• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Night Photography Tip

Photography Question 

Tonya Cozart 		 

How to Photograph the Moon


 
 
I shot some pictures of a full moon, and when using an exposure long enough to get detail in the tree and night sky, I blew out the moon... Does anyone know the correct way to shoot this without blowing the moon out? Anyone know how to tone it down in PS?


To love this question, log in above
February 12, 2006

 

Andrew Laverghetta 		  Probably the best way would be to take two separate pictures and combine them into one. The two exposure values for the two things (trees and moon) are so different that it's probably impossible to get them exposed properly with a digital camera ... unless somehow the trees and such were lit very well. Hope this helps!


To love this comment, log in above
February 12, 2006

 

Steve Warren 		 
 
 
Hey Tonya,
Here is a pic I did without Photoshop. I took a photo of the moon using the "Moony 11" rule (f11 and shutter speed of 1/ISO or film speed). I then took a separate exposure of the city with a long 30-second exposure. Like I said, I didn't use Photoshop, as it was all done on film with a multiple exposure, but you may be able to use digital editing to get like results.


To love this comment, log in above
February 12, 2006

 

Tonya Cozart 		  hey guys...thanks so much! I never really thought about the moon being as "bright" as it really is, because it is nighttime I guess. I did a search here too about shooting the moon and got lots of info, but mainly just what you two have said. I am going to take another shot of just the moon tonite and see what I can do in the "digital darkroom"
Thanks again!


To love this comment, log in above
February 13, 2006

 

BetterPhoto Member 		  If you are metering in a lot of background, the detail of the moon will wash out. The camera will try to incorporate the brightness into its grey scale. Cameras have to use a grey scale to meter all colors. If it sees mainly dark colors, it will think it needs to open up to read the dark. You need to compensate to achieve good detail of the moon. I've gotten some really great tight shots of the moon. The best shot I got of a distant frame was by using a spot meter. Have a great day and keep shooting.


To love this comment, log in above
February 13, 2006

 

Brendan Knell 		  This isn't really an answer to your question, but it's a tip on moon pictures. I've found out that full moons generally don't turn out as good as crescent moons. An exception to this is definitely Steve's pic. So when a crescent moon comes, make sure that you try it to and see which works out better for you.


To love this comment, log in above
February 13, 2006

 

Tonya Cozart 		  thanks Mark and Brendan....I will try your suggestions!!
I was going to get out there tonite, but have been too busy and just now remembered I was going to when I saw an answer on my thread...lol


To love this comment, log in above
February 13, 2006

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Chris Budny
Chris Budny's Gallery 		 
 
  Moon for Tonya
Moon for Tonya
f/4.5, 1/250th, ISO64, -1ev, tripod

Chris Budny

  
 
I haven't tried to capture a full moon and some moonlit foreground yet, but I like the idea of a composite image. I captured this shot of the moon which I thought was pretty decent, for my non-slr setup. (Although I did use a 1.7x teleconverter.) I took several shots in a row, each with slightly different settings; that way I'd have a few different 'lighting levels' to choose from, so that my pasted moon would better match the overall lighting of the background picture, when creating a composite image.


To love this comment, log in above
February 13, 2006

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread