Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Moon Over Leesburg, Florida

Last night as I was all settled down and rather comfortable watching the Jon Gosslin interview, Karlio comes walkin' on in from work about 10:15 or so and says "Get up...you have GOT to see the moon tonight".
And so there I am thinking a/k/a saying out loud, "Dude, I swear this better be good".
And just like that, I got in the car and we drove out about 20 seconds up the road to catch a view.

I'll give him credit..it was a sweet moon last night. :0)

LeesburgMoon9.8


Look at that orange glow, the shadows, the craters, the so cool fact that we live on a hill that has the most sweetest, unlit by street lights view of the sky.
Hmmm....I could really get used to this.

Anyway, for those starting out and thinking I must have had a tripod set up and an expensive kick butt lens, let me let you in on a little secret.
I had neither.
Truth be told, I never even left the car..just rolled down the window and snapped off 4 quick pictures.

Basically, this is what you do.
Set your camera on "Manual" {mine never, ever leaves manual settings. Repeat after me, "I control my camera, my camera does not control me".
Set your camera on or about ISO 200 - 400
F Stop anywhere from 5.6 to 8 is good.
Now point that camera up to the moon and meter off the light coming from the moon and underexpose that middle point by 2 stops. {On Nikon's this will mean turning that dial 2 clicks to the right}
Make sure your shutter speed isn't too low. If it is and you shake like me, up your ISO and/or shoot with a more wide open F Stop. I am pretty positive my SS was set at 80.
Lean on something like your car door {that's what I did} and shoot.

That's it...no fancy equipment and not pricey lens. Actually, this is the zoom lens I used. I bought it used a few years ago and paid about $80.00 for it.
Nikkor AF 70-300 4-5.6mm
I love that lens for anything nature that doesn't move a whole lot.

Now, I have no idea what the moon will look like tonight, but if it happens to be a purty one...take a chance, get out there and shoot it. You never know when you'll get that keeper. :0)

Have a wonderful day everyone!!

Photobucket

3 comments:

Shiela in NY said...

Okay......I'm a 35 mm/digital camera POINT-AND-SHOOT type girl! I've never had the access (or time/temperment) to try and figure out the K, C, X, Y or Z lens/macro/flash, "blah, blah, blah"! (CAN YOU TELL I'M RATHER DUMB WHEN IT COMES TO CAMERAS?!) :o)

I do LOVE that pic of the moon, though! And.....I had to giggle a little when you mentioned living on a "hill". Hills and mountains are up here, Kim. You have little mounds down there!!! :)

Hey, have a great day!

Kim said...

LMAO...your right Sheila. Our hills aren't really so hilly round these here parts. :0)

Sea52Jay said...

True, I always told Ashley she was a Flatlander living in Florida. LOL <3 CJ

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