Moon and the Pyramid Shadow

From the photographer: “After visiting Mount Taygetos for two consecutive years and hiking to the summit to witness the pyramid shadow atmospheric phenomenon, I felt something was missing to make the scenery truly unique: capturing both the pyramid shadow and the setting moon in one frame. After extensive research over the past few months, I discovered that the best time to achieve my vision was the morning of September 8th. I marked my calendar and prepared for the trip, but one crucial element remained uncertain: the weather. I monitored the weather forecast for weeks, and as the date approached, my checks became increasingly frequent. Unfortunately, the forecast continued to deteriorate, which was quite disappointing. However, after having to cancel a previous trip due to wildfires, I felt more determined than ever not to miss this opportunity.

My companion for this excursion was my cousin, who was visiting the mountain for the first time. After a three-hour drive through heavy rain, we arrived at the Taygetus mountain refuge in the evening. While clouds filled the sky, there were none directly above the mountain, which was a promising sign for our hike the next morning. We set up our tent and managed to sleep for a couple of hours in complete silence, as we were the only people on the mountain, and even the refuge was closed.

At 4:00 AM, we began our ascent to the summit under the moonlight, a journey that took us nearly two and a half hours. As we climbed, I noticed that while there were no visible clouds directly above us, there were some formations on the western horizon. These could either create an astonishing scene or ruin my chances of getting the shot. As the moment approached, we were fortunate; the clouds drifted westward, allowing the moon to remain visible until the phenomenon occurred. I could hardly believe my eyes. Tears of relief and satisfaction were close to falling as I beheld the view: the moon setting above the pyramid shadow phenomenon at sunrise, right at the Belt of Venus, accompanied by clouds filled with color. Am I dreaming?”

Technical details:
Nikon Z6ii, Nikkor 24-70mm f4