Last nights FULL MOON (help)!!!

[shadowlands]

I've taken some sharp moon shots lately.
Last night, I couldn't get one to work for me.
I know it was the first day of fall and a special moon, per say.
Did that have something to do with it?
I tried a million ways 'till Monday...
I'm usually able at 400mm (600mm with crop factor)
200 ISO, F8-F11, 1/250-1/1000 depending....

[Canonian]

Post a photo with full exif

[shadowlands]

I might tonight when I'm home... I'm just wondering if last night's Equinox situation may have played a roll?

[KmH]

Originally Posted by shadowlands

I might tonight when I'm home... I'm just wondering if last night's Equinox situation may have played a roll?

There is 50 miles of moving, turbulent atmosphere between you and space, IF you are shooting straight up at the Zenith.

If your subject is close to the horizon, the atmosphere is now 150 miles thick and there is a lot more dust and other particulate matter in the air at the lower altitudes you are pointing the camera through.

Add thin, nearly invisible to the eye high altitude cloud or ice crystal layers, or even just high humidity, and your Moon shoot is screwed.

[lputman]

I wouldn't think the equinox situation would have an affect.

[LibertyHeir]

I doubt that the equinox would have had any effect, yet I also wouldn't rule it out completely. The gravitational effect is strongest at the equinox. Tides run their highest during each full moon, and will run even higher at the equinox. For disbelievers, all you have to do is consult the tide tables in a nautical almanac.

Far-fetched as it may seem it may have an effect (albeit minor) on the mirror/shutter system, causing an unusual vibration. I mean if the pull of the moon can cause tidal ranges in excess of thirty feet, it's possible (though improbable) that it can put additional strain on mechanical devices.

That's what they call lunacy...

[shadowlands]

I think my situation was due to a lack of shadows, creating the texture that I've seen in my former moon shots.
Could it have something to do with more "direct" lighting of the moon, via the sun, of course? shadows really bring out those craters...

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by KmH

There is 50 miles of moving, turbulent atmosphere between you and space, IF you are shooting straight up at the Zenith.

If your subject is close to the horizon, the atmosphere is now 150 miles thick and there is a lot more dust and other particulate matter in the air at the lower altitudes you are pointing the camera through.

But most of the dust and density is within 5 miles of the surface. The other fifty miles or so is too thin to breathe and has relatively little refractive optical effect and doesn't have a lot of dust or water droplets in it either. You may get some feathery cirrus clouds up to about ten miles, but that's just about it above the five mile mark.

Tides don't affect things much either, but the flat frontal light from the sun when the moon is full does. This lowers the contrast greatly because not a lot of shadows exist and those that do are hidden from us by sunlit rock. At this time therefore, the moon is brighter and less contrasty because of the absence of these shadows.

The same effect may be seen when flying over a forest, tall grass, cultivated field, or some other area with deep texture. The area immediately surrounding the shadwow of the craft will be distinctly brighter and less contrasty than its surroundings. Some of this same effect may also be observed by earthbound dwellers when looking at tall grass or a grain field with a low sun at the viewer's back. The verticality of the stalks helps hide the shadows of the low sun despite the vertical misalignment of the sun with the viewer.

[NeilG]

the full moon is notoriously low in contrast - especially at full moon, where there are no shadows to throw the contours into relief. Might be worth putting into photoshop and doing some contrast stretching?

[shadowlands]

Originally Posted by NeilG

the full moon is notoriously low in contrast - especially at full moon, where there are no shadows to throw the contours into relief. Might be worth putting into photoshop and doing some contrast stretching?

I may just mess with that later... thanks...