There are shots you can plan. There are shots you can chase.
And then, there are those rare moments where the moon, the Earth, and your patience align iterally.
In March 2025, after weeks of checking forecasts, fine-tuning coordinates in PhotoPills, and holding my breath for a clear sky, I captured a photo I won’t be able to recreate for another five years: the full moon behind the Belém Tower in Lisbon.
A Once-in-a-Half-Decade Alignment
The idea came right after a photo expedition in the UAE, where we pulled off some crazy moon shots like positioning the full moon with a Burj Khalifa. Back in Lisbon, I started wondering: what could I do here that’s just as striking?
Many go for the Cristo Rei statue elevated, iconic, and easier to frame. But I wanted something different. The challenge: catching the moon as it just rises above the horizon, massive and red, fully engulfing a subject that sits nearly at sea level.
That’s where Belém Tower comes in.
Why Belém Tower?
For anyone unfamiliar with Lisbon, the district of Belém is more than just a tourist hotspot. It’s a deeply historic area once a launching point for Portugal’s Age of Discoveries.
Back in the 16th century, Belém Tower stood alone in the water, guarding the precious maritime maps stored within. Sailors would bid it farewell before heading out to chart the globe.
It felt poetic to frame this ancient navigation stronghold with the full moon an object sailors once literally used to guide their way.
How I Planned Full Moon Belém Tower Shot (With a Little Luck)
Using PhotoPills, I pinpointed a moment when the moon would rise perfectly behind the tower on one single evening in March 2025. The math was tight:
- Distance to subject: 6.6 km
- Moon elevation at shoot time: ~1.6° (or 16 m in the sky)
- Apparent moon size from that spot: huge around 57 meters
- Lens setup: Sony A7R V + 100-400mm + 1.4x converter = 560mm equivalent
- EXIF for the hero shot: ISO 640, f/8, 0.4s at 560mm
I arrived early, set up two cameras (including my old Nikon D850 on interval mode), and found myself surrounded by curious fishermen wondering why a guy was pointing a giant lens toward… nothing.
Then, magic.
A thin red sliver peeked above the horizon the moon, just beginning to rise. I hit the shutter.
But then… clouds. The moon disappeared. I thought I’d missed it.
A Surprise Second Rise
Just as I was filming behind-the-scenes clips for Instagram, one of the fishermen shouted, “Hey! The moon is coming up again!”
And sure enough it emerged again, this time from behind the clouds, now glowing a softer yellow pastel. The drama of the red moon was gone, but in its place: a clean, bold full circle of light. I kept shooting, and eventually even got shots with the bridge, the Cristo Rei statue, and the moon still large in the sky.
Tips for Photographers
I packed most of the insights into the Belém Tower Full Moon YouTube video, but here are a few bonus thoughts:
Scouting matters. I’d driven past this alignment zone countless times before pulling the trigger.
Red moons are fleeting. You often only get one minute with that deep red glow.
Clouds are your nemesis and your friend. They ruined the first moment but gave me a second chance.
Watch the Behind-the-Scenes:
If this story inspired you or gave you an idea for your own moonshot I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment on the video, or tag me if you ever catch the moon lining up with something special in your city.
