BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Shooting Moonlit Scenes

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April 13, 2004

First...I know nothing about your camera and, it would help if I knew...but I'll give it a try anyhow. Also, if you mean by "moonlit scenes" that you'll be including the moon in the scene then, I've understood you correctly.

If you don't have a built in meter, which I believe your camera doesn't, you should get a hand held meter and meter the scene that way. You'd want to meter the scene without including the moon for your final exposure. Also, you'll need to compose the scene with some "blank space" somewhere in the sky where later you'll include the moon. After you've got your reading, take the photo.

Next step: Compose a shot of the moon only...preferably a full moon but it doesn't have to be. Compose it so the moon is in the scene where you left the blank space in the step mentioned above. Oh...I forgot...set your camera to double expose. I'm not sure how your camera does this but, my medium format camera has a switch/lever I turn which allows cocking of the shutter but doesn't allow the film to advance. Now, meter for the moon and take the shot.

Note: If you've got a telephoto lens for the camera, use it to take the shot of the moon. The larger the moon, the better. Just keep this in mind when you compose the first scene.

If you try to take the shot of your desired scene with the moon in it (all at once), your exposure will be too long and the moon will be over-exposed and will also be elongated due it's movement...ergo, the double exposure.

With a brightly lit full moon, use the "Sunny f/16 Rule" only change the f/16 to f/11. I call this "The Moony f/11 rule".

Good luck.

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April 14, 2004