Quick moon question. Full moon, or is day before/after OK?

[DANATTHEROCK]

I have a 40D and 100-400. Got enthused tonight looking at some moon shots, ordered a Canon 1.4x TC that I had been wanting for wildlife anyway. It is coming at me via Amazon 2nd day air. I was all excited about photographing the moon on Nov 2nd (next full moon). Then I get smart, check my work schedule (I work 12 hour night shifts as an ER nurse), and see I am working that night. So... how about Nov 3rd I quietely ponder to my ignorant self. Only shot the moon once before so I have no clue. Any thoughts on this. Also, any suggestions on what time of evening/night is best? Just as it rises, after dark, middle of night, etc... Any suggestions on photographing the moon in general would be of help. Thanks for your patience and thoughts.


Below is a cool moon calculator I found that gives specific times of moon rise, transit, set, etc.. for your location. Just enter your city/state/date and it gives the info. Neat site. Unfortunately it won't tell you when you are scheduled to work the graveyard shift. Ha ha.. Below that is my solitary moon shot to date. I am hoping with the 1.4x TC I may do better. I am new to photography with just over 4,300 shutter actuations on my 40D and the below moon shot was in the first hundred or so


http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

[Sorarse]

Movement in the Earth's atmosphere can soften images, so you are usually better of shooting night sky objects when they are as high in the sky as possible. That way you will be shooting through less of the atmosphere.

Also, shooting a full moon is not necessarily the best time, as it can appear rather dull and flat. Shooting at any other time, shadows along the terminator (the bit where the lit side meets the unlit side) can add a lot more interest and detail.

Compare the following:

Almost full moon - looking a bit flat





Half moon - showing a lot more detail along the terminator due to the shadows being cast

[DANATTHEROCK]

Fantastic example (and image). Thanks for the input. If you want to share, I would be eager to hear what lens set up got the bottom shot. Amazing detail!

[VIGER]

Hi

I think you have a great shot here.

I use a 1,4 and 2x on prime lens and it seems to hold. I loose some denition but that's applyed physics. I loos more using a zoom lens. Specialy with the 2X.

When shooting the moon one shoud shoot 3 shots in a busrt and combine them using photoshop. Using a red filter will aslo help illiminate hot spot common to moon shots. Shoot one Fstop under expose, in manual mode, (using the force : )

Use the mirror lock, try using ISO 200 our 8000 for FF. Tripod and remote trigger. Use the best Fs top settings for your lens. Telephoto lens will give you the best flat images in general. IE.

Location, best is hight in montains on rocky terrain - avoid lakes, rivers and humid fields.

Try to shoot when the moon is high, use a planetarium software to find out.

Have fun.

[Sorarse]

Both shots were actually taken through a telescope, but the same principles apply irrespective of what lens you are using.

The shot you posted is a fantastic shot, and way exceeds my first attempts. You may want to drop the exposure just a tad, but I'm just nitpicking.

Something else you may want to consider is bringing out the colours in the moon if you go ahead with a shot of the full moon. It's one way of adding a bit of life to a full moon shot. Your shot is already displaying hints of the colours that are there, and with a bit of careful processing, these can be accentuated even more.

Processing to bring out the colours isn't to everyone's taste, but it can add another dimension.

[DANATTHEROCK]

Thanks for the insights (and images). Just the kind of info I was in need of. Thanks for taking the time to share some thoughts with a greenhorn. I will post some images here after my next attempt. I will continue to monitor this thread if anyone has any other input. I am eager to learn. Thanks!