Shooting the Moon: Art of Lunar Photography (2023)

Summary

The popularity of shooting the moon remains as strong as ever. Whatever the current phase of the moon, it is an impressive object to photograph. In my own journey into astrophotography, I have taken many pictures of the moon with a camera or a through a telescope. It is an easy target, so beginners can capture it without the use of tracking.I will explain how to begin shooting the moon so that you get amazing pictures of your own. So, grab your camera, step into the realm of lunar photography, and let’s unveil the secrets together.Equipment and Gear for shooting the moonBefore you start shooting the moon you’ll need the right equipment. This is quite an easy subject to image and so chances are, even if you are a beginner, you’ll have most of what you need. For more advanced astrophotographers, you’ll want to have the best quality setup for lunar photography.Essential photography equipment for shooting the moon includes the following:A DSLR cameraA suitable lensA sturdy tripodA remote-controlled shutter release or intervalometer.The above equipment is for the basic setup for lunar photography. If you wish to take pictures of the moon through a telescope, which I often do, then you’ll need to fix your camera to your telescope. In this case, you can use a DSLR camera or a planetary camera which needs to be connected to a laptop or computer.Choosing the right camera and lensesTo get started shooting the moon you don’t need an expensive and ultra-professional camera because it is quite an easy target to photograph. I have a Canon 60D and it didn’t cost me more than a few hundred dollars to buy. It’s served me quite well so far. The camera needs to have manual exposure settings so that you can adjust the ISO and shutter times. You need to use fractions of a second for the shutter speed and an ISO of perhaps 100-800 no more.The lens you choose should be of the best focal length to capture the moon in your shot. For detail, you need something such as 300mm or larger if you ...