Chasing the Blood Moon: From a Chilly Ontario Porch to the Shores of Puerto Morelos
There was an electric buzz of excitement in the air yesterday in the early morning here in Puerto Morelos. Locals and travelers alike were stepping out into the quiet pre-dawn hours, all looking to the skies to catch a glimpse of the spectacular Blood Moon. Being made aware of the event taking place here, immediately transported me back to exactly a year ago. It was March 2025, and I was on a very different kind of stakeout.
Instead of the gentle ocean breeze of the Riviera Maya, I was bundled up against the biting cold on the front porch of our home in Southern Ontario, Canada. With my camera firmly secured on a tripod, I stayed awake through the night, meticulously photographing the lunar eclipse sequence. It was a test of patience and endurance, but the crisp, clear Canadian sky offered perfect conditions. The resulting series of images—which you can see at the very start of this post—remains one of my most cherished captures.
Instead of the gentle ocean breeze of the Riviera Maya, I was bundled up against the biting cold on the front porch of our home in Southern Ontario, Canada. With my camera firmly secured on a tripod, I stayed awake through the night, meticulously photographing the lunar eclipse sequence. It was a test of patience and endurance, but the crisp, clear Canadian sky offered perfect conditions. The resulting series of images—which you can see at the very start of this post—remains one of my most cherished captures.
For those who might not know, a "Blood Moon" is a total lunar eclipse. It happens when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its deep shadow (the umbra) across the lunar surface. The eerie, coppery-red glow that gives the moon its name is actually caused by the sun's rays bending through the edges of Earth's atmosphere. When you look up at a Blood Moon, you are essentially seeing the light of every sunrise and sunset happening on the planet projected onto the moon all at once. It’s a beautifully humbling thought.
Comparing the two photographic experiences is fascinating. Last night in Puerto Morelos, the March 2026 eclipse peaked in the early morning hours as the moon was dipping low toward the western horizon. While it was an incredibly emotional and beautiful sight for those who witnessed it with the naked eye, capturing a clean, full-phase sequence from start to finish is a logistical nightmare when the moon is competing with the approaching dawn and horizon haze. Contrast that with my 2025 shoot in Ontario: the moon was perfectly positioned high in a dark, pristine night sky. That elevation allowed me to track its entire journey with crystal clarity, capturing each phase without the interference of a brightening morning sky.
Comparing 2026 to 2025 for the photographer
Comparing the two photographic experiences is fascinating. Last night in Puerto Morelos, the March 2026 eclipse peaked in the early morning hours as the moon was dipping low toward the western horizon. While it was an incredibly emotional and beautiful sight for those who witnessed it with the naked eye, capturing a clean, full-phase sequence from start to finish is a logistical nightmare when the moon is competing with the approaching dawn and horizon haze. Contrast that with my 2025 shoot in Ontario: the moon was perfectly positioned high in a dark, pristine night sky. That elevation allowed me to track its entire journey with crystal clarity, capturing each phase without the interference of a brightening morning sky.
If you missed yesterday's celestial show, or if you're an astrophotographer wondering when the next opportunity will arise to capture a full sequence, we all have a bit of a wait ahead of us. While there are a few partial eclipses in the coming years, the next total lunar eclipses—our next true Blood Moons—won't happen until New Year's Eve, December 31, 2028, followed by two more in 2029 (June 26 and December 20).
That New Year's Eve 2028 event is already circled on my calendar. It will be my next major, realistic possibility to set up the tripod and capture another complete, high-resolution series similar to the one I successfully photographed last year in Ontario. Until then, I am perfectly content to practice my night photography on regular full moons.
That New Year's Eve 2028 event is already circled on my calendar. It will be my next major, realistic possibility to set up the tripod and capture another complete, high-resolution series similar to the one I successfully photographed last year in Ontario. Until then, I am perfectly content to practice my night photography on regular full moons.
Because that 2025 sequence turned out so beautifully and means so much to me, I wanted to share it in a tangible way. At the bottom of this post, you'll see a photo featuring two different physical layouts of the eclipse that I currently offer. I have standard 11”x14” prints of the linear sequence, which look absolutely striking framed on a wall and serve as a wonderful conversation piece.
Additionally, I’ve created beautiful handmade Photo Cards featuring an alternative, circular layout of the moon's phases. These are available through my daughter Rachel’s lovely shop, Raven and Zoey. If you’re looking for a unique piece of astronomical art for your home or a special, handcrafted greeting card for the stargazer in your life, please visit her Online Store at https://ravenandzoey.com.
Additionally, I’ve created beautiful handmade Photo Cards featuring an alternative, circular layout of the moon's phases. These are available through my daughter Rachel’s lovely shop, Raven and Zoey. If you’re looking for a unique piece of astronomical art for your home or a special, handcrafted greeting card for the stargazer in your life, please visit her Online Store at https://ravenandzoey.com.
***
Capturing these celestial events has become a deeply rewarding passion project over the years. While last night's low-hanging eclipse in Puerto Morelos was on my radar and last year's crystal-clear sequence in Ontario is the most recent addition to my portfolio, they are part of a much longer journey. I have been incredibly fortunate to photograph three major, complete total lunar eclipse sequences, each under vastly different skies and presenting its own unique character.
Here is a look back at my three successful complete sequences:
1. March 2025 | Southern Ontario, Canada
This sequence (featured in the prints above) was the quintessential winter sky shoot. The moon hung high in the sky, meaning I had to shoot through more atmosphere, but the freezing, crisp northern air provided incredible stability. It was a grueling, cold night behind the lens, but it yielded a classic, deep crimson totality that lasted for 65 minutes.
2. April 2014 | León, Nicaragua
Shooting from the tropics offers a completely different astronomical experience. This eclipse was the kickoff to a rare "Lunar Tetrad" (four consecutive total eclipses). What made the León shoot so spectacular was the altitude: the moon was almost directly overhead at a dizzying 83 degrees. Shooting straight up through the thinnest part of the atmosphere resulted in incredibly sharp images of what was a remarkably bright, amber-colored eclipse. To top it off, the planet Mars was glowing brilliantly right next to the moon.
Read the full story and see the sequence here: Full Lunar Eclipse 2014
3. February 2008 | La Garita, Costa Rica
This was my first major complete sequence, and visually, it remains one of the most unique. Because the moon didn't pass through the exact dead-center of the Earth's shadow, it didn't turn a uniform dark red. Instead, it displayed a stunning gradient—bright orange and yellow on the outer edges fading into a dark brick-red core. It was a perfect evening shoot in the warm Costa Rican air, beautifully framed in the sky by the planet Saturn and the star Regulus.
Check out the original post and photos here: Lunar Eclipse as seen in Costa Rica
Whether I'm shivering next to a tripod in the Canadian cold or adjusting my camera under a warm Central American canopy, every eclipse is a humbling reminder of the perfect, clockwork geometry of our solar system.
A Decade of Chasing the Blood Moon
Capturing these celestial events has become a deeply rewarding passion project over the years. While last night's low-hanging eclipse in Puerto Morelos was on my radar and last year's crystal-clear sequence in Ontario is the most recent addition to my portfolio, they are part of a much longer journey. I have been incredibly fortunate to photograph three major, complete total lunar eclipse sequences, each under vastly different skies and presenting its own unique character.
Here is a look back at my three successful complete sequences:
1. March 2025 | Southern Ontario, Canada
This sequence (featured in the prints above) was the quintessential winter sky shoot. The moon hung high in the sky, meaning I had to shoot through more atmosphere, but the freezing, crisp northern air provided incredible stability. It was a grueling, cold night behind the lens, but it yielded a classic, deep crimson totality that lasted for 65 minutes.
2. April 2014 | León, Nicaragua
Shooting from the tropics offers a completely different astronomical experience. This eclipse was the kickoff to a rare "Lunar Tetrad" (four consecutive total eclipses). What made the León shoot so spectacular was the altitude: the moon was almost directly overhead at a dizzying 83 degrees. Shooting straight up through the thinnest part of the atmosphere resulted in incredibly sharp images of what was a remarkably bright, amber-colored eclipse. To top it off, the planet Mars was glowing brilliantly right next to the moon.
Read the full story and see the sequence here: Full Lunar Eclipse 2014
3. February 2008 | La Garita, Costa Rica
This was my first major complete sequence, and visually, it remains one of the most unique. Because the moon didn't pass through the exact dead-center of the Earth's shadow, it didn't turn a uniform dark red. Instead, it displayed a stunning gradient—bright orange and yellow on the outer edges fading into a dark brick-red core. It was a perfect evening shoot in the warm Costa Rican air, beautifully framed in the sky by the planet Saturn and the star Regulus.
Check out the original post and photos here: Lunar Eclipse as seen in Costa Rica
Whether I'm shivering next to a tripod in the Canadian cold or adjusting my camera under a warm Central American canopy, every eclipse is a humbling reminder of the perfect, clockwork geometry of our solar system.
Scan to read on mobile