Why couldn’t the astronaut book a room on the moon?
Because it was full.
--Astronomy Jokes
The total lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014 was visible from New York City, but like many astrophotography sessions in urban environments, the weather did not fully cooperate.
Clouds moved across the sky during the event, creating a challenging but also unique opportunity for artistic lunar eclipse photography.
These photos were taken from Brooklyn, NYC using a Canon EOS 60Da and telephoto setup.
Even though the eclipse was partially hidden, the combination of city lights, clouds, and the Moon created a very atmospheric and cinematic scene.
Urban astrophotography is often about adapting to conditions. Instead of a clear red “Blood Moon,” this session produced something different —
moody clouds, glowing sky, and fleeting moments when the eclipsed Moon appeared through small gaps.
Cloudy Lunar Eclipse Photography – NYC Brooklyn
The images below show different moments of the eclipse as clouds passed over the Moon.
Sometimes only a small portion of the eclipse was visible, but these short openings created dramatic compositions with foreground elements such as trees, traffic signs, and city light reflections.
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| Traffic lights and clouds during the total lunar eclipse in NYC (partial phase visible through clouds). |
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| Moon behind clouds with a Brooklyn street sign — urban astrophotography during the eclipse |
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| Cloudy Spring Lunar Eclipse NYC 2014 |
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| Black and white view of the Moon through clouds. |
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The eclipsed Moon appearing briefly through a small opening in the clouds.
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| New York City Lunar Eclipse |
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| Moon - Beginning of Lunar Eclipse 2014 |
Conclusion
Even though clouds prevented a clear view of the total eclipse, this session shows that bad weather does not mean bad astrophotography.
In fact, clouds, city lights, and foreground objects can transform a standard astronomical event into something more artistic and unique.
Urban astrophotography in New York City is always unpredictable, but sometimes these imperfect conditions create the most memorable images.
More Lunar Eclipse Astrophotography
I have photographed lunar eclipses from different locations around the world,
from urban environments like New York City to remote dark-sky locations such as Hawaii.
Each eclipse is unique depending on weather, light pollution, and geographic location.
