GETTING STARTED WITH
Moon Photography
Moon photography is an exciting and rewarding genre that lets you capture the beauty of Earth’s other worldly neighbour. Whether you’re aiming for detailed close-ups of the lunar surface or creative compositions with the moon in a dramatic landscape, this guide will walk you through the essentials to get started and create stunning images of the moon.
Equipment Essentials
Camera
Choose a DSLR or mirrorless camera that allows manual adjustments for ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. These controls are important for capturing the details and ensuring your moon compositions are how you want them. A camera with excellent low-light performance and a wide dynamic range is ideal. Mirrorless cameras often offer the added advantage of an electronic viewfinder, making it easier to compose shots in the dark.
Lenses
A telephoto lens (200mm or longer) is ideal for capturing close-up details. For sharper images, consider prime telephoto lenses over zoom lenses. Using lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/5.6 will allow more light in, making it easier to photograph the moon in different lighting conditions.
Super-telephoto lenses (400mm or longer) can dramatically magnify the moon, capturing intricate details of its surface. These lenses are particularly useful for isolating the moon in your composition or achieving a highly compressed perspective with foreground elements.
A teleconverter can also be useful as it increases the focal length of your lens, bringing the moon closer. A 1.4x or 2x teleconverter can be paired with compatible lenses for more magnification without compromising image quality.
Tripod
A sturdy tripod is essential to eliminate camera shake, especially when using long lenses. Ensure your tripod is weighted down or set on stable ground to prevent movement caused by wind or accidental nudges. For additional stability, use a tripod with a ball head for easy adjustments.
Remote Shutter Release
A remote shutter release or intervalometer minimizes vibrations when triggering the camera. If you don’t have a remote, use your camera’s self-timer to ensure steady shots. Set the timer to a 2-second delay to avoid any movement when pressing the shutter button.
Headlamp or Torch
Having a headlamp or torch is essential for night time photography. A headlamp with a red light mode is particularly useful, as it provides enough illumination to adjust settings and navigate your surroundings without disrupting your night vision. Keeping an extra set of batteries or a rechargeable option ensures you won’t be left in the dark during long shooting sessions.
"A full moon over Worthing Pier, taken approximately 2km away."
Worthing, West Sussex
ISO-3200, f/6.3, 1/30 seconds
Planning Ahead
Location Scouting
Location is quite variable for moon photography, and while having places with minimal light pollution are always ideal, sometimes our composition calls for the opposite. It’s worth scouting locations during the day to find interesting elements that can complement the moon in your composition. Aim for places with clear horizons if you want an unobstructed view.
Shooting from elevated locations can help reduce atmospheric distortion caused by lower-level haze and humidity
Timing and Weather
Pay attention to the weather and keep track of it in the days leading up to the shoot. A sky filled with cloud isn’t going to yield any results, but some partial coverage may produce a dramatic photo.
The moon’s phase significantly affects the outcome of your shots. A full moon is bright and reveals broad features, while a crescent or half-moon showcases intricate details like craters and ridges thanks to the interplay of light and shadow.
Moonrise and moonset offer unique opportunities for dramatic compositions too, with the moon close to the horizon. The warm colours and atmospheric haze can add depth and mood to your images.
Use tools like PhotoPills, The Photographer’s Ephemeris, or Stellarium to determine the moon’s position, rise, and set times. These apps also help you align your shots with specific landscapes or landmarks.
Composition Considerations
Wherever it’s possible, plan your compositions and visit your locations during daylight hours. Pay attention other elements that you want in your frame and prepared to adapt based on the scene. A bit further down I go into a bit more detail about techniques and elements to look out for.
Safety First
Dress appropriately for night time conditions, especially during winter months. Carry layers, gloves, and a headlamp to stay comfortable and safe during extended shoots.
Also remember to let someone know where you are going and if possible, when you expect to be back. This ensures safety in case of unexpected situations or emergencies.
"Moonrise behind Brighton, taken approximately 7km away from Brighton Pier."
Arundel, West Sussex
ISO-800, f/4, 10 seconds
Camera Settings
Manual Mode
Switch your camera to manual mode to take full control of your settings. Automatic settings often overexpose the moon, losing detail in the highlights.
Aperture
Aim to use a mid-range aperture, such as f/8 to f/11, to achieve the best sharpness and depth of field. As you make changes, pay attention to your ISO and shutter speed to make sure you maintain a good balance.
ISO
Where you can, keep the ISO low (100-400) to reduce noise and maintain the clarity of fine details. If you are shooting at night this may not always be possible, so don’t be afraid to bump the ISO higher to achieve the results you are looking for.
Shutter Speed
Most of the time, you will be shooting a moon rise or set after dark, which means extended shutter speeds. Try to start with a shutter speed of 1/125 to 1/250 seconds to freeze the moon’s motion and prevent blur caused by Earth’s rotation.
White Balance
Set the white balance manually to achieve natural tones. A setting between 4000K and 5000K works well for moon photography, as it captures the moon’s neutral to slightly cool tones.
Focus
Switch to manual focus for precise control. Use your camera’s live view and zoom in on the moon to fine-tune focus until it appears sharp. If your camera supports focus peaking, enable it to assist with accuracy.
Composition & Advanced Techniques
Rule of Thirds
Compose your shot with the moon positioned off-center to create visual interest. Placing the moon according to the rule of thirds grid makes your images more dynamic and engaging.
Use Foreground Elements
Incorporate trees, buildings, mountains, or water reflections into your composition to add depth and context. This technique works particularly well during moonrise or moonset.
Experiment with Scale
Including objects in the frame can emphasize the size of the moon. For example, placing the moon above a city skyline or mountain range creates a sense of scale. You can take this one step further by use a telephoto lens to take advantage of lens compression, which makes the moon appear larger in relation to foreground objects. Position yourself far from your foreground subject and use a long focal length to exaggerate the size of the moon. This technique works especially well when the moon is low on the horizon, creating a dramatic and impactful image.
Atmospheric Distortion
Shooting the moon as it rises or sets means you’ll encounter atmospheric distortion. This can make the moon appear wobbly or blurred due to the Earth’s atmosphere. You can mitigate this by waiting until the moon is higher in the sky, though this will reduce its perceived size. Alternatively, embrace the distortion creatively for artistic shots.
Colour Variations
During moonrise or moonset, the moon often takes on warm hues due to the scattering of light in the atmosphere. Be prepared to adjust your white balance in-camera or during post-processing to balance or enhance this effect.
Post Processing
Specialist Software
Start with software like Lightroom, Photoshop, or astrophotography tools such as RegiStax and Starry Landscape Stacker. These programs are particularly helpful for stacking multiple exposures, reducing noise, and bringing out fine details on the moon’s surface. They also help align stars or foreground elements for polished, professional results.
Editing Essentials
Use professional editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop
to fine-tune exposure, contrast, and sharpness. Focus on adjusting highlights and shadows to reveal the moon’s craters and textures. Utilize cropping and straightening features to refine your composition, and experiment with subtle vignettes to draw attention to the moon.
Noise Reduction
Long exposures and high ISO settings can introduce noise to your images. Use selective noise reduction techniques to clean up your photos while preserving the intricate details of the lunar surface. Software like Lightroom or Topaz DeNoise AI can help you achieve this balance effectively.
Contrast and Clarity
Fine-tune the white balance to reflect the moon’s natural tones, typically neutral or slightly cool. If you’re capturing the moon during a moonrise or moonset, you may want to enhance the warm hues or correct color casts for a more accurate or creative representation.
Colour Adjustment
Fine-tune the white balance to reflect the moon’s natural tones, typically neutral or slightly cool. If you’re capturing the moon during a moonrise or moonset, you may want to enhance the warm hues or correct colour casts for a more accurate or creative representation.
Creative Adjustments
Don’t shy away from creative edits to give your moon photos a unique style. Consider blending multiple exposures for dynamic range, adding stars to a dark sky, or incorporating composite elements like foreground landscapes for a storytelling effect.