Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

Outdoor Activities => Photography => Topic started by: LandyLiam on November 13, 2011

Title: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: LandyLiam on November 13, 2011
With the moon near full and some variable clould i decided it might just be a good night to get some moon pics. Now i find moon pics quick tricky, need a long exposure but then that just makes the moon look like a torch shining at the camera  :(

So i checked the sat pics here http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_uk_ir.html and it looked promising, if there was some cloud cover it may be enough to filter the bright moon.

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/satpic1.jpg)


My plan was to head to to Meelbeg while still light, and wait for darkness and get a pic of the moon over Bearnagh, also a chance to practise some night navigation on the descent, although i would be using the gps for that  ;)


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090922Small.jpg)
started off from happy valley car park at 4.30pm, lot of cloud ahead, not looking good, maybe it'll disappear by the time i get up


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090923Small.jpg)
half way up, getting dark, a wee shot looking back down the hill


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090926Small.jpg)
i get to the saddle and its blowing a gale, i couldn't stand on the stop step of the stile for fear of getting blown off, 46mph gusts recorded on the windymeter


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090927bSmall.jpg)
i waited a while and played with some long exposure shots in the hope that the clouds would clear for a moon shot, i certainley wasn;t going any higher in that wind


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090928bSmall.jpg)


i gave up waiting after about 20 mins and headed back down in the dark with thick fog, i was so glad i had the gps, would have been very tricky to look at a compass while walking, the gps gave me complete confidence in my location, i even decided to go down a different route rather than following my track up, i did forget my walking poles though, they would have saved me stepping in a few puddles


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090944Small.jpg)
of course when i get down the cloud breaks a little  >:(


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090934Small-1.jpg)
stopped in Bryansford village on the way back to tray a few shots, car came by and spoiled this one


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090936Small-1.jpg)
2nd attempt


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090937Small.jpg)
3rd attempt, moved the camera to avoid the street lights


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090948Small.jpg)
then stopped in Dundrum for some pics at Keel Point road


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090948bSmall.jpg)
same shot but adjusted the gamma correction on paint shop pro


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090950Small.jpg)
pointed the camera away from the moon to just get the reflection


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090955Small.jpg)
stopped again near the Dundrum Coastal path for a moon shot through the trees (in an attempt to filter it a bit)


(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/2011/20111113_moon_shots_in_mournes/P1090955bSmall.jpg)
same shot again but gamma correction adjusted on pc


I'll be in Newcastle again later tonight, might try and get some more pics










Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: Mourneman on November 13, 2011
good write up mate,enjoyed reading that,love that toy for measuring wind,wonder would a fart show up,lol
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: RedLeader on November 14, 2011
Sounds like a great night out, awesome photos too. Here's a few I took @ Meelmore. I need to work on my manual focus a bit!


(http://i.imgur.com/ZU8Sk.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/YAHFI.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/VlyIA.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/CWou6.jpg)

Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: Oisín on November 14, 2011
I’ve attempted these sort of photograpghs before, I encountered both these problems. The moon is too bright or my focus isnt on target at all. I tried both manual focus and auto, neither worked.

 I remember reading that for moon pictures sometimes only 1/100sec is needed as it so bright, but then you don’t get any light from elsewhere in the picture. 
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: suspectmonkey on November 14, 2011
Think the best photo I ever got of the moon was in February this year at Scrabo Tower.  It was around the same time the Northern Lights were being spotted across Northern Ireland and whilst I didn't get to see Aurora Borealis it was a very clear night.  Photo was taken using a Sigma 70-300 lens on my Canon 50D which was obviously mounted on a tripod.  Settings were 1/500th, F8, ISO 200.  Although the photo was  taken at 300mm I had to crop the image quite a bit to see any real detail.

(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/suspectmonkey/Other/moon.jpg)
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: Rumblebum on November 14, 2011
Nice pic suspect, it looks like theres impact marks of meteors that have hit the surface?
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: Oisín on November 15, 2011
Indeed much better than any of my results.

The key must be in the lens.
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: jonnycrutchley on November 15, 2011
Were u guys camping just off the trassey track on fri night? My friend and I headed up towards to bottom of the hares gap but the wind was pulling the tent pegs out of the ground cos the wind was so strong!!  Waiting for Santa to bring me a gd camera then I will be out testing testing testing!! Great images by the way even the ones that u think aren't good!! Well done
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: AdamMcC5 on November 16, 2011
Some quality pictures there!

Can see this turning very competitve shortly lol  ;D
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: whoRya on November 16, 2011
Nice pic suspect, it looks like theres impact marks of meteors that have hit the surface?

No apparently during the 2nd world war battleships were using the moon as target practice, oh hang on that may have been Lamagan....I'll get back to you on that one!
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: LandyLiam on November 16, 2011
what about the WW2 plane that crashed on the moon, i'm sure i saw a photo of it in one of the quality papers  ::)
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: RedLeader on November 16, 2011
It was a B52 and if I remember correctly Elvis was flying it :P

what about the WW2 plane that crashed on the moon, i'm sure i saw a photo of it in one of the quality papers  ::)
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: Rumblebum on November 17, 2011
Nice pic suspect, it looks like theres impact marks of meteors that have hit the surface?

No apparently during the 2nd world war battleships were using the moon as target practice, oh hang on that may have been Lamagan....I'll get back to you on that one!

I think you may be trying to take the hand out of me on this one? And it took you 2 days to come up with that reply, poor ::)
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: whoRya on November 18, 2011
Nice pic suspect, it looks like theres impact marks of meteors that have hit the surface?

No apparently during the 2nd world war battleships were using the moon as target practice, oh hang on that may have been Lamagan....I'll get back to you on that one!

I think you may be trying to take the hand out of me on this one? And it took you 2 days to come up with that reply, poor ::)

Are you feeling delicate or something?  Not taking the hand.....for a change :-*
Title: Re: an attempt at moon photograhy this evening
Post by: mregan on February 07, 2012
Some class photos there.  I found this old one I had.   Best I think I have managed with a big crop.

(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r305/MREGAN80/Moon.jpg)