Moonset
Uploaded: November 02, 2001
The full moon setting on the Pacific at sunrise. Taken from the balcony of our motel room. Nikon N90, Nikon 70-210 zoom. Elitechrome 100.
Glenn Theal November 02, 2001
Hi, Shirley,I too like this shot. However, I find the moon to be too bright and too sharp when compared to the rest of the image. It just doesn't seem to fit quite right.
I would like to see the image without the moon, or I would like to see it with the moon fogged or blurred and some of the contrast/brightness removed.
Cheers,
Glenn #2314
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 03, 2001
Thank you both. Glenn, this is the way the moon looked... there has been no digital manipulation, other than resizing for this venue. Remember, the full moon sets at the same time the sun rises and the moon is reflecting the light of the sun. #2340Guy D. Biechele November 03, 2001
FANTASTIC!! The range of blues, the textures in the surf, and the wisps of clouds across the moon. What a reward for an early riser! (With your skill). +Guy #2352What strikes me about this picture is the continuance of the wave patern in the clouds that drift in front of the moon. It's almost as if the big wave in front and some of the smaler ones in the back are reflected on the moon. About the sharpness af the moon, well nature presents itself in its own way.
I wonder what you can do whith a late night shot (smile). #2366
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 04, 2001
Thank you Guy and Jaap, for your enthusiastic comments. #2371Laura Johnson November 07, 2001
B E A U T I F U L !!!! #2428Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 07, 2001
Thank you so very much, Laura. #2444Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 10, 2001
Thank you very much, Brian. #2518Chuck November 14, 2001
What was it Laura said ? oh yes.B E A U T I F U L !!!!
D I T T O, D I T T O, D I T T O !
Chuck #2661
Sue B November 25, 2001
First of all, I'd be proud to have taken this photograph. Secondly, I see there are different opinions about the moon; I have to agree with Glenn that the moon tries to take over the picture and distracts from those beautiful waves. I know you said that was how the moon looked, with no digital manipulation, so here's my question. Did it look like that "in person" or could it have brightened up with the camera's exposure? I think it's a wonderful photo, but esp in the larger view of the picture, I blocked out the moon with my hand to see the waves better. (This "discussion" is mostly for my own sake - how to expose the moon to keep it muted - can it be done?) #3058Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 25, 2001
Hi Sue. Yes, it would be possible to artificially mute the moon, perhaps with a graduated neutral density filter, but why would you want to? The moon is the SUBJECT of the photo. If I wanted only the wave patterns, that is what I would have taken. The bright, golden, setting moon is what makes this photo special. If you were taking a sunset, would you want to MUTE the sun...not really, you might want to even your exposure. so that the foreground does not black out. However, this photo has a perfectly exposed foreground, so that is not a problem here.Shirley #3084
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 25, 2001
Thank you, Ronnie! #3087Sue B November 26, 2001
Hi Shirley - Thanks for the idea of using a graduated filter! They say that art is subjective; possibly my reaction to your photo came from living where I do. I see the moon all the time, and never get to see waves! Also had an insight when you asked if I would want to mute the sun in a picture of a sunset, and my response was "yes, probably" as I would be more interested in the lighting in the surrounding clouds. My question wasn't meant to insult your picture - like I said, I'd be proud to have taken it. I was just wanting to learn more about how to achieve different effects with different exposures. #3107Shirley D. Cross-Taylor November 26, 2001
Thank you, Sue... I'm not insulted. #3134Charisse Baldoria December 10, 2001
I do like this photo very much to the point that it's been my computer wallpaper for about a month now. I think it's perfectly lovely; to me, the moonshine is a pleasant unexpected accent. it may be brighter than the rest and may nudge your sense of balance a little bit; but like other unexpected gestures, like in Beethoven's music, for example, it jars you a little bit and makes the artwork more interesting. the treatment of this little element just completely changes the meaning of the entire work, compared to if it had not been thus treated. if there were no such moonlight and only smooth waves, the picture will have a different character altogether--maybe lacking in tension, in my opinion. #3725Shirley D. Cross-Taylor December 11, 2001
Thank you so much, Charisse. Such wonderful compliments! And thank you, Crystal!Shirley D. Cross-Taylor December 13, 2001
Thank you, David. Yes, I did several shots of this, both vertical and horizontal. As the moon went down, it began to look like a UFO.Shirley #3841
Marie December 13, 2001
Hi Shirley, I think your photo is outstanding. I am brand new to 35mm photography and hope to be able to take some photos of this calibre soon.Shirley D. Cross-Taylor December 13, 2001
Thank you, Marie.Shirley #3876
#3921
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor December 15, 2001
Hi David, nice to hear from you again, and Thank you! Actually, in my horizontal photos, I try NOT to center the moon...it is much more interesting off-center. And by the time the moon has set this low, you cannot see a light trail on the water, and the faint sunlight from the rising sun (which shows on the waves) counters the moonlight. When the is higher, and before the sun comes up, you can see the light trail. Also, it makes no difference in the exposure whether the photo is vertical or horizontal, because I meter what is best for the entire photo. #3935Geoffrey T. Wallace December 17, 2001
Hi Shirley:I think the moon makes the picture much stronger. I too tried cropping it out with my hands and the picture loses a lot of its interest that way. Its a wonderful image. #3986
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor December 18, 2001
Thank you, Geoff.Shirley D. Cross-Taylor January 16, 2002
Thank you very much, Janett!Shirley #4785
Shirley D. Cross-Taylor May 26, 2019
Thank you very much, Dee! #121037Shirley D. Cross-Taylor January 04, 2004
Wow. Thank you so very much, Dee. #318474Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.
BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.
Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.
The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:
I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.
You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.
Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Shirley D. Cross-Taylor.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Contact photographer via gallery
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.
I already have an account!