Settings for moon shots

VisualDarkness · 03-08-2015, 11:40 PM

It looks a bit out of focus but promising.

zzeitg · 03-08-2015, 11:41 PM

f/10; 1/80; ISO200 (Sigma 150-500 @ 500 mm)

**csa** · 03-09-2015, 12:17 AM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

It looks a bit out of focus but promising.

It was hand held, so is a bit soft. I'm pleased, considering it was a 400mm hand held. Tomorrow night, if I'm still up, when the moon comes up; I'll use a tripod & remote release to get better results.

Kendigitize · 03-09-2015, 04:54 AM

K-30, Sears (Tokina) 300mm, ISO100, 1/125, F8, handheld. Processed in Lightroom.

wullemaha · 03-09-2015, 12:03 PM

PENTAX-DA 55-300mm @300mm, ISO 100, 1/10, F5.8

Not the sharpest image, but ok-ish

mattb123 · 03-09-2015, 12:32 PM - **1 Like**

My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky.
Those need to be done when it's not too dark which introduces too much dynamic range to get moon and landscape exposed correctly. If you can get a moonrise or moonset close to a sunrise or sunset that works best. Lunar eclipses are also nice for reducing the DR.
I took one Thursday as the full moon was rising not long after sunset. If it was any darker I wouldn't have detail in both the moon and foreground. This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post.
K-3 & DA* 60-250 @ 180mm
1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 800

zzeitg · 03-09-2015, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post.

Tricky is that both the moon and the sun move pretty fast so you don't really have much time to play with camera settings. The best is when the moon is on the west horizon shortly before sunrise.

**longbow** · 03-09-2015, 01:53 PM

K-3 & HD DA 55-300mm @ 300mm - handheld
F11
1/250
ISO 800
Took this morning just before sunrise.

Attached Images

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Last edited by longbow; 03-09-2015 at 05:12 PM.

**csa** · 03-09-2015, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky.
Those need to be done when it's not too dark which introduces too much dynamic range to get moon and landscape exposed correctly. If you can get a moonrise or moonset close to a sunrise or sunset that works best. Lunar eclipses are also nice for reducing the DR.
I took one Thursday as the full moon was rising not long after sunset. If it was any darker I wouldn't have detail in both the moon and foreground. This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post.
K-3 & DA* 60-250 @ 180mm
1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 800

Matt, that is outstanding! I'll certainly give something like this a try!

mattb123 · 03-09-2015, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by csa

Matt, that is outstanding! I'll certainly give something like this a try!

Thanks! If you haven't already check out TPE to get your timing and alignment right. You have almost a month to get ready!

Sagitta · 03-09-2015, 04:00 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mattb123

My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky.

I'm in this camp as well. A moonn shot of just the moon is nice, and can be stunning, but its also going to by nature be just like every other person on the planet's moon shot of just the moon by itself (or close to it).

My own personal favorite I've taken was this one a few years ago. I had a fairly boring sunset going on, turned around to head home, and was greeted by this.

**csa** · 03-09-2015, 04:04 PM

Matt, thanks for that great link; I've got it set to my location. Really nice!

Kendigitize · 03-09-2015, 04:54 PM - **1 Like**

Another landscape example with the moon setting last week. SMC m-200mm f4

**csa** · 03-09-2015, 05:26 PM

Very cool; may I ask how this was done?

Kendigitize · 03-09-2015, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by csa

Very cool; may I ask how this was done?

I set up the tripod and took a photo every 5 sec as the moon set. Then I laid them out them in photoshop.

03-09-2015, 04:54 PM - 1 Like	#28
Kendigitize Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 324	Another landscape example with the moon setting last week. SMC m-200mm f4 Attached Images

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03-08-2015, 11:40 PM	#16
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,441	It looks a bit out of focus but promising.

03-08-2015, 11:41 PM	#17
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,468	f/10; 1/80; ISO200 (Sigma 150-500 @ 500 mm)

03-09-2015, 12:17 AM	#18
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 9,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by VisualDarkness It looks a bit out of focus but promising. It was hand held, so is a bit soft. I'm pleased, considering it was a 400mm hand held. Tomorrow night, if I'm still up, when the moon comes up; I'll use a tripod & remote release to get better results.

03-09-2015, 04:54 AM	#19
Kendigitize Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 324	K-30, Sears (Tokina) 300mm, ISO100, 1/125, F8, handheld. Processed in Lightroom.

03-09-2015, 12:03 PM	#20
wullemaha Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Tokyo Posts: 503	PENTAX-DA 55-300mm @300mm, ISO 100, 1/10, F5.8 Not the sharpest image, but ok-ish

03-09-2015, 12:32 PM - 1 Like	#21
mattb123 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,153	My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky. Those need to be done when it's not too dark which introduces too much dynamic range to get moon and landscape exposed correctly. If you can get a moonrise or moonset close to a sunrise or sunset that works best. Lunar eclipses are also nice for reducing the DR. I took one Thursday as the full moon was rising not long after sunset. If it was any darker I wouldn't have detail in both the moon and foreground. This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post. K-3 & DA* 60-250 @ 180mm 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 800

03-09-2015, 12:43 PM	#22
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,468	Originally posted by mattb123 This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post. Tricky is that both the moon and the sun move pretty fast so you don't really have much time to play with camera settings. The best is when the moon is on the west horizon shortly before sunrise.

03-09-2015, 02:56 PM	#24
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 9,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by mattb123 My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky. Those need to be done when it's not too dark which introduces too much dynamic range to get moon and landscape exposed correctly. If you can get a moonrise or moonset close to a sunrise or sunset that works best. Lunar eclipses are also nice for reducing the DR. I took one Thursday as the full moon was rising not long after sunset. If it was any darker I wouldn't have detail in both the moon and foreground. This shot would have been easier the previous day when the moon rose before sunset. I intentionally underexposed the foreground so the moon didn't blow out and then increased shadow brightness in post. K-3 & DA* 60-250 @ 180mm 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 800 Matt, that is outstanding! I'll certainly give something like this a try!

03-09-2015, 03:31 PM	#25
mattb123 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,153	Originally posted by csa Matt, that is outstanding! I'll certainly give something like this a try! Thanks! If you haven't already check out TPE to get your timing and alignment right. You have almost a month to get ready!

03-09-2015, 04:00 PM - 1 Like	#26
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,949	Originally posted by mattb123 My favorite moon shots have context - something else in the photo besides moon or sky. I'm in this camp as well. A moonn shot of just the moon is nice, and can be stunning, but its also going to by nature be just like every other person on the planet's moon shot of just the moon by itself (or close to it). My own personal favorite I've taken was this one a few years ago. I had a fairly boring sunset going on, turned around to head home, and was greeted by this.

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03-09-2015, 04:04 PM	#27
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 9,469 Original Poster	Matt, thanks for that great link; I've got it set to my location. Really nice!

03-09-2015, 05:26 PM	#29
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 9,469 Original Poster	Very cool; may I ask how this was done?

03-09-2015, 07:12 PM	#30
Kendigitize Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 324	Originally posted by csa Very cool; may I ask how this was done? I set up the tripod and took a photo every 5 sec as the moon set. Then I laid them out them in photoshop.