The moon

I wasn't sure at first if this was covered in the criteria, but then I figured that the moon is a powerful force that affects the whole of nature and so I hope you will allow it!
This is the first time I have attempted this and after fiddling with every single control on the camera, using a tripod and the timer, I managed to get this.
It is not perfect so if anyone can give me any pointers I would be very grateful.Actually, looking at it and the little dot at 1 o'clock.. think it looks more like a melon!

comments (14)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Very well done, Claire! It can be very hard to properly expose the moon in this detail, care to share your process? Posted 12 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Oh you know me Ferdy, just play around until something works!
I tried many combinations of fast and slow shutter speeds, high and low ISO, more and less compensation. Finally I settled for low ISO (100) 400 shutter speed, about 1/3 stop down. I didnt take the lens to its max 400 as apparrantly it has a sweet spot just under that. I set the timer to 10secs to make sure everything had settled down as my tripod, although a good one (Manfrotto) kept creeping. Poss due to the weight of the lens. Damned moon kept moving too!
I am quite pleased with this especially as my first 5 shots were of a big white ball! Posted 12 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I can associate with that white ball effect, which is why I was curious to what settings worked for you and why. Thanks for sharing!
  
  PS: I also have a Manfrotto tripod, and also had the creeping problem when a heavy lens was attached. I ultimately solved this using a special gimball head:
  
  http://ferdychristant.com/blog//archive/DOMM-8PSL5S
  
  May be overkill if you don't often use heavy lenzes on a tripod though. Posted 12 years ago
2. 1. Claire Hamilton
    
    Lion
    
    Oh wow, didn't know you had tried it too...and had exactly the same problem! Funny how your melon is a different way up to mine due to being in different hemispheres.
    A gimball is definately on my wish list, even though my lens is not as big as yours, I think it will make moving the lens around a lot easier rather than having three different knobs. Thanks for that! Posted 12 years ago

AvinashKrishnan

Snow Leopard

Hi Claire,
I have a query regarding your moon pic. What range of lense have you used for the capturing this amazing pic..?
Posted 11 years ago
1. Claire Hamilton
  
  Lion
  
  I used a Canon 100-400 set at 360mm and then the final photo very tightly cropped! Posted 11 years ago
2. 1. AvinashKrishnan
    
    Snow Leopard
    
    Wow.. it's seriously outstanding pic, because I tried the same thing yesterday night with a 250mm lens. I only managed to get the Crater patches on the Moon, not the depth of the crater itself.
    
    Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
  2. 1. Claire Hamilton
      
      Lion
      
      Thank you! There are no details on what settings you used for this but it just looks a bit over exposed. I am certainly no expert but try stopping down a little or a slightly faster shutter speed. To get this particular shot I must have taken at least 20 photos messing around with different settings! Posted 11 years ago
    2. 1. AvinashKrishnan
        
        Snow Leopard
        
        Hi Claire,
        PFB the setting used for my pic.
        Shutter Speed = 200
        Aperture = 6.3
        ISO = 125
        Lense Range = 55-250mm
        Zoom Set = 250
        The posted pic was also cropped. Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Sorry for delayed reply. I see your settings were not too different to mine but I guess it is always going to be different according to the situation of the moon etc etc. If you Google 'How to photograph the moon' there are a lot of sites with some really useful information. Good luck with the next one!! Posted 11 years ago
1. AvinashKrishnan
  
  Snow Leopard
  
  Thanks Claire, I'll check it out. Posted 11 years ago

AvinashKrishnan

Snow Leopard

Hi Claire and Christant,

I have one query regarding dull light photography. Since I am still learning how to handle my DSLR, I have often faced one issue in particular.
When I capture a photo at High ISO, the picture is not very clear and is grainy. It there any shutter speed or aperture setting that I need to configure to get the clear photo at higher ISO's ?
I would really appreciate your solutions to my problem as a better learning for my future pics.

Thanks
Avi Posted 11 years ago
1. Claire Hamilton
  
  Lion
  
  Avi I am afraid you are asking the wrong person here. I too am quite a novice and also have the same problem shooting in low light. Even my 7D is really grainy at anything over 500 or sometimes less. My next investment will be a decent flash that I can 'bounce' off other things in the hope this may help solve my problem. Perhaps we should ask for advise in the 'photo campus' forum?
  One thing though, I do try to shoot with a wide aperture f5.6 or higher if the lens allows, it does help with the light. Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
2. 1. AvinashKrishnan
    
    Snow Leopard
    
    Hmm.. Thanks for your inputs. Posted 11 years ago