Photographing The Moon Like A Pro

By Anthony K

Image Courtesy of CNET

One of the sources of joy and satisfaction for a photographer is learning how to take seamless photos of the moon. The moon has been a source of captivation for people for centuries. It has been used to give direction as well as to offers hours of wonderment and enjoyment. The moon is the brightest thing at night, making it simple to shoot even by photographers without much experience. Nevertheless, this requires preparation and planning. Below is the best camera setting you should use to ensure perfect photos of the moon.

There’s no auto or preset function in your camera that will appropriately meter the moon. Thus, shoot the shot in full manual mode. At the very least, go for the Aperture priority mode. Some other factors that should help determine the setting you’ll utilize include the current phase of the moon and your geographical location.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

ISO
For film shooters, they should aim at shooting film 100 ISO or slower. This helps avoid grain and noise. Digital cameras should also be set to an ISO of 100 or lower. Cameras with long telephoto lenses need to be used with fast shutter speed to prevent capturing the moon’s movement across the sky.

Shutter speed
Assuming a clear night’s sky, the best shutter speed should start at approximately 1/60th and 1/125th. Also, depending on the focal length and brightness, you will appropriately adjust the shutter speeds.

Aperture
Depending on your lens, to achieve crisp, clean shots, shoot at f/11 to f/16. To discover the sharpest aperture, know your lens sweet spot. Using narrow aperture values, you will need to increase the iso during the moon’s waxing and waning phases, mainly when the moon is smaller than a quarter.