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Exposure Tips and Gears for Moon Photography

2021-01-22

You might have tried to take a photo of the Moon on your smartphone, only to end up with blurry shots or an indiscernible white blob. In order to capture the Moon in its full glory, grab your camera and read this guide.

Moon photography might seem challenging, but trust us when we say your efforts at mastering this particular sub-genre of night photography will pay off. Not only will you end up with stunning lunar pictures, but being able to include the Moon adds dimension to landscape shots and helps hone your other photography skills. From equipment to settings to other practical tips, this guide will have you shooting the Moon like a pro in no time.

Prep work

As with all genres in photography, prep work is crucial, but when you want to photograph the Moon, you’ll need to understand its phases so you don’t head out on the wrong night. The Moon goes through different phases during the month; when it is between the Earth and Sun, we get a “new moon” as no sunlight falls on the side of the Moon facing us. When the Sun does fall, that side of the Moon facing us is lit up, giving us the full Moon. As the Moon “grows”, that phase is called the “waxing moon”, and “waning moon” in contrast.

Moon types

Depending on its appearance or distance from the Earth, the Moon has different names:

Supermoon - the Moon is closest to the Earth and can appear up to 14% larger in diameter than a full Moon
Micromoon - the Moon is furthest from the Earth and is a little harder to photograph
Blue Moon - when there is more than one full Moon a month. Fun Fact - this very rare occurrence is where the phrase "once in a blue moon" comes from
Blood Moon - when the Moon appears during a lunar eclipse. It has a reddish appearance
Eclipse - when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up perfectly
Solar eclipse - when the Moon blocks the Sun
Lunar eclipse - when the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon

For an in-depth understanding of the Moon and its various phases, check out this website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/names-full-moons-throughout-year

We recommend downloading apps such as PhotoPills, The Photographer's Ephemeris or use sites like timeanddate.com and darksitefinder.com to help you plan and track Moon phases and weather forecast.

Composition

Photo Credit: @Keithliew
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 400mm f/5.6L USM, ƒ6.3, ISO400, 1/500 sec, 400mm

Once you’ve decided when to head out and shoot, you need to decide where. When it comes to astrophotography, location scouting ahead of time is crucial. If you plan on shooting the Moon with a scene in the foreground, the type of lens you choose will impact how the Moon appears.

Another thing to consider is the ratio of the Moon to the other elements - do you want the Moon to dominate, or hang quietly in the background? When it comes to lighting, heading out too early in the evening or too close to dawn may cause the scene to be overexposed as there will be more light in the sky. The position of the Moon might not necessarily be where you want it to be, which is why planning is crucial. The lighting situation during dawn or dusk could potentially impact your foreground, but this changes depending on the time of year.

Gear

Photographing the Moon, especially on your first few attempts, might take longer to achieve as you familiarise yourself with the settings of your camera. Here are some things we recommend bringing on your shoot:

Interchangeable lens camera
75-300mm telephoto lens. The focal range you pick will affect how the Moon appears in your shot. For example, at 75mm, the Moon will be nicely incorporated in your image but won’t dominate the shot, where at 300mm, you’ll be able to capture details of the craters. A lens with a range allows you to experiment without having to lug too many gears around
Tripod
Remote shutter release to reduce shake (do note this is mostly necessary if you’re using the Moon as a light source, otherwise, relatively steady hands will do)
Torch or a headlamp to help see better in the dark
Snacks to keep you going

How to shoot the Moon

Camera Settings:

Mode - put your camera on Manual mode
ISO - start with ISO100 for test shots and gradually increase to 200 and then to 400 for optimal results
Aperture - use between f/8 - f/11
Shutter speed - start at 1/125s and test until you get it right
Focus - Manual Focus, especially if you have a lens with a longer focal range and you’re trying to capture a close up shot with details of the Moon

Looney 11 Rule:
In lunar photography, the Looney 11 (or Looney f/11) rule is a way to estimate correct exposures without a light meter.

The rule is to set your aperture to f/11 and shutter speed to the ISO you’ve selected.
Example: If your ISO is 100, the shutter speed should be 1/100s, and ISO 200 puts you at 1/200s.

Steps:
1. Position your camera towards the Moon and view it on Live View
2. Ensure your tripod is stable and zoom in as much as you want on the Moon
3. Ensure your camera settings are correct and use your shutter release to take the photo. If you don’t have a shutter release, set a timer to minimise shake
4. Keep playing with the ISO and shutter speed until you get a shot you’re happy with
5. Use digital zoom on your camera to magnify playback and check for any blur spots in your images

Shooting the Moon and to have it part of your landscape shot doesn’t have to be intimidating! Just remember it requires a different set of planning - and part of nailing the process is through experimentation and practice.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Always use Manual Focus
Consider the Looney 11 rule
Use the lowest base ISO possible
Shoot in RAW
Consider composition (shooting the Moon standalone, part of the landscape, etc)
Don’t forget to prep ahead of time (especially if you’re trying to capture a special lunar occasion like an eclipse or supermoon)

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Exposure Tips and Gears for Moon Photography

Prep work

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Composition

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