 Alicia Anthony |
How to Shoot a Full Moon There has been a gorgeous full moon the past couple of nights. I tried taking pictures of it last night, while it was still pretty low. The moon itself came out all right, but I was also trying to get some of the palm tree in the foreground. What's the best way to capture the moon, as well as other surrounding objects?
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
John P. Sandstedt |
Shoot them separately, in slides if you use a film camera. By digital - if that's your gameplan. Sandwich the slides in a slide duplicator (a pro lab can do this for you, also). If you're into digital, use layers or even the copy feature. Be sure to flatten your image when you're finished editing. Note: If you apply the moon as the "copy," you be able to enlarge it easily, thereby making startling and beautiful images.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Alicia Anthony |
I'm using a digital - sorry, I should have clarified that. I'll try taking separate images and layering them afterwards. Thanks for the tip!
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
dennis w. mcclain |
dont shoot a full moonj its flat and dull, wanning gibous is the best time, and focas on the terminator
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
- Shirley D. Cross-Taylor Contact Shirley D. Cross-Taylor Shirley D. Cross-Taylor's Gallery |
Hi Alicia, If you are wanting the full moon in a scene, there are several options. One is to shoot the day before the full moon. The moon will still look full, but there will still be enough light to light your scene as well. Another, is to do a double exposure, or as you suggested, take separate exposure and then layer them in your software. Remember, the full moon is brightly lit by the sun, so you must give it less exposure that you would think in order for detail to show.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Ric Henry |
Dennis, What is a wanning gibous? Does it come around once a month also? I don't know much about the stars. Ric
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
dennis w. mcclain |
yea sorry I didnt really read what they were doing, I thought it was a close up of the moon. xazing means moon is on the increase from new to full wanning is from full back to new, gibous is about a 3/4 moon
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Ken Henry |
Double exposure on one frame. It took a fewwww practice shots. I used a 80-400 Tokina zoom lens, and a tripod. It's the set-up that requires precise positioning. I also used an auxilary flash, 383 Sunpak(120GN) on a light stand. Sure, I could have done it all via photoshop and computer, but aren't we all photographers? Besides, isn't it better to display a real virgin photo than a computer dummy? Here is how I did it. I zoomed wide at 70mm. Making sure that the moon is positioned in the frame with the sunflowers. Now the moon is a tiny dot. I set my camera at f2.8 @ 1/60 sec and metered the flash manually at f2.8. At f2.8 the moon is out of focus. And I took the first exposure. This also works with an on camera flash as well. Use manual settings f2.8 by 1/60 and set flash at +1 or +2 flash compensation. Take your first exposure. Next turn off the flash, set your camera at f16 by 1/125 sec, it's brighter up on the moon than on earth. I'm using ISO 100 film. Now I zoomed out to 400mm and focused on the moon. And took my second exposure. When you are positioning your gear you have to zoom in and out to make sure the 2 subjects are not going to collide or overlap each other. For now you can practice on some stars behind your earth subject as you are waiting for the next full moon. If you don't have a zoom or long tele lense then you will have to cheat and use the computer to grow the moon. And don't forget to set your camera for double exposure! My sun flowers will be ready in 2 months. Now if you want some interesting moon shots try "Moon Sets", early in the morning when the sun rises. I hope this info will help you very much. Regards, Ken
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Diane Dupuis |
Hi Alicia! I also shoot digital and double exposure isn't an option on my camera, but I recently shot my first night shot and moon for a course here. The instructor suggested taking the moon and night separately and putting them together in PS (of course I'm taking a PS course so that would explain it). You can see it in my gallery - and I put the settings in the description. Ken - I find your remarks about PS work to be rather offensive. "Sure, I could have done it all via photoshop and computer, but aren't we all photographers? Besides, isn't it better to display a real virgin photo than a computer dummy?" You may not have moved into the digital age - but you don't have to put down everyone who has. And yes I'm also a photographer, who doesn't just click and let someone else develop their work - but has learned how to do it myself in PS! Good luck Alicia!
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Ken Henry |
Thanks so kindly for your comments. Most all my commercial projects for designers and architects I "digital age" PS them. I get paid for it. The point is, are you good enough to challenge yourself to produce dynamic photos without the need to use PS? Have fun, Ken
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||||||||