Home Forums Gear Photography Anybody shoot the moon this week? Let's see em.

Here are my thoughts. Since the moon is moving, try for a fast shutter speed, say 1/350sec with a 300mm lens (try 1/focal length) for a shutter speed. Use as low an ISO as possible to reduce noise. Choose a sharp aperture, like f/5.6 to f/8. You may read to use the "sunny 16" rule for moon photography, but f/16 may be soft due to diffraction. Tripod and release highly recommended. Spot meter on the moon and check the histogram for exposure. Shoot when the moon is less than full so some side-lighting causes the craters to show more.

I like to photograph the moon during the last 30 minutes before sunset, or 30 minute after sunrise, against the landscape so the bright moon is easier to expose for and there is warm light on the land. After sunset, the moon tends to overexpose against the darker landscape if taking one exposure. With a telephoto lens, you may need to blend two exposures so both the landscape and moon are sharply focused and/or exposed.
This image is one exposure focused on Cathedral Rock:

Nikon D90, 200mm, f/7.1, 1/500sec, ISO 200