The moon has always captured our imagination. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the few things in the sky that we can see without a telescope. Or maybe it’s simply because it’s so beautiful and mysterious. Whatever the reason, photographing the moon can be a lot of fun! In this article, we’ll look at how to take great photos of the moon with your camera.
The Equipment
You don’t need a fancy DSLR camera to take good pictures of the moon – any digital camera will do. A tripod is also useful, but not absolutely necessary. If you don’t have a tripod, you can try leaning your camera against a wall or fence.
The settings
The moon is very bright, so you will need to use a low ISO setting: 100 or 200 should be sufficient. You should also use a long shutter speed, in the range of one second to several seconds. Finally, you need to use a small aperture. Something like f/16 should work well. If all of the above is Chinese to you, I suggest you read this article on camera settings which is very well done
The art of taking a picture… at the right time
Once you have your equipment and settings set, it’s time to take pictures! Photographing the moon is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. The key is knowing when to photograph it
There is not one time but many times to photograph our natural satellite. The lunar eclipse, for example, can be a key moment to get a good picture. When the moon passes into the earth’s shadow and takes on a reddish hue, the sunlight is refracted by the earth’s atmosphere, giving the moon a unique color. Lunar eclipses are also relatively rare, which makes them all the more special to photograph
Another good time to photograph the moon is during a full moon. This is when the moon is brightest and most visible in the night sky. Full moons also offer photographers a chance to capture some of the moon’s main features, such as its craters and seas
Finally, photographers should also be aware of the lunar cycle. This refers to the changing phases of the moon, from new moon to full moon and back again. Each phase offers its own photo opportunities, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the lunar cycle before heading out with your camera
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to capturing great photos of the moon. If you can, try to avoid taking pictures on a cloudy night. Clouds can block the moon’s light and make your photos look dull. It is also important to know that when the distance between the moon and the earth is the shortest (perigee), the moon appears larger, as if zoomed in – this is called super moon. Taking a picture of a supermoon can also have its effect
If you follow these tips, you should be able to take some great photos of the moon! So go ahead, get out there and try!
Sources:
- lightstalking. com – How to photograph the moon
- space.com – How to photograph the moon
- astrobackyard.com – Moon photography tips
