Great writeup Ben. Always loved the moon shots you post. One clarification from a technical standpoint I'll add, is that in addition to using spot metering, which is still the best choice, as you mention, if your camera is in Matrix or Evaluative metering (whatever your brand calls it), the exposure system gives priority to where the focus point is. So if you have your AF on single point selection, just move the AF point to the moon, and you get a similar (but not exactly the same) result as you would with spot metering. The difference being that spot ignores the rest of the scene, while matrix or evaluative takes the rest of the scene into account, but not at the expense of the moon exposure.
This was so well explained and written, thanks Ben! I do mostly wildlife photography but have been trying to stretch those landscape and astro muscles too!
Love this! Thank you. Agree wholeheartedly with the limiting aspects of the iPhone to capture good moon shots. That said, I did get these moon shots of the “snow moon” last month — as it was setting in the early hours of the morning. It was quite a thrill: https://substack.com/profile/42470652-stephanie-bennett-vogt/note/c-93114881
Your photographs are not only stunning and professional, but the descriptions of your love of the moon shine at least as bright as the photographs. Thank you so much. The photographs are inspiring, and your descriptions even more so.🌖🌓🌝
Stunning, as always. Thanks so much.
I am also a mom who loves the moon. Thank you for these stunning photos.
Awesome photos!
Great writeup Ben. Always loved the moon shots you post. One clarification from a technical standpoint I'll add, is that in addition to using spot metering, which is still the best choice, as you mention, if your camera is in Matrix or Evaluative metering (whatever your brand calls it), the exposure system gives priority to where the focus point is. So if you have your AF on single point selection, just move the AF point to the moon, and you get a similar (but not exactly the same) result as you would with spot metering. The difference being that spot ignores the rest of the scene, while matrix or evaluative takes the rest of the scene into account, but not at the expense of the moon exposure.
Just another way to do it...
That's great! Thanks so much for chiming in, Rick. I didn't know this.
So much great advice and gorgeous photos.
Thanks. I’ve been catching moon rises in Maine for a few years now. This gave me some new pointers and reinforced my other practices.
I'm so glad you're finding this post useful! Are you going to Nubble mostly?
I have not been to Nubble for a moonrise yet. I’m ten minutes away from Portland Head Light or Two Lights.
This was so well explained and written, thanks Ben! I do mostly wildlife photography but have been trying to stretch those landscape and astro muscles too!
That's great! I need to stretch my wildlife muscles a bit more!
This is great! Hope to see more from you regarding photography techniques and tips. Your images are amazing!
Thanks so much, Matt. A good place to start is my post on starting your photographic journey: https://benjaminwilliamson.substack.com/p/starting-your-photography-journey. I will continue posting a lot more content like this. I'm just getting started.
Nice information and inspiration for me to try. Thanks.
Right on, Buddy
sick post, do you know of any relatively comparable apps / websites that are free alternatives to the photographers ephemeris ?
I believe the Photographer's Ephemeris is free to use on desktop!
Love this! Thank you. Agree wholeheartedly with the limiting aspects of the iPhone to capture good moon shots. That said, I did get these moon shots of the “snow moon” last month — as it was setting in the early hours of the morning. It was quite a thrill: https://substack.com/profile/42470652-stephanie-bennett-vogt/note/c-93114881
Those are pretty awesome! Love the warm light and setting over the homes in the hills.
Thank you, Benjamin. Here’s one more favorite shot that I posted the other day (inspired by your post): https://substack.com/profile/42470652-stephanie-bennett-vogt/note/c-98954812
Fantastic writing and information! Thanks for sharing your love of the moon. As a Mom of grown children - they often heard the same :)
Awww... I believe it, coming from you! You've always seemed open to the wonders of life.
Great post Ben
Thanks Eyal!
Thank you so much for this valuable info and insight. I hope my children and grandchildren remember me the way you do your mom!
Me, too!
Your photographs are not only stunning and professional, but the descriptions of your love of the moon shine at least as bright as the photographs. Thank you so much. The photographs are inspiring, and your descriptions even more so.🌖🌓🌝
Thank you so much, Jill