Thursday, January 28, 2016

Moon & Clouds

This is a classic example of why moon shots can be so tough, and at times, frustrating. I took these shots during the last full moon. It was about 9 PM, so the sky was very dark. I could see beautiful clouds drifting in front of the moon. However, when I set my exposure for the clouds, the moon was way too bright and lost all detail. When I set my exposure for the bright moon, the clouds became black and were lost. There was really no "happy medium" exposure because the difference was too great. Solution? With camera on tripod, I took two photos in quick succession, one exposed for the clouds and the second exposed for the moon, then combined the two shots. A little like the old "double exposure" photos from film days. But I digress...

Cropped version:
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46 comments:

  1. Wonderful capture of the last full moon, thanks for doing all the exposure work!
    I saw the same effect with the naked eye but only had my phone with me so no chance of really getting the beauty of the clouds drifting by through the low haze.

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  2. Wow, what a great result. Almost like a HDR image. I love your creativity. Thanks for the idea!

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  3. I enjoyed you explaining the process, thank you. Great result!

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  4. These are awesome -- as always and you are so talented and creative!! Thank you for sharing -- as always!! I hope you have a beautiful weekend! Enjoy!!

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  5. Great sky/moon captures and Thanks for passing on how you achieved the results

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  7. Fanatstic shots and great editing! DId you underexpose for MOON and overexpose for sky and then blend?

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  8. So that's the secret! Thanks for sharing but I still think I won't remember what to do when the next full moon comes up

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  9. Very clever solution & the end result is superb shots of moon & clouds, frothy like coffee!

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  10. I am amazed that you can combine two shots...what a result!

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  11. Nice work. There really are few limits to what can be done in this digital age.

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  12. Incredibly beautiful!! BOTH images.
    To answer your question, the moon surface shot I shared was zoom and a tripod.

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  13. Great compliment for a real well executed merging of the two. I see this as the book cover for a sci-fi story or a poster for a movie. Indeed well done.

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  14. My house nestles under enormous oaks...the view of the moon through its massive limbs and clouds has made me run for my camera dozens of times. Never have managed a shot not worth clicking the bin button. Sigh.

    loved your shot

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  15. Photos are a little scared. the Vampires and the werewolves time.

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  16. I know the problem, Peter, but you've managed it in a great way. I prefer the first shot.

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  17. Wonderful pictures of the moon and clouds. Have a special weekend.

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  18. Well you may feel frustrated - the difference between what you experience and what you can manage to capture is often disappointing, but I think these photos are FABULOUS. I think the first one has the edge with the greater dark and a clearer glow of light around the moon. (There's a word for it but I'm blowed if I can bring it to mind!)

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  19. Wow, I think these are gorgeous images of the moon and clouds. Well done! Happy Skywatching, enjoy your weekend!

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  20. Wow, I think these are gorgeous images of the moon and clouds. Well done! Happy Skywatching, enjoy your weekend!

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  21. Super capture of the moon and clouds!

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  22. Magnificent and spectacular captures!
    Have a nice weekend, Hilde

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  23. Wow, such impressiv photos !
    Greetings from Germany
    This is my entry

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  24. More beautiful images-- Along with the beauty here, I almost expect Dracula to fly in.... :)

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  25. You accomplished near perfection,if not perfection,on this one.

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  26. Beautiful and dramatic. It reminds me of night time creatures...like vampires and werewolves :).

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  27. I think you did really well with these shots, I was out at the beach the other night when the full moon was up here then but sadly I didn't have my camera with me.

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  28. I love it. Isn't that basically what HDR does? But HDR is so overused, sucking the life and dynamics out of so many photos.

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  29. Oh my, that's great shot of the moon and sky -nice work!!!! Have a great weekend. Mickie :)

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  30. Wow! Very creative and dramatic shots ~ great photo talent!

    Happy Weekend to you ~ ^_^

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  31. Gorgeous!
    I've NEVER taken a photo of the moon that was anywhere near as nice as this one.

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