The night sky with its countless stars and the ever-enchanting moon has always been a source of inspiration to many creative minds, be it a painter, poet, writer or a musician. Some of the most romantic songs till date have been about the moon. Artistes apart, just staring at the night sky will make one wonder how great it would be if you could capture that moment forever. And this is where a photographer comes into picture!
A photographer has the power to capture that very moment which you wish to preserve forever. However, photographing the night sky and the moon and presenting it just the way your eyes see it is a very challenging task. It is a test of skills which when passed can turn into a masterpiece.
Surely the most common problems faced by anyone who has attempted to photograph the moon are blurred image or the 'ghost' moon or the moon appearing as just a bright circle. But don't let this bring your spirits down as there are a few simple solutions which can help you get great shots.
Firstly, it's important to visualise your photograph. When you know what you want to shoot whether just the moon or a landscape or sky with stars, it becomes easier to compose your shot.
Next tip is to use a tripod. Since the lighting is low and you may need long exposures, always set up your DSLRs on a sturdy tripod to reduce the blur. You can also use a cable release or the came-ra's self timer to trip the shutter in order to avoid camera shakes.
Photographing the moon
A photographer has the power to capture that very moment which you wish to preserve forever. However, photographing the night sky and the moon and presenting it just the way your eyes see it is a very challenging task. It is a test of skills which when passed can turn into a masterpiece.
Surely the most common problems faced by anyone who has attempted to photograph the moon are blurred image or the 'ghost' moon or the moon appearing as just a bright circle. But don't let this bring your spirits down as there are a few simple solutions which can help you get great shots.
Firstly, it's important to visualise your photograph. When you know what you want to shoot whether just the moon or a landscape or sky with stars, it becomes easier to compose your shot.
Next tip is to use a tripod. Since the lighting is low and you may need long exposures, always set up your DSLRs on a sturdy tripod to reduce the blur. You can also use a cable release or the came-ra's self timer to trip the shutter in order to avoid camera shakes.
Photographing the moon
Shooting the moon has its own advantage as you can always refer to a moon chart to know its shape and location. This will give you time to prepare for the perfect shot. The moon, from full to the thin crescent, offers infinite opportunities to make a great picture. Your first attempts, however, may show a 'ghost' moon which is caused by reflection inside the lens barrel. Websites and books on photography can give you some useful tips on what aperture and shutter speed to use for the moon. But the most ideal way is to take a clue from it and start experimenting rather than just sticking to the exact values.
And how do you do this? Check your first few shots on the LCD with the suggested values and then, according to your image adjust them. Preferably make use of Manual (M) or Aperture priority (A) mode. After a couple of trials, you will surely be able to capture the moon without the 'ghost' and which won't look like a bright spot. However, remember to keep the ISO setting low, usually 100 or 200, to minimise grains and digital noise. When shooting just the moon, make use of a telephoto lens longer than 200mm. This will help you fill the frame and magnify the moon.
Landscape
You can also try shooting a landscape lit by just the moonlight. For this you would have to make use of the 'Bulb' setting in your camera since capturing a picture with such low light will need long exposures ranging from two to five minutes or even more. The same method also applies for photographing the stars. And remember to use a tripod.
You can also try shooting a landscape lit by just the moonlight. For this you would have to make use of the 'Bulb' setting in your camera since capturing a picture with such low light will need long exposures ranging from two to five minutes or even more. The same method also applies for photographing the stars. And remember to use a tripod.
Drawing a star with a star!
Make use of light painting technique to try drawing objects with a star. Find a bright star and decide what you want to draw. It will be easier if you practice your path before actually taking the photo. Keep your camera in 'Bulb' mode and focus on the star. Now open the shutter and move the camera in the path you practiced and close once you are done. Begin with simple shapes like circles and triangles and later on with stars and other complicated shapes. The movement of your camera can be tricky in the begi-nning. But keep trying as once you get an idea, it will be great fun to 'draw a star using a star' with the camera!
Shooting landscape and moon
Shooting landscape and moon
Including landscape with the moon adds effect to your photo. While this is possible when the moon is just rising and the sun is still out, it becomes difficult once it is dark. Then the moon will become the brightest object. If you want to capture the landscape, you will need long exposures which will lead to the moon looking extra bright. One way to do this is to take two separate shots and then combine them. Take a picture of the landscape, say a building or a tree or a city scene. And then shoot the moon. Next mask both the images using a good photo editing software like Photoshop. Paste the moon onto your landscape. You will also have an added advantage of altering the size of the moon. However, make sure your masking is perfect so that the two images blend well.
Finally, don't be disheartened if you don’t have a DSLR. Even a compact camera with manual mode is sufficient to get some amazing photographs of the moon. Remember, some of the greatest photos have been taken using compact cameras. And no matter how good your photos look, you can always add that extra touch using software. But see to it that you don’t over do it.
Like the French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson said ‘Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.’ So never stop trying. Keep experimenting and keep clicking!
Finally, don't be disheartened if you don’t have a DSLR. Even a compact camera with manual mode is sufficient to get some amazing photographs of the moon. Remember, some of the greatest photos have been taken using compact cameras. And no matter how good your photos look, you can always add that extra touch using software. But see to it that you don’t over do it.
Like the French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson said ‘Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.’ So never stop trying. Keep experimenting and keep clicking!
(Published in Star Of Mysore dated Feb. 1, 2011)
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