Trixology

Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: Blicj11 on November 14, 2016, 08:46:10 PM

Title: Super Moon
Post by: Blicj11 on November 14, 2016, 08:46:10 PM
If you took any photos of last night's super moon, which was the closest a full moon has been to the earth since 1948, and won't be as close for another 18 years, I would love to see them.

Click here and scroll down to Super Moon to see my three humble contributions, none of which were shot from my DSLR because its battery was dead and so was the spare (it takes a genius to plan like that).

http://timberlakesutah.com/weather/
Title: Thanks for sharing. (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 14, 2016, 11:45:55 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat stargazers,

Quote from: Blicj11 on November 14, 2016, 08:46:10 PM
If you took any photos of last night's super moon, which was the closest a full moon has been to the earth since 1948, and won't be as close for another 18 years, I would love to see them.

I'm glad you took a shot at photographing the moon.  Alas my two telescopes both languish in an inoperable state.  Perhaps someday if I could ever get past all the other things on my plate these days.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 15, 2016, 01:20:10 AM
I took a couple but I forgot about the focus! [blush] [goofy] Naturally, the "Super" Moon was a dud! I'm gonna try again having set the focus to Manual and infinity. I don't have a great line of sight because of trees to the east in my neighbors yard. I'll try again in an hour when the Moon may be high enough to clear the tree tops (which it does almost every night...). I doubt the 'naked eye' will be able to tell the difference between last night and tonight, anyway. But there are also some clouds tonight... Of course, mentioning my plans will probably also jinx them. [banghead]
Title: Better effect when sky isn't completely dark (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 16, 2016, 12:14:29 AM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat shutterbugs,

Quote from: xairbusdriver on November 15, 2016, 01:20:10 AM
I took a couple but I forgot about the focus! [blush] [goofy]

When you have the choice, trying to photograph something like the moon will turn out better if you can avoid having an inky black blackground.  Digital cameras are designed to cope with 90% majority of photos and rarely is the contrast that extreme.  So if you photograph the moon a few days earlier against a blue twilight background might turn out better.  Another way to get a better focus is to have the moon next to a distant object that the camera nonetheless can focus correctly on.  Having the moon framed in a few branches has a nice artistic touch.

 [wink] . . . . So why don't I take my own advice? . . . . . Golly it took so long to write it up that I'm already exhausted! . . . .  lol(1)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 16, 2016, 12:42:34 AM
I just used the manual settings for aperture and shutter speed and forgot that auto focus was still on. Still the extremely high contrast blew out the Moon, even on the 'normal' settings. I went back out to get a 'zoomed' version of just the Moon, but by then the clouds had covered it. The plan was to remove everything except the Moon's disk, reduce it size to match that on the blown out versions and hope for a better result. Perhaps tonight...

Or I may wait too long and end up with a 'Super Cresent'! [lol]
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: Steve on November 16, 2016, 03:11:33 AM
I start out at f/11, 1/250 second, and ISO 200, and bracket 1/2 stops both ways several stops, with the lens manually focused. A solid tripod is a must, too. I use a remote shutter or timed shutter release to help reduce any camera movement.

This one was from last November, and apparently, I forgot to turn down the ISO.

Nikon D750
Focal length 600mm
ISO 400
f/8
1/1600 second

(http://www.morrisgarage.com/skitch/Aperture-20161115-215715.jpg)


The full Moon may look dramatic, but you can get a lot more surface details with the Moon illuminated from the side.
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 16, 2016, 05:12:07 AM
Nice shot! Nice camera! Nice Moon! wait... need to rephrase that ...  [banghead]
Title: Thanks for sharing. (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 16, 2016, 11:29:09 PM
Dear Steve, X-Air, and WeatherCat budding astro-photographers,

Quote from: Steve on November 16, 2016, 03:11:33 AM
This one was from last November, and apparently, I forgot to turn down the ISO.

Very nice!  Thanks for sharing!

Quote from: Steve on November 16, 2016, 03:11:33 AM
The full Moon may look dramatic, but you can get a lot more surface details with the Moon illuminated from the side.

Ah yes, advice from my youth!  :)  There are one group of lunar features that are best photographed around the full moon: the rays emanating from craters like Tycho (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tycho_(crater))

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]

P.S. it is amazing the things you can find on Wikipedia!
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 17, 2016, 02:37:31 PM
I find the most difficult images to make of the Moon are on the far side...
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: Steve on November 17, 2016, 11:17:31 PM
Quote from: xairbusdriver on November 17, 2016, 02:37:31 PM
I find the most difficult images to make of the Moon are on the far side...

Oh, that's easy. You just need to use a prism.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HFPZi4ro4EM/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: How FAR out do you want to get . . . . . (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 17, 2016, 11:46:43 PM
Dear X-Air, Steve, and WeatherCat adventurers to "da' far side!"

Quote from: xairbusdriver on November 17, 2016, 02:37:31 PM
I find the most difficult images to make of the Moon are on the far side...

[wink] . . . . Oh I don't know, if you happen to be in one of those states that legalized the recreational use of marijuana . . . . With that, it might be easy to get to the far side! . .  [goofy] . .   Of course taking the photo while you are on the far side - that may be a bit more difficult! . . . . .  lol(1)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 19, 2016, 01:54:21 AM
OK. It took a while. Had to wait until the Moon was on the other side of the Earth... Here's my 'entry'. I garon tee it's a pure pitcher, kno photoshoppin' (don't even have that app!).
OK, it wasn't really on thuh other side, it were reely in my naybers back yard! Honist!
[runoff]
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u666/xAirbusDriver/Super-Moon_zpsayksbwau.jpg)
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: Blicj11 on November 19, 2016, 04:19:42 PM
Very nice, Xair.
Title: Nice job X-Air! (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 19, 2016, 10:47:22 PM
Dear X-Air, Blick, and WeatherCat shutterbugs, . . .

Quote from: xairbusdriver on November 19, 2016, 01:54:21 AM
OK. It took a while. Had to wait until the Moon was on the other side of the Earth... Here's my 'entry'. I garon tee it's a pure pitcher, kno photoshoppin' (don't even have that app!).

Nice job X-Air!  I've been thinking about a shot like that, but I haven't managed to do it.

However, I do have a small complaint.  For whatever reason, the EXIF data on your photo is missing.  Could you clue is in as to what camera you used and perhaps the telephoto lens if one was used?

Thanks for sharing!  [tup]

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 20, 2016, 12:31:23 AM
There's no exit data because it's two different images combined in PS Elements. I'll get the info to you later tomorrow. But you won't want to use the setting I had on the image withe the ISS. All those were much too long and the Moon was always extremely over exposed. Better to make a single Moon shot and reduce its size as needed. ThU32:-)
Title: Sunny 16
Post by: dfw_pilot on November 20, 2016, 03:02:22 PM
For quick and dirty metering of the moon, I think the easy mental math of the Sunny 16 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule) rule will work very well.
Title: Not Looney 11 rule? (Re: Sunny 16)
Post by: elagache on November 20, 2016, 11:28:14 PM
Dear dfw and WeatherCat shutterbugs,

Quote from: dfw_pilot on November 20, 2016, 03:02:22 PM
For quick and dirty metering of the moon, I think the easy mental math of the Sunny 16 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule) rule will work very well.

Thanks I wasn't even aware of this!  However, since this is the Moon, wouldn't the Looney 11 rule be mor' bettr'?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_11_rule (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_11_rule)

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 22, 2016, 05:22:39 PM
Quote
However, I do have a small complaint.  For whatever reason, the EXIF data on your photo is missing.  Could you clue is in as to what camera you used and perhaps the telephoto lens if one was used?
As you can see, I took your complaint up with management and they gave it its due priority! Actually a bit higher than I expected! At any rate, here is the info you requested on the "Moon" shot image (not the composite version, BTW).
Hope that helps!
8 x 10 glossy prints available at reasonable rates (plus shipping and handling fees, no taxes in TN. Overnight delivery recommended at slightly higher rates, of course. ThU5:-)
Title: Thanks! (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on November 22, 2016, 11:24:32 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat Infomaniacs, . . .

Quote from: xairbusdriver on November 22, 2016, 05:22:39 PM
As you can see, I took your complaint up with management and they gave it its due priority! Actually a bit higher than I expected! At any rate, here is the info you requested on the "Moon" shot image (not the composite version, BTW).

Thanks X-Air, my curiosity is satisfied!  [tup]

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Super Moon
Post by: idunn on December 05, 2016, 07:09:16 AM
Hi Folks,

Finally got my camera act together for the moon. Crescent in the west at 6pm. Mounted my Sony HX300 on a tripod, set on manual with iso 250, 1/125, FL 215, auto +-1 bracket, 10s timer. Here is the result. Not bad but maybe could be focused a bit better.

Regards,  Irving

Title: Thanks! Focus looks okay. (Re: Super Moon )
Post by: elagache on December 05, 2016, 11:14:11 PM
Hi Irving,

Quote from: idunn on December 05, 2016, 07:09:16 AM
Finally got my camera act together for the moon. Crescent in the west at 6pm. Mounted my Sony HX300 on a tripod, set on manual with iso 250, 1/125, FL 215, auto +-1 bracket, 10s timer. Here is the result. Not bad but maybe could be focused a bit better.

Thanks for sharing!  It almost get me tempted to get my one potentially usable scope back in operation.  The trouble is that it is computer controlled and making that work will be indeed a major hassle!

I think your focus is okay.  Instead I think your exposure is a bit off or perhaps what you are imaging as focusing issues was instead the light being disturbed by turbulence in the atmosphere.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]