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Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Tina Elkins 		 

How to Photograph the Moon at night


 
 
I was recently taking some pictures at night on the beach and the moon was beautiful because it was a quarter moon against a pitch black sky and the reflection on a flat ocean. The moon looks like a mirror image and I could never get it clear. Any suggestions?


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February 15, 2005

 

Andres Llopart 		 
 
 
Hi. To be able to do this first you should think what type of equipment you have. Most point and shoot cameras are very limited and you will not be able to get much detail because of the lens limitations. ( I break my neck with a Powershot S400 and a tripod with out any worth to save picture…
If you have more capable equipment ( I got a Digital Rebel DSRL) I think your chances will increase. To achieve what you want to do, I think it will be better if you take two pictures. The first one with the right exposure of the moon… and second one with the right exposure of the reflexion on the water. Then merge them in Photoshop.

The main problem is that the moon is pretty bright (more than you think) and only a very good quality zoom lens can get some detail. I took this picture with a EF 300mm f/4 IS L USM lens (that I borrowed) it was hand held and I saturated the colors with PS. I have read not all lenses are this sharp but I was really impressed with this one.
Picture settings…
Shooting Mode Manual; Tv 1/250, Av 8.0, Metering Mode; Center-weighted averaging; ISO Speed 100. Then again it was only the moon…


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February 15, 2005

 

Andres Llopart 		 
 
  Cheese moon
Cheese moon
Shooting Mode Manual; Tv 1/250, Av 8.0, Metering Mode; Center-weighted averaging; ISO Speed 100.

Andres Llopart

  
 
Here is the picture


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February 15, 2005

 
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