Dean Ginther
February 2025 - Moon
About the Image(s)
The last few weeks I have not been doing any photography but I still wanted to submit something current. The last couple of nights the night sky has been very clear. I noticed there was a waxing crescent moon tonight (32% illumination) so I took a few images of that about a half hour ago.
Sony A7RV, F8.0, 1/80, ISO 320, Sony 200 - 600 zoom, manual focus, manual exposure on a tripod.
I didn't include the original since the only changes I made were to crop in and sharpen.
10 comments posted
Nice and sharp with plenty of details.
Is it frequent in Chicago to see the moon laying down? - This is pretty unusual rotation where I live (by the east end of Lake Erie.
I would have liked to get more details in the really bright bottom portion of the moon (even if I did not detect any "burned" pixels). I tried to work on it (decrease highlights, decreased whites, graduated ND filter, increased contrast, etc...., but was not able, on this jpg version, to help much.
Did you perform a bracketed exposure? I find that I have to underexposed the moon significantly to get the details on the bright edge.
Very nice image - Just a suggestion.
Posted: 02/07/2025 20:43:32
Is it frequent in Chicago to see the moon laying down? - This is pretty unusual rotation where I live (by the east end of Lake Erie.
I would have liked to get more details in the really bright bottom portion of the moon (even if I did not detect any "burned" pixels). I tried to work on it (decrease highlights, decreased whites, graduated ND filter, increased contrast, etc...., but was not able, on this jpg version, to help much.
Did you perform a bracketed exposure? I find that I have to underexposed the moon significantly to get the details on the bright edge.
Very nice image - Just a suggestion.
Posted: 02/07/2025 20:43:32
Actually, this photo was taken just west of Austin, TX so that may explain the orientation since I didn't rotate it.
It is easy to over exposure a moon image because the light meter doesn't measure well in the very bright/very dark situation.
Sometime I bracket and sometimes I take an exposure, view it, and then adjust until I get what appears OK to my eye. I did the later on this one.
I messed around with the original raw file a bit, per your suggestions. I think it is better. Posted: 02/07/2025 22:19:48
It is easy to over exposure a moon image because the light meter doesn't measure well in the very bright/very dark situation.
Sometime I bracket and sometimes I take an exposure, view it, and then adjust until I get what appears OK to my eye. I did the later on this one.
I messed around with the original raw file a bit, per your suggestions. I think it is better. Posted: 02/07/2025 22:19:48
Nice.... I liked it better like this.
And yes, it makes a lot of sense that your capture was from Austin instead of Chicago. Posted: 02/10/2025 19:29:33
And yes, it makes a lot of sense that your capture was from Austin instead of Chicago. Posted: 02/10/2025 19:29:33
A simple but effective picture of the moon. And unusual in that most moon shots ate portrayed at full moon.
By the way are you aware that Sony has updated the software on our cameras to include focus bracketing - the ability to focus stack in camera. It's a simple download from your phone app and works effectively. Posted: 02/10/2025 15:01:31
By the way are you aware that Sony has updated the software on our cameras to include focus bracketing - the ability to focus stack in camera. It's a simple download from your phone app and works effectively. Posted: 02/10/2025 15:01:31
Thanks Mervyn. I didn't know about the update. I completed the update to V3.0 Posted: 02/10/2025 16:09:29
I like the picture. A very simple composition. I might have rotated the image for a more pleasing result. As far as metering for the moon: it's the same exposure you would give a subject in normal sunlight. Simply: ISO 100, 1/125 and f11 for starters and work from there. If you work out this math, is exactly what you have. The moon is just another subject in broad sunlight. Posted: 02/13/2025 11:31:55
It never seems right that the best moon exposure is essentially a daylight exposure but that's what works. And not what most light meters will indicate. Posted: 02/14/2025 00:14:53
I, too, was confused by the moon orientation; south side of Lake Erie. Nice photo and I appreciate the tip on updating my camera. Hope it works on the a7iii. Posted: 02/14/2025 22:23:08
I also like your reworked image better. Posted: 02/15/2025 02:04:34
I personally like both images. I think that your image works well with the black of the website adding additional enjoyment. Overall the detail is lovely and I have always had difficulty photographing the moon. Great image! It offers a lot to enjoy as both a literal image and an abstract photo. Posted: 02/15/2025 16:54:47