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What Happened Here?
Jan 10, 2020 15:37:52 #
This morning the moon was low on the horizon, about to eclipse, so I decided to get a picture. Conditions were clear sky and -11˚F, very light breeze. The camera is a Nikon P900, set on a tripod, and set in the “moon” scene mood. In “moon” mode, the camera automatically sets focus at infinity, targets the moon, and sets the appropriate exposure. I set the delay exposure to 2 seconds. This is what happened. Can anyone hazard a guess what happened? With the camera set to infinity, both the moon and the tree branch should have been in focus. Need some help here. Thanks.
Jan 10, 2020 15:44:12 #
Wingpilot wrote:
This morning the moon was low on the horizon, abou... (show quote)
Atmospheric distortion, I would guess.
Mike
Jan 10, 2020 15:52:33 #
Blenheim Orange wrote:
Atmospheric distortion, I would guess.
Mike
Mike
I wondered if that might be the case. What threw me was the fact that it was absolutely clear out. I wasn’t going to stand out there in the cold, trying to get it right.
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Jan 10, 2020 15:55:33 #
Greg, my guess is a combination of having the camera on a tripod and VR on.
--Bob
--Bob
Wingpilot wrote:
This morning the moon was low on the horizon, abou... (show quote)
Jan 10, 2020 16:05:04 #
Always, any object closer to the horizon is going to have much more atmospheric distortion due to the thicker envelope of the atmosphere.
Jan 10, 2020 16:22:30 #
Could also be heat radiating off the lens and camera parts. Or, the camera was too cold for the lubricants and the focus hung up and did not go to infinity. In the words of Forest Gump: "shit happens"
Jan 10, 2020 16:26:56 #
rmalarz wrote:
Greg, my guess is a combination of having the camera on a tripod and VR on.
--Bob
--Bob
Thanks, Bob. Egg on face, now. I completely forgot to deactivate the VR. I was in such a hurry to get the shot I forgot. ; However—I took two handheld shots that turned out the same way, so I don’t know what the heck happened.
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Jan 10, 2020 16:28:16 #
raferrelljr wrote:
Always, any object closer to the horizon is going to have much more atmospheric distortion due to the thicker envelope of the atmosphere.
I guess there is that. The light has to go through more air when it’s low like that. If the wind isn’t blowing tonight, I may try it again, but this time with my stuff together. Guess that’s what happens when you get in a rush.
Jan 10, 2020 16:30:36 #
ORpilot wrote:
Could also be heat radiating off the lens and camera parts. Or, the camera was too cold for the lubricants and the focus hung up and did not go to infinity. In the words of Forest Gump: "shit happens"
I think it’s pretty much the Forest Gump Effect. The camera was only outside for maybe two minutes. I think I just got in a rush to take the picture because the moon was on the horizon and going down quickly, and I didn’t think think things out properly. I’ll see what happens this evening if it’s still a clear sky.
Jan 10, 2020 17:18:52 #
It isn't wind and I don't think VR is the cause (that may cause other problems, I don't know). That is heat distortion. Heat is rising from the earth as the air cools in the evening.
Here is a video by UHHer Steve Perry on the topic:
Long Lens Heat Distortion
What Is Heat Distortion, And How To Keep It from Ruining Your Images
Mike
Here is a video by UHHer Steve Perry on the topic:
Long Lens Heat Distortion
What Is Heat Distortion, And How To Keep It from Ruining Your Images
Mike
Jan 10, 2020 17:57:57 #
BigDale
Loc: Seymour CT.
That looks like heat distortion to me. Were there any heat sources like houses or someone warming there car in the general direction of your shot. At -11 degrees any small heat source will create a big difference to the temperature and there for more distortion. The branch doesn't seam to be as distorted as the moon so the heat was probably beyond that.
Check out Infrared Photography section of our forum.
Jan 10, 2020 18:10:30 #
Greg, with all the mention of heatwaves, which the -11F led me to ignore, caused me to give more thought to the tripod/VR combination. First, VR is searching and looking for something on which to focus due to no camera movement. If there were some heatwaves, the VR would continually try to correct for the blurriness caused by the heatwaves which would add to the issue.
--Bob
--Bob
Wingpilot wrote:
Thanks, Bob. Egg on face, now. I completely forgot to deactivate the VR. I was in such a hurry to get the shot I forgot. ; However—I took two handheld shots that turned out the same way, so I don’t know what the heck happened.
Jan 10, 2020 18:21:10 #
I’m starting believe that heat distortion may be a big culprit here. The camera was aimed low over several houses. I don’t know how much heat is going to rise from the ground right now, as the temperatures have been below zero for nearly two weeks, now. But those houses, I’m sure, are giving off a lot of heat. I’m going to give it a try again this evening when the moon is high in the sky, with the VR turned off, and I’ll use my remote release. The book I have says this will work, using the “Moon” mode. So I’ll see.
Jan 10, 2020 18:24:07 #
I'm looking forward to seeing your results.
--Bob
--Bob
Wingpilot wrote:
I’m starting believe that heat distortion may be a... (show quote)
Jan 10, 2020 18:25:42 #
rmalarz wrote:
I'm looking forward to seeing your results.
--Bob
--Bob
I’ve never really been into taking photos of the moon, but now this has become a quest to get it right. I’m thinking positive thoughts.
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