Moon Eyes

Every photographer should master the technique of nighttime photography that is also known as low-light photography. Moonrise makes the ideal example of such photography.

For such photography, camera should make use of meager natural light and minimize the grain effects and over-exposure. When the moon rises above the horizon, the sky becomes dark and in such a case, camera has to be adjusted accordingly. In case of wrong adjustment, there may be overexposure. So, to avoid this, you have to make a few adjustments manually for every shot taken in moonlight or in the dark sky.

Tips for moonrise photography
* Set the shot. It is better to use a tripod. So, mount camera on the tripod and properly align it. Before making any sort of fine adjustment, have a clear idea of how you want your shot to come out. Once you know what you want, the final outcome would be great.
* ISO setting of the camera must be adjusted accordingly. The sensitivity of the camera is determined by the ISO settings. The greater the ISO, the more sensitive the camera is to light and vice versa. So, if the ISO setting is higher, low light shots would come out better. Such pictures often have a digital mark or are a little grainy. However, if the moon is quit bright, adjust the ISO settings at moderate level.
* F-stop or the aperture level is next thing that needs to be adjusted. Perhaps, F-stop also affects the sensitivity of the camera towards light. In moonrise, it is important to keep the aperture small as it won't allow much light to enter the lens, thereby offering clearer focus.
* After aperture level, shutter speed needs to be set. This means the speed of camera in which the shutter opens as well as closes. It also determines the time for which the film was exposed to the sun. Low shutter speeds offer more exposure, therefore high shutter speed must be set.
* Bracketed shot are the best shots. You need to adjust settings of the camera after each shot. Low shutter speed should be preferred for the first shot and then consecutive three shots must be taken with increased speed in each one. In case, digital preview doesn't offer perfect picture, adjust F-stop, ISO and take the shots again. You may also try another shutter speed.

Additional Tips
Conditions keep on changing. Therefore, it is better to keep changing the camera settings in each shot. It is not always possible that your favorite setting may work in all conditions. So, keep experimenting until you find the right shot.
* Plan for the shot before the moon has reached the point from where you want to shoot it. So, make all the arrangements for the shot early.
* Make use of tripod for the best shots.

So, now that you know everything about moonrise photography, give it a shot!