The Night Sky - Day 21

The night sky offers itself in simplicity yet contains a complex system that requires special photography knowledge to make good photos. It can be a unique opportunity for an enterprising photographer.

I’m going to concentrate on full moon photos as most photographers don’t have nights clear of light pollution from city lights that can obscure the night sky.

To start this challenge, it is essential to consider a few key elements that will help you make compelling and evocative images.

The best photos of a full moon usually come from using a foreground object to add depth to your photo. Scouting a good location can be laborious in the week before a full moon as you look to see where on the horizon the full moon will rise and if the foreground object is complementary to the moon’s emphasis.

Selecting the right location is crucial. Seek out areas with minimal light pollution, such as remote rural settings or small towns, to ensure maximum visibility of the stars.

There is little you can do if the weather is bad. I promise there will be cloud cover most nights of the full moon. I’ve gone months not able to see the full moon on the horizon. Or it appears for a very brief moment before disappearing behind the cloud layer.

Your equipment choice is important. Take a tripod. A heavy tripod. One that will not move during your exposures. Use as long a telephoto s you can. Compressing the moon against a foreground object makes the moon appear larger.

Do not rely on auto exposure to work correctly. Auto exposure is trying to add all the tones together to make a neutral gray. It is guaranteed that you will have an exposure problem using auto exposure. Especially if your foreground object is in the shadows and fills a large portion of the frame.

Remember that the moon exposure is always noon daylight. Vary that exposure depending upon sky conditions.

Be patient. Be prepared to spend time adjusting your settings, waiting for the right moments, and taking more than a single exposure to get the best results.

Photographing the full moon on a cool evening is one of the most tranquil ways to make photos. The subject is a common object that is never common in its presentation. Be prepared to adjust your thinking knowing that if you don’t get the photo you want this night, there is always next month.

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