Photography
Related: About this forumOn Shooting the Moon.
Now, just to be clear, I am not a professional photographer. Not by any stretch!
I do know some things about getting pretty good moon photos, so since there's some interest in that, here are my ideas:
You will need:
1. A real camera, not a phone. (digital single lens reflex type)
2. A big zoom lens. I use a Tamron 18 mm to 400 mm.
3. A tripod. Really helps keep the camera steady so there's no blur in your photo!
4. A cable release cord, also to keep the camera from shaking.
5. Practice, practice, practice!
Here's a couple of my moon photos to hopefully inspire you:
Alliepoo
(2,225 posts)Great shots-beautiful detail!!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)That's why I posted them. They don't always turn out this well.
Usually they do.
erronis
(15,355 posts)I try to catch the moon behind some tall trees (white pines) for the effect. Being able to actually see the tree details (sometimes dim green hues) and the bright moon is difficult.
I set my small travel camera (Sony RX-100 M3 24x70) on a timer and on a tripod.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)Usually the camera wants to focus on the damn trees, but I don't!
Timers and tripods work wonders!
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)it is so powerful that you can do almost anything with a well exposed image. 😁
erronis
(15,355 posts)This sound like a good project for tonight, as long as tropical storm Fay lets me see the moon...
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)I've never heard of DarkRoom. I hope it works out for you.
erronis
(15,355 posts)priced out of their products so many times.
Anything PDF-oriented has lots of better alternatives, both commercial and free/OSS.
I'm not artistic so I never got into the PhotoShop world.
Here's a site I frequent that lists alternatives to various products of all different license types. YMMV of course.
https://alternativeto.net/software/darktable/reviews/
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)use them as a tax write-off. My first Photoshop was either 3 or 4. The last one that was sharable was 7. That was many many years ago.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)We use the same lens it seems.
I went with the Tamron for the extra reach trading in my Sigma 18-300mm but almost wish I hadn't. Just seems that the old lens was a bit more sharp. I also use my Sigma 150-500mm for moon photos, with the requisite tripod (as the blasted thing is too heavy to hand-hold and the cable release you mentioned. That one does reasonably well for me. I used it during the eclipse (using a solar filter) and just plain got lucky with some great shots.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)But I wanted the larger reach too, damn it!
And I do not like changing lenses. I always think I'll drop it, or something will get in the camera or etc.
And the heaviness is an issue too. I have taken some hand-held photos of the moon when there wasn't time to get the tripod set up. and it's always just a tiny bit blurry. I need better software and knowing how to shoot in RAW.
Solar eclipses are worth whatever you can do to see and photograph them!
Here's my best solar eclipse photo, Aug. 2017:
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I keep hoping that Sigma will come out with a 18-400 (or better) lens and I can offload the Tamron. I am thinking of upgrading to the Sigma 150 to 600mm but haven't taken the plunge on that one yet, perhaps next year when the sales are going on in the Spring. This year I went with a new Sigma 105mm Macro and have been fiddling with that when I can.
I haven't gotten into shooting RAW either and I'm not one to spend time in front of the computer fixing images. I want to get it in the camera.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)I do want to learn how to shoot in RAW. I love tinkering around with the photos once they're in the computer.
I guess you could say I WANT IT ALL!
Do Sigma lenses work on Nikon cameras? Or do they make one just for Nikon? The way Tamron does.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Nikon and their own Sigma cameras. I have been happy with the ones I have had thus far.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)EarnestPutz
(2,123 posts)....and have thought recently to get back to it. Just checked the meter battery on the old Nikon and it still works!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)I have so much fun taking these photos!
Hope you'll post your photos when you get back to it.
EarnestPutz
(2,123 posts)....unexpected side benefits as we look for things to do and still maintain social distancing.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)a full moon is the most uninteresting one to photograph. A half or quarter moon phase will show the craters and shadows. Much more interesting.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)In fact, if you look at my photos in this thread, none are full moons.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)😁
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)Two things to try: set exposure for the moon as usual and use a flash to illuminate the trees.
HDR, high dynamic range. Bracket the exposure, 2 stops over and 2 under plus one as usual. Combine the three images using your regular post processing software. If you don't have software to to do it, you can find freeware here: https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-hdr-software.html
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)I need personal help when it comes to this sort of thing. I get into trouble when I try to do it by myself.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)I can coach you over the phone if you like. Let me know which free ware you choose, I'll download the same one and we can walk through the steps together. As for using the flash, just set your camera to manual, dial in the exposure you normally use and let the flash do it's thing. To quote Dear Leader, "What do you have to lose?"
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)I would be very happy to talk to you.
I'll PM you for the details.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)it "can" be even easier than that.
Expose for the moon, which CP has down pat. Then just pop flashes on a couple of dozen frames with the flash at different powers until the desired effect is achieved. This is so easy now with the back screens on every digital cameras and even easier with mirrorless cameras, which I use exclusively now.
flamin lib
(14,559 posts)Push the button that says 'HDR' and then the shutter release. Camera makes 3 bracketed exposures and combines them in-camera. Voila! The mkii still needs a tripod, but the newer ones can be hand held.
Can do the same with focus stacking, up to 15 images combined in camera and hand held.
But now I'm just braggin'
Soph0571
(9,685 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)Soph0571
(9,685 posts)Put up a link underneath the meme and say this is how Peggy does it!!!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)The moon is in the sunlight; it is bright. Thus you need a fast shutter speed.
Your best bet is to use manual exposure since the black space round the moon is going to fool the camera's exposure meter if left in one of the auto-exposure modes.
An example exposure setting to start experimenting from:
ISO 200
f/8
1/250 sec
The longer your telephoto lens is and the more megapixels your camera has, the faster your shutter speed needs to be to prevent motion blur as the moon is moving right along.
HAB911
(8,916 posts)In lieu of a cable release you can also use the timer function!