How to photograph the moon (Page 2): He’s trying to get a GOOD shot if the moon.

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How to photograph the moon

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Jul 26, 2022 09:24:16 #

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

jlg1000 wrote:

My recipe is:
a) use a very long lens (I use a 400mm mirror lens)
b) compose with an interesting foreground
c) Take, at least, two shots: one where the moon is well exposed and another where the foreground is well exposed
d) Combine both shots on post.

Just see this example:

He’s trying to get a GOOD shot if the moon.

Jul 26, 2022 09:25:53 #

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

carlospaz wrote:

Probably this topic is very recurrent, but still I'm not able to nail a good shoot of the Moon.
Any good advise or working rule ?
Thank you all..!!

Just keep at it. I don’t know what the works will do if we don’t get another moon pic.

Jul 26, 2022 10:20:18 #

jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America

SuperflyTNT wrote:

He’s trying to get a GOOD shot if the moon.

Yes, I understood that.

Now, try to explain which part of my procedure degrades the image.

Jul 26, 2022 10:21:51 #

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

carlospaz wrote:

Probably this topic is very recurrent, but still I'm not able to nail a good shoot of the Moon.
Any good advise or working rule ?
Thank you all..!!

After spot metering only the moon (or looking up settings on-line), manually set the camera. Carefully set the focus manully. For best results, a very sturdy and heavy tripod, the use of the "1/500" approximation for shutter speed, and use of a good tracker for longer timed shots.

Jul 26, 2022 10:28:32 #

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Using the exposure formula and knowing the full moon is approx. 250 c/ft^2, you're close. To render the moon in middle gray the exposure would be f/11@1/250. Your f/6.3 raised the exposure by just under 2 stops. This could account for the appearance of blown-out areas.
--Bob

Just Shoot Me wrote:

Hope this helps:

Camera-Nikon D780
Tamron 150-600 mm.@ 600 mm.
ISO 125
SS 250
f 6.3
Tripod with Gimbal head

Ron

Jul 26, 2022 10:32:41 #

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

carlospaz wrote:

Probably this topic is very recurrent, but still I'm not able to nail a good shoot of the Moon.
Any good advise or working rule ?
Thank you all..!!

I spot meter, 400mm lens and hand hold with camera set to P.
IS solves any possible shake for the approx 125th of a second exposure.

Jul 26, 2022 10:32:55 #

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Longshadow wrote:

Tripod; daylight white balance; spot meter on the moon.

Plus use the sunny 16 rule

Jul 26, 2022 10:38:20 #

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

carlospaz wrote:

Probably this topic is very recurrent, but still I'm not able to nail a good shoot of the Moon.
Any good advise or working rule ?
Thank you all..!!

Sunny f16 (+1 stop) because the moon is actually blackish.

Jul 26, 2022 11:18:28 #

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

carlospaz wrote:

Probably this topic is very recurrent, but still I'm not able to nail a good shoot of the Moon.
Any good advise or working rule ?
Thank you all..!!

Autofocus, spot metering on the surface, shoot lots of subs, select the best of the bunch.

Maybe start out with 1/200-1/500 sec exposure at ISO100.

bwa

Jul 26, 2022 11:19:27 #

Nicholas J DeSciose

All of that advice is absolutely essential. Additionally and possibly most important for sharpness Is to put the mirror up

Jul 26, 2022 12:21:39 #

Hip Coyote

A lot of good info here. As stated, the moon is quite bright. So spot meter on the moon. Others use tripods and remote shutter releases. In this case, I shot this hand held but braced against a door. The settings in a micro 43 camera were 1/350 second, f 6.7 at 400 mm (800 mm ff equivalent). The 1/350 violates the rule that the shutter speed should be 1/focal length, but the in camera body stabilization is quite effective, at least on Oly cameras. I allowed the camera to auto focus.

Unless I missed it, what was not stated by my colleagues is that atmospheric conditions can make or break the shot. In this case, it was early in the eve, a crisp, cool, very clear night. The moon had risen a bit above the horizon, so as to avoid shooting through more atmosphere causing distortion. Which is why I grabbed a camera. If it is too warm (causing distortion in the air like a mirage) or smoggy, even the best equipment and technique will not render good results. Without trying to churn a 20 page controversy, I can also say that the mirrorless features helped me in that I did spot meter and then adjusted to what I was seeing in the viewfinder to get a rendering I wanted. I could not have done that as easily with a DSLR (probably due to lack of recent experience with DSLR..which of course can make great pics.)

A very good app to get is Photopills if you really want to get detailed info on the moon. The app has a link to their "Academy" which has many tutorials on shooting the sky. It can help you plan for a night shoot. It is detailed so I often struggle with it, but it is fun learning the app.

In this case, the image was shot in raw and processed quite a bit. Sharpening mostly. The image that I finally had printed was done in black and white on silver paper and I am happy with it.

For those of you who see the flyby of Santa in this shot, the shot was done on Dec 24. If you want to get the same shot, you have to wait until Dec 24, sit in your yard and hope you catch a glimpse of of St. Nick. I got lucky.

Jul 26, 2022 12:22:25 #

agillot

Never seen moon shots of that quality .Usually a full moon will have no details due to the direct sun light .On a half or less moon , then you have shadows / details on the moon surface .I dont know how you did it , but the full moon look detailed .

Jul 26, 2022 12:27:20 #