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© 2008 Jace Mouse.
All Rights Reserved.

 
Photography : Photo Of The Week : #74 07.15.2003
 

        


I took this photo from my driveway on Friday.  I don't think this shot is great, but it's not bad for my first attempt at lunar photography.  The image here is essentially un-edited -- just sharpened and cropped.

Here are my lunar photography tips -- not that I'm in a position to be giving advice.
  • Use a tripod.
  • The moon is deceptively bright.  Use a much faster shutter speed than you would expect.  I suggest trying 1/250sec at f5.6.
  • Use a cable release or i/r remote if at all possible.
  • Remember that you'll be able to crop a photo, making the moon larger in the process.
  • If your lens is "Image Stabilized," take note.  Ironically, some older lenses will create extra camera shake when mounted to a tripod.  You should turn IS off when mounting on a tripod.
  • Your SLR camera may have a mirror lock-up feature.  It helps reduce vibration in conditions like this.  The first shutter press flips the mirror.  The second takes the shot and returns the mirror to its default position.
  • Note that even a good lens may be "soft" when zoomed to it's longest reach.  Not a lot you can do about this, except consider cropping from a shorter zoom.
  • Keep an eye on your lens.  Some lenses, like the one I was using, tend not to hold their zoom when they're tilted beyond a horizontal position.  If your lens' condition is particularly severe, it will prevent you from getting a good shot.
  • Crescent moons allow you to capture the mountainous contour at the edge of the moon's horizon, yielding some nice results.
  • If you're good in Photoshop, consider layering an under-exposed shot with a properly exposed one.  I don't know, but it might be able to reveal some nice shadow detail.
  • Look for opportunities for passing cloud cover to add extra interest.  I've seen some amazing opportunities in the last few days, but haven't been in a position to capture them.  You'd be surprised how quickly cloud conditions can change.

This photo is also available as wallpaper.

 


Camera:  Canon 10D
Lens:  70-300mm, USM EF IS
Mode:  Manual
Metering:  n/a
Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 300mm (460mm effective)
Firmware: 1.0.0
Contrast and Sharpness were set to +1.
Filter: none