white balance for moon shot: What's the best white balance setting for shooting the moon,I've been using the auto setting.My camera is a D3100 with the Nikon 80-400mm lens.

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white balance for moon shot

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Oct 15, 2016 13:37:08 #

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

What's the best white balance setting for shooting the moon,I've been using the auto setting.My camera is a D3100 with the Nikon 80-400mm lens.

Oct 15, 2016 13:45:52 #

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

timepass wrote:

What's the best white balance setting for shooting the moon,I've been using the auto setting.My camera is a D3100 with the Nikon 80-400mm lens.

Daylight.

Oct 15, 2016 13:57:47 #

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Also, make sure you're not over-exposing if you're shooting auto everything. If you want moon detail, you need to consider that a full moon is lit by the sun. Very, very bright. Over-exposure will give you a featureless white blob.

Oct 15, 2016 14:14:52 #

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks RWR, my next moon shot I'll set the balance on sunlight.

Oct 15, 2016 14:17:32 #

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks for your response,and I have taken a few white blob shots.I'll try sunlight setting and see how it goes.Thanks again.Mike

Oct 15, 2016 14:30:55 #

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

This should get you started -
The UHH FAQ's: How to Photograph the Moon: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26498-1.html

Tips -
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/moon-photography-tips/

http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/779/how-to-take-stunning-pictures-of-the-moon/

Oct 15, 2016 14:31:11 #

Evgenye Loc: St. Louis, MO

Timpass - make sure you have a sturdy tripod to go with that equipment (not mentioned)....then start out in manual with ISO200, f/9 - f/11 and a shutter speed of 1/125 sec. Based on your histogram, color and tone, make f stop and shutter speed adjustments from there (stay above 1/100 sec). Also, something to think about....compose your shot for the moon when it's rising and will appear it's largest in the sky at this time and give you the best chance incorporate additional landscape features. Expose the first shot for the moon and then expose the second, third, ... shots for your surrounding landscape. Then you can stack the shots together in post processing in Photoshop. Another option is bracketing (+/- 2Ev) your moon shots with three shots and stack the shots in Photoshop for a final effect also. Hope this helps and good luck......and teenager the best advice from Mike....reflection of the SUN!! :-) one last thing....don't forget to shoot in MANUAL and RAW @ 300mm.

Oct 15, 2016 15:29:53 #

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Evgenye wrote:

Timpass - make sure you have a sturdy tripod to go... (show quote)

Good advice. If you want landscape features, then near the horizon is good, but the actual size doesn't change as the moon rises. Hard to believe, because it definitely looks larger to your eye (but not to the camera). It's known as the moon illusion (surprised me too): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_illusion

Oct 15, 2016 17:12:52 #

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks Shellback for the tutorials on photographing the moon.

Oct 15, 2016 17:16:33 #

timepass Loc: Yardley,PA

Thanks Evgenye for all the info for photographing the moon,much appreciated.

Oct 16, 2016 08:47:09 #

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Use the sunny 16 rule for =a bright moon and adjust from there

Oct 16, 2016 09:39:34 #

EmilMiller Loc: Miramar, FL

It's reflected sunlight, so daylight. Exposure is 1/ISO at f16, or 1/100 at f16 at 100 ISO. Also remember the moon is a moving target and moves 1/8 of it's diameter every 15 seconds.

Oct 16, 2016 09:43:04 #