Shoot the Moon – Digital Style!

"I like to think that the moon is there, even if I am not looking at it." - Albert Einstein

Some of the earliest written legends involve the moon; this huge sphere has captured our imagination for centuries. So is it any surprise that we're drawn to capture it in return?

The challenge comes from the fact that even though it's out at night, the moon is brighter than it appears. The average camera will try to select the proper settings for the whole picture, which is predominantly dark, and the end result will be a fuzzy white circle where the moon should be.

So what can you do to get a photo with a reasonable amount of details? Here are a few things:

• Tripod - Stability will help you get the greatest amount of detail. Don't have a tripod? Try resting your camera on a fixed surface, like a wall, or brace yourself as firmly as possible. Resting your elbows on a firm surface can help.
  
  
• Cable release - Even the twitch of a finger on the shutter can add vibrations to your camera, and give you a bit of motion blur. Don't have a cable release for your camera? Stabilize your camera, and try using any automatic timer feature that you have - give yourself a second or two after the shutter release to step away from the camera. If you don't have a timer feature, try holding your breath as you press the shutter. Sounds silly, but it works!
  
  
• Settings - If your camera allows for manual settings, this is the time to pull them out! A good starting point is f/11, 1/250, and ISO 200 (ISO 100 if your camera supports it). If your camera has a bracketing feature, you'll be able to see easily the effects of various exposures, and make adjustments. If your camera doesn't have manual features, try using a daylight or sports preset. Experiment; there's no "one size fits all," and digital "film" is cheap!

Don't be surprised when that huge harvest moon is much smaller than you expected in your viewfinder. Even though it appears huge, it's farther away than your eye perceives. If you have a zoom lens, 300mm or greater would be best for effective photographs. If you don't have a camera with changeable lenses, use the highest resolution that your camera offers - this will give you the best chance of being able to crop the photograph into an end result that you're happy with.

The moon will also appear different during different seasons and in different areas of the world, due to the sun's relative position around the earth. So, if you're traveling and the weather permits, step out after dark, and capture the moon!

What have you got to lose? The sky - or the moon - is the limit!