Tripod Techniques: The Orb of the Night

They say that the moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to. Well, it is time for us photographers to respond to it!

Try to use subjects like trees, unusual foliage or even high-rise buildings and urban structures to further balance your moon shot. Exposure: 1/30sec at f/4 (ISO 200) Photograph/Jay Z

From the waxing of the moon from a crescent to full moon—each stage is pure delight to behold! But just how do you get the elusive orb in your frame without blowing it out or relegating it to a small part of the overall frame? For this, you need a long focal length, and of course, a tripod.

Aiming at Telephoto Focal Lengths
A focal range such as 200–400mm will help you emphasise the moon by making it seem large in the frame. At such focal lengths it is imperative to fix your camera on a tripod as the slightest movement can entirely change the frame.

Getting Razor-sharp Craters
For this, you will need to focus manually and with precision, as AF might tend to hunt. Spot metering and bracketing for the ideal exposure is also a good idea. You can also look for moonrise timings and forecasts for an image with interesting ambient light and unusual skies.

Quick Tip
Either look for clear skies or dramatic clouds. Try avoiding wispy clouds as they might not add too much to the frame.

For more cool tips on tripods, click here.

This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Better Photography.