Weekly photo challenge 2 – My dreamy moon
I have spent the best part of two weeks outside at gone ten with my camera and tripod trying to capture a half decent shot of the moon. Many, many different settings have been tried as low light photography is not my forte and last night and tonight I finally captured two shots that are quite different from each other that I was a bit happy with although I still know they could be improved.
To me the moon is dreamy, beautiful and amazing and it is wholly responsible for me having to now save up for a super dooper zoomy zoom lens so I can do away with any cropping.
More dreamy contributions here
The numpty with a camera 
I find moon photography completely counter intuitive, because it is a bright cold light against a dark background. I’m still experimenting but I have got as far as dialling the ISO down as low as possible and going for really high shutter speeds and as much DoF as possible. Even on a tripod I use the 2 sec delay because at the distance of the moon the faintest tremor gets amplified – then the results are rubbish so I mess around in lightroom to fix it all 🙂
I totally agree. I used a delay and had to mess about so much with the settings as there was the brightest street lamp just to the side of me. It has also taught me that a cheap tripod is a huge mistake. I am hungry to get to the countryside with no light pollution now.
Well done, you~!
I take my moonshots from a tripod at home but the light pollution here is substantial. So I cheat and let the camera go auto and do its own thing, and I just keep on taking and taking. Rabbit through later and do an awesome amount of ditching …
Your lower shot above is more in keeping with ‘dreamy’ but the upper is how moons really should be, good catch!
Thank you Argus. I agree the second one is more dreamy but I was so excited that I actually managed to get the first shot and was quite happy with it so I had to post it ha. I think I have to carry on now and get different phases. I can only get these shots from my front garden so it is entirely possible that my neighbors think I am trying to spy into their houses.
So long as you’re open about it I don’t think they’d care too much.
You might be able to make a sort of a ‘lens hood’ arrangement with an old black blanket or towel, to shield a bit from sideways light? Good luck …
Ha, I now have visions of looking like an 18th century photographer. I think my neighbours think I am odd enough stood in my garden looking like I am taking photographs of their houses haha.
To shield the lens from stray light … I dunno, though, it might make them give you a bit more leeway if they think you’re a bit crackers … 🙂
Maybe I should build a hide out in my garden ha. 🙂
I wish I could photograph the moon like this. Totally envious of these photos.
Thank you, you need a zoom lens, tripod and remote release (or timer) for sure. Mine only zooms to 300 so I still have to crop them a lot.
Thank you for that information
Congrats Jo. Trying to take a decent moon shot for last while with zero success. The few remaining follicles are in serious danger! More prayers to the foto Gods I guess.
Thank you 🙂 I have been at it for a few weeks now as well before I got to this one. I was on 300 zoom, I stopped down as far as I could (I think about f/5.6), exposure was /1/250 ISO 200, manual focus. It still could be sharper but my tripod is a bit rubbish, I need to invest in a better one. Of course I also want a much better zoom lens now but that is going to have to wait a while.
Must give it a serious shot some night in a light free zone. Live in Dubai. The desert beckons! Thanks for the info.
These are amazing shots! I especially love the last picture. The moon looks so ’round’ in way I have not noticed in other pictures – more like 2D than 3D. Brilliant 🙂
I am a bit of a lunatic too. I love taking pictures of the moon but it’s hard to get it ‘just right’. I end up taking about twenty on different settings and only being happy with a few!
http://burbujachica.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/lunatic/
http://burbujachica.wordpress.com/2014/08/20/moon/
Thank you very much. Your photographs are lovely. I am going to keep at this and see if I can get different phases.
Thank you. Yes, keep going – I look forward to seeing the results!
Can I ask what lens you used for the first photo? I’m currently looking for a tele lens. I was wondering fi you could give me some advice.
Hi yes of course. It is a Sigma 70-300 lens on my trustee old Nikon D3000 body. I have had to do some heavy cropping on the photo and have only recently started trying to do some moon shots. Ideally I need a much better zoom lens but that will have to wait for now. 🙂
Thanks alot! I just checked it on ebay and it’s super affordable too! I’m really thinking about buying one now!
Yes they are, that’s why I got that one to start off with they are great little lenses as well. I certainly cannot afford 700/2000 pounds for a lens. I do use this lens a lot. I also have a 18-270 Tamron which I enjoy using but it doesn’t do well with higher zoom, it get’s a little bit too soft in my opinion.
The past couple of days, the moon has been magnificent! It is hard to take a photo at night but I think these are wonderful photos of the moon!
Thank you very kindly. I think it is going to fast become my new obsession. 🙂
Do post them! 🙂
I don’t want to bore everyone with the same things but I will if there is any improvement and maybe try and catch the different phases throughout the year. 🙂
It’s quite good…I tried several times but the success rate is negligible… thanks for sharing your great captures… 🙂
I love the second one, it is so beautiful and definitely dreamy. I’m still trying to learn how to capture the moon in all it’s essence!
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Thank you very much for the link to my blog in your post.
My pleasure, the words and images definitely fit together.
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Wonderful, I have re-blogged this. Thank you and your moon is stunning. 🙂