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.
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