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How to Photograph a Full Moon

Learning the art of photography is a time-consuming process that takes practice. Before you can call yourself a real photographer, you must learn how to use the settings on your camera to take pictures in all different scenarios and lighting conditions. Practice shooting nighttime photography the next time you look into the sky and see a full moon. Many photographers think that since it is dark out, they need to adjust their settings. However, a full moon actually produces a lot of light --- something that needs to be accounted for in order to get the best shot.

Things You'll Need

Tripod
Telephoto Lens
DSLR camera or camera with manual settings

Instructions

- 1
  Mount your camera on a tripod to reduce camera shake. Even if you use a reasonably fast shutter speed, the most crisp, clear photos are produced when the camera is mounted on a sturdy surface. If you don't have a tripod, rest your elbows on a wall or solid surface while you take the shot.
- 2
  Attach a telephoto lens to your camera for the most close-up shot possible. If you are shooting with a regular lens, you will get a good shot, but the moon will be far in the distance. Telephoto lenses allow you to zoom in for a more detailed picture.
- 3
  Adjust your camera's settings so the aperture setting is at about f11. This blocks some of the light of the moon while compensating for the fact that it is night time. Keep the ISO at about 100 so the noise in your picture is limited. Finally, set the shutter speed to about 1/125 --- a quick speed that will not allow in too much of the moon's light, causing overexposure.
- 4
  Take several shots of the moon, adjusting the camera's shutter speed from 1/125 to 1/150 to account for streetlights and other factors. This method, called bracketing, ensures you get at least a few usable shots.

Photography