Today, December 4th, is a Super moon! And if you’ve ever wanted to capture that incredible moment when the moon lifts over the horizon glowing bright and huge, you can do it with zero professional gear.
All you need is an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
I filmed a behind-the-scenes clip of my setup using my Meta AI glasses and in this post I’ll break down every step I used to create a clean, bright, cinematic moonrise time lapse.
Why the iPhone 17 Pro Max Works So Well
This method only works on the 17 Pro Max because of its combination of:
- 8x optical-quality zoom
- advanced light-control pipeline
- improved sensor for extreme highlights
The moon is extremely bright compared to a dark horizon, so exposure control is everything.
Step-By-Step: How to Capture the Moonrise
Here’s exactly what I did:
1. Open Time Lapse Mode
Swipe to Time Lapse mode.
2. Set the Zoom to 8x
This is the sweet spot on the 17 Pro Max where the optics really shine.
3. Frame the Moon at the Horizon
Start recording the moment the first edge of the moon appears.
This is when the moon is brightest and most dramatic.
4. Tap the Screen and Lower the Exposure
This is the key step.
Tap anywhere → exposure slider appears →
Drag the brightness all the way down.
This prevents the moon from blowing out and lets the surface texture stay visible.
5. Hit Record and Let It Rise
Keep your framing steady and allow the moon to lift through the scene.
The iPhone handles the rest.
🎥 Behind the Scenes
I used my Meta AI glasses to record myself setting up, so you can see exactly how I positioned the phone and how fast the process really is.
This setup works anywhere with a clear view of the eastern horizon. Including right here in Yuma with the moon coming up over the Gila Mountains.
If you’ve never captured one before, today is the perfect chance.
Follow the steps above and you’ll get a beautiful time-lapse you’ll want to share.
Here is the YouTube video to see our time lapse and exactly how I did it.
=============== Products Used to Create Video ===================
iPhone 17 Pro Max: https://amzn.to/4ax4clD
Meta AI Glasses: https://amzn.to/49Xyj5M
86 Inch Tripod: https://amzn.to/3Ka9uZS
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