Moon Shoot Magic: Toronto Photographers Capture the CN Tower Moonrise with @magpie_n_moo ✨

Post feature image by Varad aka @12vt

The October 8th Moon Alignment Meet-Up in Toronto, hosted by Michele Thompson (@magpie_n_moo), was a great event. We have gathered some incredible pics by participants who attended Michele’s webinar and the meetup. Thanks to all who contributed they are credited throughout the article and you can check out their links at end of post.

Michele’s thank you for event participants:

“Thank you to everyone who came out to the Moon Alignment Meet-Up on October 8! We were treated to beautiful clear skies—perfect conditions for a moon alignment. The moon was quite bright, which made it a bit tricky to balance the exposure between the moon and the foreground. In the end, I used a technique I shared during the webinar and captured images for a two-image blend.”

Moon rise and CN Tower alignment over Toronto skyline by Michele Thompson — Toronto skyline photos by meetup host Michele Thompson aka @magpie_n_moo

Preparation and Community Spirit

Group gathered for the moon alignment / Photo by @oneill_photography_21 — The meetup group gathered at the Humber Bay. / Photo by @oneill_photography_21

This meetup was more than just a photo shoot; it was the final practice and icing on the cake for many who had attended Michele’s alignment planning webinar. Her leadership and enthusiasm was widely appreciated. Snow noted that Michele “is one of the most incredible souls in the community,” whose planning and educational content are “absolutely fabulous.”

Michele’s preparation was exhaustive, providing participants with three distinct alignment options to ensure everyone could achieve the shot they desired. This meticulous approach meant participants could focus entirely on practical application, creating an environment that, as Varad shared, “completely took away the stress of the day” and allowed everyone to relax and enjoy the moment.

“Of course, the real value of any lesson is in putting it into practice—and this amazing moonlight alignment meetup you organized was the perfect opportunity to do just that. It completely took away the stress of the day.”
– Varad

Toronto sunset before the moon alignment — Sunset before the moon alignment – photo by Meaghan aka @oneill_photography_21

Mastering the Technical Alignment

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A post shared by Muhammad Faateh M𝜶lik (@the.beardedchild)

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A post shared by Snow (@snowychateau)

*Sequence showing moon alignment / Photo by Varad aka @12vt*

When the moment came, and the moon began its ascent over the city, the sheer visual spectacle was mind-blowing. For many, like Muhammad Faateh Malik, who was trying a moon alignment shoot for the first time, the experience left him instantly hooked: “Watching the moon rise right behind it in perfect sync was unreal.”

The shoot immediately turned into a focused workshop on exposure management. Participants knew they needed to manage the moon’s immense brightness against the darker skyline.

Varad’s personal goal was to improve his moon alignment timelapse strategy and achieve a better technical balance. He worked on lowering his exposure, recognizing the ongoing challenge: “I still want to refine the exposure further to achieve a clean, noise-free balance between the moon and the foreground.” This pursuit of a clean, well-managed blend between highlights and shadows is the hallmark of great alignment photography.

Wrapping Up

The success of the October 8th meetup is a testament to the power of combining technical mastery with a welcoming community vibe. Michele’s humble and friendly spirit, as highlighted by Snow, ensure that every gathering is a low-stress, high-learning opportunity. Best of all you know you are collaborating with a technical master who has put in the time to develop their craft.

If you’re looking to master moon, sun and landscape photography and be part of a vibrant group, keep an eye out for @magpie_n_moo’s next event!