Blood Moon Eclipse Composite

Composite shot from the 15th.

I'm extremely grateful that I had a pro pal along to help out with the shot
and to let me use his 70-200 lens with the 2X extender on it. Man what a set up!

Anyway. Comping in PS, color work done in LR.

My concerns:
- The rock looks odd
- the edges of the hole look like I quick masked them (they're natural)
- the composition (location of the moon etc) feels...blase.

Thoughts? Suggestions for PP and for next time?


EXIF data:
Canon T3i, 70-200L
1/8, f/2.8, ISO 3200/6400

Eye on eclipse.
Good job.

Neat. How come your flash didn't wash out the blood of the Moon.

^^^LOL.
I was wondering were is the catch light!

I removed it in post with teh photoshops!

actually we didn't even have a flash with us...we used our head lamps to get the rock lit up.
Desperate times...

I probably would've tried at least 2 exposures, one of the moon, one of the rocks, then layered them in post. Basically focus stacked since it will be difficult to get both in tack sharp focus with one exposure given the difference in subject distance.

The light on the rocks looks a little unnatural. You might be able to fix that in post. All in all a very cool shot though! I love these types of shots. Also, crop in closer with the rock being just around the edge of the frame. I think it'll do wonders for it.

That's an amazing capture of the eclipse. You did an outstanding job.

thanks guys!

T3, I have to give credit to my pro pal for the help with the shot...not only for the gear help but for the idea in general.

Hike, this is actually two exposures...just like you suggested! It is focus bracketed, and then PP'd to slightly blur the rocks.
The light on the rocks is from a couple of LED headlamps, and that frame required some extensive color balancing, so you are right, it doesn't look very natural (and it bothers me).
Working with your crop ideas right now... I think you might be on to something there!

I think the contrast level needs to come down on the rocks. Bring those highlights down or maybe even bring down the exposure a bit. Some judicious burning would be useful. Also, a few stars dropped in would be nice. I know it would be fake, but it would be cool.

Cool ! I think the dof gives away the game for anyone paying attention; and I might have liked a slightly darker and less detailed cave presence in the image.

I would crop some of the rock out from the top bottom and sides, maybe to shift left or right. The rock seems like it is overpowering the moon, which would be the focal point. I would play around with the intensity of the rock, making it darker and maybe shifting to a more blue/silver hue. I think to keep the texture detail of the rock while making it less loud would help the emphasis on the moon and earth.