Full Moon Walk and Photo Guide

Full Moon Walk, October 26, at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge!
Join us for a guided evening stroll under the light of the Full Hunter’s Moon!  We will gather at the Visitor Center before taking a scenic, 20-minute walk through the refuge to the pier. Once at the boardwalk's edge, we’ll settle in to watch the full moon set over Black Bayou Lake—a perfect moment for photography, nature watching, and experiencing the swamp and lake as night falls. We will stick to the path and boardwalk, and participants must remain between the lead guide and the caboose guide and try not to disturb the wildlife and other walkers with too much light or noise.
Event Details

• Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
• Gathering Time: 5:45 PM (Walk begins promptly at 6:00 PM)
• Location: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge — Visitor Center Porch
• Distance & Pace: ~0.8 miles round-trip at a relaxed, easy pace, stopping occasionally for observations (wheelchair- and stroller-accessible via boardwalk)
• Highlight: Moonrise over the water viewed from the West pier at 6.30-7.00 PM

What to Bring Advisory: Participant Checklist
To ensure a comfortable and safe walk, please review the checklist below:

• Lighting: Flashlight or headlamp (preferably with a red-light setting to preserve night vision. FoBB volunteers may provide some red cellophane)
• Footwear: Sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes or boots
• Clothing: Layered clothing appropriate for a cool autumn evening near the water
• Insect Protection: Bug or mosquito repellent (swamp breezes vary)
• Hydration: A reusable water bottle
• Camera Gear (Optional): Smartphone or camera with a tripod/monopod for steady moonrise photos
  
  
  Pro Photography Tips for the Pier
• Capture the Images Early: The best colors will be when the Moon is lower, and it also looks relatively larger then. Reflections across the lake will reflect the orange/gold light of the Moon. Frame your shots in different ways, landscape and vertical with more or less of the image devoted to capture the water's reflection.
• Set digital cameras to shoot RAW format or Raw + Jpeg so that you have more latitude for exposure adjustments post-production. Long telephoto lens 200-400 mm will make the Moon appear relatively larger and wide-angle lenses will make it look smaller and capture more of the scenery. Try to shoot in Manual mode and bracket your exposures, or spot-meter the exposure off the Moon itself. Under-exposure will richen the color of the Moon, over-exposure will blow-out highlights and lose details.
• Using a tripod or camera support will enable steadier shooting unless people are stomping about near you. They probably will be, so you may be better off using a higher ISO and faster shutter speed. 
• Bracket Your Exposures: As dusk turns to dark (between 6:30 PM and 6:50 PM), the sky darkens rapidly. Take shots frequently as the Moon descends; one short 5-minute window will yield the perfect balance between foreground scenery and moon brightness. Shoot like mad during that window. 
• Mobile Phones can produce nice atmospheric images! Shoot at your highest resolution setting. Use your phone's 1x, 3x or 5x lenses for best quality. Pinching your screen will reduce the image quality, sometimes the trade-off is worth it. Night mode captures the scenery nicely, it is great for that moonlit magic but will burn out the lunar details.

Note: To protect the refuge's nocturnal wildlife, we will use red lights primarily while walking and switch to ambient moonlight or red light once settled at the pier. Avoid using very bright lights. If the'yre too bright to look at for us, they will be too bright for the wildlife too.

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