I woke up too late for the moon rise; perhaps I’ll get a moonset. Lot’s of thin clouds tonight, and a silvery desert haze caused by winds picking up the fine desert dust. As such, I’m not thinking I’ll get much from it.
As for shots of the moon, these things I’ve found helpful:
1) I start with an f/11 on a 75-300mm at 300, ISO 200, 1/200th second. Depending on the size of the moon and it’s brightness intensity, I adjust from there (usually contrast gets punched up, and the exposure time knocked down, for better detail). The moon 1 day before or after full moon ‘proper’ looks plenty full, but is considerably dimmer in actuality. Helpful knowledge if you want anything exposed in the same shot, see #2.
2) If I want some foreground in the shot (as in a treeline or buildings or such), I need a moon just prior to full (12 to 36 hours) to do anything other than a silhouette. There needs to be either sunset lighting or at least the sky still lit brightly enough to illuminate objects against a shot exposed to capture the moon. I worked last night, which would have been perfect; tonight’s moon rose after sunset. Works the other way for a moonset; I’ll wait and see on the sky conditions tomorrow morn’.
3) I use a remote shutter cable, and I use mirror lockup. Both of which help prevent even a little shake, which is deadly to a good, crisp picture with nice crater details.
Somewhere in the gallery I recently posted a moon shot; too lazy to look for it right now.
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