How I Shoot the Moon
The moon through my Nikon viewfinder.
A version of this post was originally published on my Facebook page on September 23, 2020.
Out with the crickets shooting the #moon tonight. I’ve been asked how I take my moon photos. It’s very low-tech and unscientific. About six years ago Art and Julie, my inlaws, gave me a #nikoncoolpixl820. After I’d had it for a few months I went out on a clear night and just pointed it at the moon. I learned that if I pushed the focus into the yellow and held very still (I typically don’t use a tripod), I could get a fairly crisp image if I snapped fast. I upgraded a couple of years back to a #nikoncoolpixb500, again thanks to a generous Christmas gift from Art and Julie. The technique and results are similar. There are much better cameras, some even have a “moon” setting. And there are many better photographers. But I enjoy getting what I get the way I get it. It’s also fun to capture things in front of the moon, like trees or power lines. Tonight I just missed capturing a bird flying in front of the moon.
Here are the dates of the upcoming full moons for 2021:
Oct 20 Hunter's Moon
Nov 19 Beaver Moon
Dec 18 Cold Moon
Grab your camera and point it at the moon. I’d love to see your photos.
The moon over East Dundee, Illinois, September 23, 2020.
