I didn’t take any photos of the lunar eclipse, because I was leading my cell group. We did go out after the group and see the light pushed back and the dark red take over.

It is actually quite difficult to take decent photos and it takes a lot more than a smart phone pointed in the general direction. Expensive equipment and great skill are needed.

The ABC published these excellent photos this morning:

 

Lunar eclipse: 10 stunning photos of the Blood Moon

Updated 48 minutes agoThu 9 Oct 2014, 9:33am

People around Australia were treated to the rare sight of a blood-red lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, as the Moon passed through the Earth’s shadow for an hour.

Clouds proved to be a frustration for many people on the east coast, but the skies cleared for long enough to allow some stunning photos.

It was a different story over central and Western Australia, where photographers were given a great view of the Blood Moon.

From a partially obscured Moon to a blood-red total lunar eclipse, the spectacle offered an amazing insight into the mechanics of the solar system.

Scroll down to see 10 of the best photos from ABC photographers and readers around Australia.

ABC reader Chris Phutully took this photo over a neon sign in Richmond, Victoria.

City of churches: ABC reader Mu Young sent in this photo from Adelaide.

If you look closely you can see the lunar eclipse above the Melbourne skyline. Photo by ABC reader Wolf Cocklin.

Reader Michael Aslin took this photo from Kambalda in Western Australia.

The West Australian skies above the Kimberley provided the backdrop for ABC reader Phil Normandale’s photo.

No blood-red colour, but this multiple-exposure image by ABC reader Nidan shows the progression of the eclipse, as seen from Wantirna, Victoria.

ABC photographer John Donegan captured the pre-eclipse Moon over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Reader Alex Smeu took this photo, which captures the Moon just before the eclipse reached totality.

The eclipse emerged through tree foliage for ABC photographer Robert Koenig-Luck in East Victoria Park, WA.

The sky was cloudy in Sydney, so this photographer had to pass the time somehow. Photo by the ABC’s Greg Nelson.