Post your lunar landscapes (the moon)

[Speed]

BUT! I do have some lunar "tips" if anyone's interested...

Like Speedo said, the Sunny 16 rule should get you pretty close. Don't let your shutter drag below 1/60 or so b/c the moon will blur due to Earth's rotation and moon's falling toward Earth (isn't that last bit right, Speed?) Maybe Speedo also has a better estimate from experience as to the slowest shutter you can use.

As to finding the moon:
The full moon always rises at sunset. And sets at sunrise. It then rises approx 45-50 later each day. Until the next full moon, which will again like clockwork be rising in the east just as you are watching the sun setting in the west
Isn't life sweet? )

Rick

Since we are talking about "moon" shots! :-O


You are correct on many counts my friend. The earth's rotation will blur longer shots. And while I've taken them down to 1/8th of a second, keeping your shutter speed up is a very good idea. If you want sharp photo's, that is. You can use Velvia, and the sunny f/16 rule will give you 1/60th of a second! My sharpest shots are usually between 1/250th and 1/500th of a second, so that should give you an idea of where to shot for.

You are also correct (give yourself 1000 points) in saying that the moon actually falls around the earth! An orbit is when an object actually falls around it's primary body. Astronauts first experience with weightlessness is usually described as a "falling sensation". That is because they are falling - around the earth.

You are wise beyond your years young Rickster.

[walterick]

I think that's how that quote goes, anyway Gee thanks Speed I think I'm pretty smart sometimes - usually while walking down the street thinking how smart I am and walking right out in front of a car Or something humbling like that.

I love that fact about the moon falling toward the Earth, but never landing... it's romantic in some basic physical way. Kinda like lovers chasing each other but never having... I dunno, I'll leave that up to Byron.

Thanks for confirming that fact for me. I heard it my astronomy college class but it's been a few years so I wasn't sure. Now I can continue to woo my lovers with stories of the moon's perpetual fall to earth while viewing the Orionids next month

I owe ya one!

Rick

[Speed]

I think that's how that quote goes, anyway Gee thanks Speed I think I'm pretty smart sometimes - usually while walking down the street thinking how smart I am and walking right out in front of a car Or something humbling like that.

I love that fact about the moon falling toward the Earth, but never landing... it's romantic in some basic physical way. Kinda like lovers chasing each other but never having... I dunno, I'll leave that up to Byron.

Thanks for confirming that fact for me. I heard it my astronomy college class but it's been a few years so I wasn't sure. Now I can continue to woo my lovers with stories of the moon's perpetual fall to earth while viewing the Orionids next month

I owe ya one!

Rick

I do believe the actual quote was "When 900 years old, look this good you will not?"

But I knew exactly what you were saying! Yoda is very wise.

Happy to reinforce just how intelligent you are! If anyone ever asks, just have them contact me or Nat or one of your other PR friends. We'll set them straight!

"Now I can continue to woo my lovers with stories of the moon's perpetual fall to earth while viewing the Orionids next month "

And we shall live vicariously through you, wishing we were that smooth...

;-)

[walterick]

I'm sure that you guys would be fair...

complete with total embarrassment and pictures of my butt

Say Speedo, have you tried to photograph a meteor shower yet? I hear its pretty hard, what with reciprocity failure being so immentent and all. I haven't really taken in a meteor shower since the last time the Leonids were huge. I'm hoping for clear skies later this month though

Rick

[Speed]

I'm sure that you guys would be fair...

complete with total embarrassment and pictures of my butt

Say Speedo, have you tried to photograph a meteor shower yet? I hear its pretty hard, what with reciprocity failure being so immentent and all. I haven't really taken in a meteor shower since the last time the Leonids were huge. I'm hoping for clear skies later this month though

Rick

Yes, I shot the Leonids in 2002, and the Persieds this year. The Persieds were mostly dim meteors, with typical shower rates (approx. 60/hr).

The key to getting around reciprocity failure is to use slide film. Provia is the standard astrophotography film, though I've read that Sensia does well too. Astia is supposed to be a good astro film as well.

You will probably want to shoot several short exposures rather than one or two long ones. The longer exposures will have star trails unless you're guiding the camera (such as on a telescope).

BTW, a standard 50mm lens works pretty good for meteor showers, though there's nothing wrong with a wide angle either. I used both for the Persieds.

[walterick]

Do you have any examples of what you got? Sounds like you were going for the "stable-stars with meterites streaking" look? I'd probabely let my camera run for an hour and see what I got - star trails and all.

Could you post an example of what you got? I'm curious to see what's possible. What aperature and film speed do you need to have them show up at all?

Thanks man! Looking forward to all the meteor showers this season.

Rick

[Speed]

And not the final word!

If you haven't read this month's (October 2004) Outdoor Photographer, then pick it up. In it, there is an explanation about the different CCD sensors used in DSLR vs. Advanced Compact Digital cameras (specifically, the new 8 megapixel ones). The advanced compacts have a CCD sensor that's about 9mm across. The DSLR's have sensors that are about 24mm across. The main point of the column was the size difference in the sensors. But they also made the point that "the larger sensors are better at gathering light"!

To illustrate this, I took a series of shots last night. All shots were taken at 280mm (35mm equivalent) and f7.4 (the smallest f stop at that focal length.

The sunny f16 rules says that 1/250th of a second should be over-exposed by at least one stop. Hmmm. Maybe not.

First shot is 1/250th of a second (roughly sunny f16). Second shot is 1/125th of a second. Third shot is 1/60th of a second. Fourth shot is 1/30th of a second.


Brackett, brackett, brackett. Once you learn what works for your setup, then you can refine your exposers to a narrower range.