Chasing the Blood Moon: Photographing the September 7th, 2025 Lunar Eclipse in Kigali

 Chasing the Blood Moon: Photographing the September 7th, 2025 Lunar Eclipse in Kigali

On the night of September 7th, 2025, I had one of the most unforgettable experiences of my photography journey—capturing the lunar eclipse and blood moon right here in Kigali, Rwanda.

As the Earth’s shadow slowly crept across the moon, transforming it into a glowing red orb, I could hardly contain my excitement. It’s one thing to witness a lunar eclipse with your eyes, but it’s something else entirely to capture it through the lens and preserve that magic forever.

For this shoot, I used my Nikon Z6 paired with the Tamron 150-600mm lens. The setup gave me the perfect reach and clarity to lock onto the moon’s details while still showing off that deep, coppery glow that makes the blood moon so spectacular.

The night sky was remarkably clear in Kigali, which made conditions just right for photographing the eclipse. I spent hours outside—setting up, adjusting my tripod, experimenting with different settings, and just soaking in the wonder of it all. Each click of the shutter felt like I was freezing a piece of history.

What made this night truly special was not just the technical challenge of shooting the eclipse, but the privilege of witnessing such a breathtaking cosmic event from this corner of the world. Kigali’s calm skies and quiet night added a sense of peace and awe that I’ll never forget.

Astrophotography is never just about the photos—it’s about the experience, the stillness, and the reminder of how vast and beautiful the universe really is. And this night reminded me why I love chasing the moon and stars through my lens.

I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and even more thrilled that I was able to capture and share these moments. Here’s to many more nights under the stars, camera in hand. 🌕✨

⸻

📸 Technical Details

For those curious about the settings I used on my Nikon Z6 + Tamron 150-600mm setup during the eclipse:
    •    Mode: Manual
    •    Focal Length: ~600mm
    •    Aperture: f/6.3
    •    Shutter Speed: 1/80 – 1/125 sec (varied depending on the eclipse phase)
    •    ISO: 800 – 1600
    •    White Balance: Auto, later fine-tuned in post
    •    Tripod: Essential for stability at long focal length
    •    Remote Shutter Release: To avoid camera shake

The key to photographing a lunar eclipse is balancing exposure—you want to capture the dim red glow of totality without blowing out the brighter edges as the shadow shifts. I bracketed several exposures throughout the night to make sure I caught the full range of tones.