How to capture this scene?
Jan 12, 2020 09:12:27 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
I recently moved to a barrier island in southwest Florida, and, facing directly east, overlook a lighted dock in Charlotte Harbor. Last night I witnessed the almost full moon rising from the water. But when I tried multiple techniques and cameras, the best I got were the attached. What am I doing wrong and how can I capture what I am seeing with my eyes? I will have another opportunity tonight and in the future and would like to figure this out. Incidentally, the lower dark area are mangroves, and the last photo is the same scene in the morning.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Jan 12, 2020 09:19:03 #
The moon is blown from overexposure. Reduce the exposure, which will darken the rest of the scene. Either take multiple shots exposing the darks and whites correctly and merge them in post, or use in camera HDR.
Just like sunny 16, loony 11 says ISO 100 at 1/100 at f 11, or any exposure equivalent to that. Bracket from there.
Watch the blinkies and the histogram to avoid blown whites.
Just like sunny 16, loony 11 says ISO 100 at 1/100 at f 11, or any exposure equivalent to that. Bracket from there.
Watch the blinkies and the histogram to avoid blown whites.
Jan 12, 2020 09:19:03 #
Looks like my attempts. I've researched this. The problem is that the moon is far brighter than it appears. It's better to shoot it when it isn't full. Use a higher f-stop, f11 or so.
Jan 12, 2020 09:24:23 #
The best way I know of is to shoot the the moonrise the two days before a full moon.
There will still be enough ambient light that the moon won’t over power everything else.
Good luck.
There will still be enough ambient light that the moon won’t over power everything else.
Good luck.
Jan 12, 2020 09:25:33 #
Check the moonrise schedule; there are usually one or two days when you can catch it rising while there is still daylight or twilight. Note there was an hour's difference between the 9th and 10th in your area:
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/@4156570
Re the exposure, study up on "dynamic range."
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/@4156570
Re the exposure, study up on "dynamic range."
Jan 12, 2020 09:26:35 #
BassmanBruce wrote:
You posted as I was typing The best way I know of is to shoot the the moonrise the two days before a full moon.
There will still be enough ambient light that the moon won’t over power everything else.
Good luck.
There will still be enough ambient light that the moon won’t over power everything else.
Good luck.
I shoot moonsets at sunrise, which the OP won't want to do because of his view, but for others, check it out!Jan 12, 2020 09:27:03 #
Jan 12, 2020 09:29:15 #
genocolo wrote:
I recently moved to a barrier island in southwest ... (show quote)
You may find it more helpful to ask your question in the Photo Analysis: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-20-1.html and/or Photo Critique: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-117-1.html forum sections.
Jan 12, 2020 09:29:53 #
Toment wrote:
The problem is exposure and the bigger problem is dynamic range. Nothing to do with white balance.Use sun white balance not auto
.
Jan 12, 2020 09:31:05 #
Bob Mevis wrote:
Depends on whether you want to include landscape or fill your frame/crop closely for only the moon. The craters are more visible in other phases, but doesn't much matter if the moon is only going to be a tiny portion of the composition. Re aperture, from previous monthly topics on this subject, we have successful examples posted from f/5.6 to f/16.Looks like my attempts. I've researched this. The problem is that the moon is far brighter than it appears. It's better to shoot it when it isn't full. Use a higher f-stop, f11 or so.
Jan 12, 2020 09:35:17 #
BooIsMyCat
Loc: Somewhere
Like Bleirer stated - ISO 100 at 1/100 at f/11 is a good starting point. You also might want to verify you are using Spot Metering.
Jan 12, 2020 09:37:42 #
BooIsMyCat wrote:
At nighttime, these settings are good only if you want full black surrounding the moon (IOW, the moon is the subject, no landscape visible). Look at results (zoomed in) and bracket exposures. Folks tend to want to brighten the scene, but that just blows out the moon face worse.Like Bleirer stated - ISO 100 at 1/100 at f/11 is a good starting point. You also might want to verify you are using Spot Metering.
Jan 12, 2020 09:41:41 #
Jan 12, 2020 09:44:03 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
The problem is exposure and the bigger problem is dynamic range. Nothing to do with white balance.
Well, the moon is reflecting sunlight and that’s what I’ve read, but you’re absolutely correct about exposure, etc.
Jan 12, 2020 09:45:39 #
BooIsMyCat
Loc: Somewhere
Linda From Maine wrote:
At nighttime, these settings are good only if you want full black surrounding the moon .
This is true but, one must learn to walk before they can run. It's difficult to get a good exposure (with detail) of the moon AND the surrounding landscape in one shot. If one cannot properly expose for the moon, how can they expect to expose properly for the entire scene?
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