The moon has long been associated with magic, and the lunar cycle is said by some to even have an impact on magical and paranormal activity. The myths surrounding the moon (think full moons and werewolves) makes it a popular subject around Halloween. It also happens to be a popular subject in photography. It's bright, it's big and we can't help but be captivated by it. Planning that late-night trip to capture a certain perspective of the moon at a certain place is something many astrophotographers live for. This week we're featuring a group of photographers who have gone out with their Sony Alpha cameras and lenses like the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master to capture the magic of the moon. Take a look at their accounts and give them a follow for more. For a chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com, tag your Sony photography posts with #BeAlpha and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of photography inspiration. For more on camera techniques for photographing the moon and landscape, see our article How To Take Big Moon Photos All In Camera by Sony Artisan Gary Hart HERE.   

It's bright, it's big and we can't help but be captivated by it, yet it can be a real challenge to photograph well. See how these photographers get moon shots.

Cath Simard – @cathsimard

Cath Simard is a photographer, composite artist, workshop leader and Alpha Collective member with an incredible talent to create stunning landscape and astroscape images. Her style has a way of portraying the enchantment of the night sky and her landscapes transport you to another world. Simard will inspire you to get creative and explore our world differently with her truly magical feed – give her account a follow.

Autumn Schrock - @autpops

Autumn Schrock is an astro, travel photographer and Alpha Collective member based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work is nothing short of inspiring. You will be enthralled with how she sees the world and captures its beauty day or night, and if you are looking to learn more about astrophotography, she has plenty of workshops and resources to help you along. She has also declared Monday as "Moonday" and posts a stunning lunar shot each week to celebrate. For more inspiring moon, astro and travel images, @autpops is the account to follow. She captured the magical moonscape below using her Sony Alpha 7R III and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master.

Jude Allen – @jude_allen

Jude Allen is and travel and landscape photographer with a bold and dramatic style. The California-based Alpha Collective member's photos will captivate you with moody and warm tones that make his images surreal and dreamlike. Give his account a follow, he just might encourage you to think about how to use the sun or moonlight differently the next time you are out shooting. He used the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master lens to capture the moon in the image below and the Sony 85mm f/1.8 for the foreground.

Beth Squire – @beasquire

Beth Squire is an adventure and lifestyle photographer based in the UK. She has a gorgeous minimal approach that makes you feel present in the moment occuring in the photo. Squire aims to inspire others to get out and explore, and that's exactly what she does. Follow her account for inspiration to get out, find your moments of beauty and to share that magic with others.

Marvin Kuhr – @kuhrmarvin

Based in Germany, Marvin Kuhr is a commercial photographer who specializes in outdoor and lifestyle. Much like the photo below, you will often find an image of the moon in between cool and crisp blue foggy landscape photos as you scroll his feed. The richness mixed with clean blue hues throughout his feed keeps you there, as his images have a dark and deep undertone that you don't expect but add to the emotion and narrative of the photo. If you are looking for fresh inspiration for color and tone within your own images, Kuhr is the one to follow.

Simon Hird – @simonhird

Simon Hird is an adventure and lifestyle photographer based in Edinburgh. His Instagram reflects his passion for finding beauty on the street and coastlines of Scotland and Devon. At times you will find foggy and pensive scenes that come with the salty winter sea air, and other times, you come across the lush earth tones that highlight the beauty of coastal living, even in the night sky, as seen in his photo of the moon and clouds.

Lawson James – @somewhere.nothere

Lawson is a photographer and writer based in Missoula, MT. When you find yourself on James's feed, you will be immersed in the Montana wilderness. Dusty trail rides by horses or motorbikes and the beautiful big sky that is incredibly captivating at night. James captures it and Montana so well, give him a follow for more.

Andy Thompson – @andy.thompsonx 

Andy Thompson is a landscape and astrophotographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. When scrolling his Instagram, you will be drawn to explore the diversity of what Utah has to offer. With subjects such as the high alpine lakes found in northern Utah to the iconic red arches in the south, there's no shortage of beauty for Thompson to highlight. He captured this image with the Sony 70-200mm f/4 G lens.