dramatically, and the world grew much darker than I anticipated. Before the eclipse, the full moon was a brilliant natural torch, illuminating the top of Stephens Peak and making it easy to move around. Once the show started, though, my trusty rechargeable lights became essential—until, of course, their batteries ran flat after a few hours. I ended up relying on my phone’s torch to avoid wandering too close to the edge while racing to change lenses and capture as many perspectives as possible. Mental note for next time: bring extra lighting for any prolonged astrophotography adventure. The final moments of the blood moon were perfect as the moon sank down towards Shoal Bay. Just as the red started to change back to the brilliant white of a full moon, it sank into a cloud bank so the final moments of the eclipse were lost- but I got the exciting bit of the red moon which was the memorable part.

Final Thoughts

Despite a few gear challenges and a brief encounter with total darkness, watching the lunar eclipse unfold over Shoal Bay from the heights of Stephens Peak was an unforgettable experience. The blend of natural drama and careful planning (with a side of improvisation) made for one of those rare nights that stick with you long after the moon has returned to its usual brilliance. Next time, I’ll be even better prepared—but for now, I’m grateful for the memories and the images captured beneath that ever-changing sky.

The lunar eclipse as it unfolded over Shoal Bay. the top moon image was at 3:30am, and the last image was at 5:10am, as the moon disappeared into a thick bank of cloud. The positions of the various stages of the moon are as they were positioned at their correct positions in the sky for that stage of the eclipse.

500mm shot of the moon in eclipse over Shoal Bay