3rd Moon

[stevednp3]

I fancied trying to take a shot of the moon (dont know why, must be halloween or something ), heres my first attempt, if anyone has got some tips to get better results with the kit I have, I would love to hear from you and then I'll try again next time there is a full moon.

Taken on a e-30 with 70-300mm handheld......

...... only joking it was on a tripod

[andym]

Re: 3rd Moon

You've done rather well for a first attempt.Actually the moon is quite bright and its easy to take handheld,just a bit of experimenting with exposure or use spot.
I have handheld the Sigma 50-500 and got good results.
Photos are better with the moon at this stage or at half as you get shadows in the craters.
I assume the halo is thin cloud?

Well done.

[stevednp3]

Re: 3rd Moon

Thanks andy, yes the halo is cloud, when I seen the moon first there was no clouds at all, so I run upstairs to get my camera, by the time I get the camera out the sky was full of clouds and this was the best shot I got.

Next time I see a clear sky, I'll keep the camera to close hand and try it handheld

[smartwombat]

Re: 3rd Moon

You just missed Newbury Astronomical Society Moonwatch project.

[stevednp3]

Re: 3rd Moon

Hi Smartwombat, yeah thats a shame I could have submitted to the project

[PeterD]

Re: 3rd Moon

Steve

A great first attempt. Do not worry about the clouds though it adds magic to the shot.
Andy is quite right, hand held is not out of question for these shots. He also suggested using spot exposure which I too strongly recommend. You will be surprised at the level of detail that is revealed by this method.
Thanks for posting

[stevednp3]

Re: 3rd Moon

Thanks Peter, I cant wait for another clear sky so I can have another go. I will do it handheld this time, as I'll be able to get more shots, when the camera is on the tripod, its hard work as its surpising how quick the moon moves.

I kinda like the clouds with the moon, but this was total fluke, I did use spot metering and metered off the moon whilst focusing.

Can you recommend the best settings to capture the detail of the moon, without it being overexposed, whilst getting the clouds to appear too.

Would I need to expose for the clouds with spot metering and then recompose and focus on the moon ?

[PeterD]

Re: 3rd Moon

Thanks Peter, I cant wait for another clear sky so I can have another go. I will do it handheld this time, as I'll be able to get more shots, when the camera is on the tripod, its hard work as its surpising how quick the moon moves.

I kinda like the clouds with the moon, but this was total fluke, I did use spot metering and metered off the moon whilst focusing.

Can you recommend the best settings to capture the detail of the moon, without it being overexposed, whilst getting the clouds to appear too.

Would I need to expose for the clouds with spot metering and then recompose and focus on the moon ?

Hi Steve,

A demonstration is worth a thousand words. E3 + Sigma 50-500 @ 500mm. Spot exposure, aperture f6,3, shutter speed 1/500s, ISO 100 handheld.



Gallery link: http://www.imageinuk.com/Recent-Phot...444_57cLZ-A-LB

You can make out shadows cast by the crater rims and the material scattered from impact sites. Sometimes it is worth trying 1/4 moon shots to bring out more shadows.
Saw a clear sky so I thought I would give it a go.

Peter

[stevednp3]

Re: 3rd Moon

Wow, what a sharp shot @ 500mm and handheld, thats fantastic there is so much detail, well done, im still waiting for a clearish sky, its been very cloudy and raining where I live lately

[Ian]

Re: 3rd Moon

That's really good for hand-held.

I did this a couple of years ago using a 90-250 with EC-14 converter:



I'm tempted to have another go with the 300 f/2.8 and EC-20, which would give me a 1200mm (equivalent) tele...

I wonder if it will be cloudy tonight?

Ian

[meach]

Re: 3rd Moon

re: "I wonder if it will be cloudy tonight? "

If you're planning to take shots of the moon you can almost guarantee it'll be cloudy!!

Cheers,

Paul

[Ian]

Re: 3rd Moon

re: "I wonder if it will be cloudy tonight? "

If you're planning to take shots of the moon you can almost guarantee it'll be cloudy!!

Cheers,

Paul

I was optimistic as it has been a gloriously sunny morning here in Hemel Hempstead. Alas, big grey clouds have since taken over the sky

Ian

[PeterD]

Re: 3rd Moon

Wow, what a sharp shot @ 500mm and handheld, thats fantastic there is so much detail, well done, im still waiting for a clearish sky, its been very cloudy and raining where I live lately

Steve,
The reason I posted it on this thread was to help you with your next shot and hence I have given you the settings that I used. I converted the image to grey scale which kills of any strange hues and colour that might appear. It also gives you far more control in post process editing. Good luck and lets seee how you get on. I took a number of shots last night with different camera settings but this one was the best of the bunch.

[PeterD]

Re: 3rd Moon

I was optimistic as it has been a gloriously sunny morning here in Hemel Hempstead. Alas, big grey clouds have since taken over the sky

Ian

Hi Ian,

Glorious sunshine on the 'Sunshine Coast@. Good luck tonight. You too have captured it well. It's interesting to see the crater in the bright area and the trails of debris following the impact. I wonder how big the object was and what impact (excuse the pun) it would have made if it struck our planet

[stevednp3]

Re: 3rd Moon

re: "I wonder if it will be cloudy tonight? "

If you're planning to take shots of the moon you can almost guarantee it'll be cloudy!!

Cheers,

Paul

So true