RE Loc: California

I was trying to get a photo of the moon with the circle around it, this is the best I could do....any tips on how I could have done this better.

ISO 100
F STOP 3.5

attempt one


attempt two

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

You don't really specify clearly whether the 2nd photo achieves your desired effect in the sky surrounding the moon, RE, but I suspect it comes close to what you were hoping for.

The moon in both photos is hopelessly overexposed, and will have to be redone. With an ISO of 100 correct settings for a full-moon photo would be approximately 1/200th second at an aperture of f-11.0. Unfortunately, the correct exposure for the sky surrounding the moon is probably more like 1/2 sec. at f-5.6 (or something like that).

Given your current status, I might suggest you rephotograph the full moon at the above settings, and combine it with the sky photo you have (photo #2). I don't think you can get a properly exposed sky with clouds, and a properly exposed moon, in a single exposure.

You sure gave it a good effort, and I believe you can salvage the work you've already done just by reshooting the full moon.

RE Loc: California

Thank you I appreciate your helping me out! The second photo was a bit closer but neither one truly captured what I was actually seeing.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I really like #2!

As mentioned, you can't get detail in the moon while keeping detail in the sky and foreground because of differences in brightness, unless you're up for some merging of images :)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

If you want small circles around the moon, photograph it on a cold night when the humidity is high. Ice crystals will create a ring around the moon. You than then delete the moon, saving the ice crystal ring which can be resized, colored or, using layers, resized multiple times and stacked to form a thick ring. Then add a moon, properly resized, back into the center.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I would also recomend you reshoot. When you do, start with Sunny 16 and adjust from there.

RE Loc: California

Thank you all for your help, I have never thought to delete the moon and then put a moon in the circle...I am not sure I am talented enough to pull that off yet. :-)

Sorry for the delay in answering as I was away for a few days.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Not hard to do. Shoot on a tripod. Take two shots, one exposed for the moon one for the back ground. Take them both into your editing program. with the moon exposure on the bottom and the background on the top. Erase the over exposed moon and your perfectly exposed moon will show through. Flatten good to go.

RE Loc: California

Thank you Country's Mama, I will have to try this! :-)