For sure, everyone out there by now has covered the Lunar Eclipse on February 20, 2008. Sooner or later, everyone will move on and forget the event. Therefore, I thought I would wait a couple of days and post my results to remind you again and let you know that the next one is on December 20, 2010—a cold one again. BTW, the 2010 year feels like a science fiction year.
However, here is my adventure with the moon on February 20, 2008. To start, I was killing myself for not bringing my camera with me when driving home from work. The moon on the horizon was beautiful, especially against the light blue sky. By the time I got home, it was high in the sky. Not the same effect.
Later, I was able to take full moon photos and a partial eclipse from my bedroom window while staying warm. The full lunar eclipse photos didn't come out so sharp.
When the lunar eclipse was getting close, the moon was probably covered eighty percent by the Earth's shadow, and I am now trying to look up a post on how I take photos of the lunar eclipse, a lunar eclipse from Aug 28,2007: Lunar Eclipse Over Aurora. I eventually succeeded in finding the parameters. One of the things I should have also done was set up the tripod, but I thought I got good shots last time just resting on the car window. However, this time, the moon was high in the sky. The car window did not work, so eventually my husband offered his head, and eventually I did get this one picture of the lunar eclipse.
What you see here are the stages of the lunar eclipse until it is fully covered (at least I think it was fully covered), and for the uncovering period I just watched, it was too harsh for my camera to bring it from warm to cold and vice versa again.
LUNAR ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
As long as you can see the bright slice of the moon, focus on that and take pictures as per my previous posts: 'How To Take Photos of the Moon' and 'Moon Photo Come Back'. For a total lunar eclipse, you probably want to play with your settings if your camera allows. These are based on the Canon 20D SLR and 100–400mm Canon lens settings. So when the lunar eclipse is in effect, you want to change some settings at the beginning, like ISO 1600 or higher, keep metering mode on partial, and use a focal length of 400mm (or at least a focal length of 300mm). The settings to adjust in manual mode are shutter speed 1/5 sec, lens aperture F/5.6, and exposure time 1/5 sec. Remember, this is your base line, and you can adjust accordingly. Clear skies do help, and this time I have to stress that a tripod does help as well. I have one, but because my 100-400mm lens is heavy and shakes with every click, I think it is time to think about getting a more robust one.
~ Anna
Full Moon, Aurora, Ontario, Feb 20, 2008, 06:18 PM EST
However, here is my adventure with the moon on February 20, 2008. To start, I was killing myself for not bringing my camera with me when driving home from work. The moon on the horizon was beautiful, especially against the light blue sky. By the time I got home, it was high in the sky. Not the same effect.
Lunar Eclipse Start, Aurora, Ontario, Feb 20, 2008, 08:40 PM EST
Later, I was able to take full moon photos and a partial eclipse from my bedroom window while staying warm. The full lunar eclipse photos didn't come out so sharp.
When the lunar eclipse was getting close, the moon was probably covered eighty percent by the Earth's shadow, and I am now trying to look up a post on how I take photos of the lunar eclipse, a lunar eclipse from Aug 28,2007: Lunar Eclipse Over Aurora. I eventually succeeded in finding the parameters. One of the things I should have also done was set up the tripod, but I thought I got good shots last time just resting on the car window. However, this time, the moon was high in the sky. The car window did not work, so eventually my husband offered his head, and eventually I did get this one picture of the lunar eclipse.
What you see here are the stages of the lunar eclipse until it is fully covered (at least I think it was fully covered), and for the uncovering period I just watched, it was too harsh for my camera to bring it from warm to cold and vice versa again.
Lunar Eclipse Almost, Aurora, Ontario, Feb 20, 2008, 09:50 PM EST
Lunar Eclipse, Aurora, Ontario, Feb 20, 2008, 10:01 PM EST
LUNAR ECLIPSE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
As long as you can see the bright slice of the moon, focus on that and take pictures as per my previous posts: 'How To Take Photos of the Moon' and 'Moon Photo Come Back'. For a total lunar eclipse, you probably want to play with your settings if your camera allows. These are based on the Canon 20D SLR and 100–400mm Canon lens settings. So when the lunar eclipse is in effect, you want to change some settings at the beginning, like ISO 1600 or higher, keep metering mode on partial, and use a focal length of 400mm (or at least a focal length of 300mm). The settings to adjust in manual mode are shutter speed 1/5 sec, lens aperture F/5.6, and exposure time 1/5 sec. Remember, this is your base line, and you can adjust accordingly. Clear skies do help, and this time I have to stress that a tripod does help as well. I have one, but because my 100-400mm lens is heavy and shakes with every click, I think it is time to think about getting a more robust one.
~ Anna
Comments
It was beautiful. I was glad to witness it and I am thankful it was clear in Oregon.
Did you use mirror lockup? For me, this really helped. I was looking at the shots that I didn't use mirror lock up, and they are much blurrier than those without.
For my eclipse shots, I actually went with an ISO of 200 with a shutter speed around 3-4 seconds @ f8 (I have a crappy sigma telephoto zoom that isn't very sharp below F8)! I should have tried a high ISO as well, but I didn't. I try to stay away from anything above 400 with my rebel XTI since the images get fairly "grainy" above 400.
I still think it is interesting how the moon never got completely red. In all the pictures I've seen, there is always a bit of white at the edge.
Thanks for sharing your shots and your photo techniques and tips!
Tom @ Ohio Nature
You right about moon not getting completely red, looked like one side was always lighter, as you said. Tom, thank you too for your tips, there is always something new to learn. Anna :)
2010 is also the year of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, but although I love sports it would be more exciting if we were hosting the 2010 Sci-Fi Games! LOL
Ohhh you had an adventure on the Moon!
We also took photos of the eclipse from our bedroom window but it was warm enough to keep the window open. We were wondering if the neighbors would think we were photographing them thru the window! LOL
Interesting image Anna, shading from the Earths atmosphere is just amazing, looks a bit like red Mars….
Fabulous shots. Just great. It's amazing to me how far things have come with digital photography. And I'm also amazed at how many of you out there can buy such expensive cameras. When I see the results like the moon shots you just posted, it really makes me envious. But wow, the long learning curve to acquire such a high level of skill as you have. It's admirable.
Good work. Always a great post at your site.
These are amazing shots! You were lucky to have been able to see it. Looks like we will have to wait till 2010.....
--JB
Thanks also for your visits and kind comments to my blog!
Such magnificent eclipse photos!!! I must confess that I didn't watch the eclipse this year cause I knew that either Bob or you would take photos of it, and I would be able to see them :). I love the moon and its effects on me, but I just got lazy lol.
One of these days I will enroll in a photo class and learn how to take pics...you inspire us to do it :)!
Cheers
Hugs, JJ
I never seem to get good moon photos - they always turn out blurry. I think part of the problem is that my camera - a Fujifilm S9600 - doesn't zoom far enough. 300mm I think, which is a fair bit but the moon ends up quite small in the centre of the frame. Anyway, I'll try using RAW file mode and use some of your tips here - hopefully they'll help.
I agree with your "Sci-fi" idea - although it's only two years away, 2010 sounds very scary! :)
Cheers,
David Webb: Photographer
I can't take a decent photo because I never learned. But, with your blog, Bob's blog, and other talented folks with photo blogs out there, I am inspired to learn. Great photos of the moon, and if you've ever read anything I've written, I'm a big fan of our beloved satellite, lol. Thanks Anna. -Mike
You did a great job on these!
Take Care!
Peter
Brain Based Biz
Yup, I be still chillin' in blogland. When I return on a regular publication schedule is uncertain. However, I am visiting around and I have to tell you, these shots of the Lunar Eclipse are just SPECTACULAR!
I know squat about photography. My expertise is about Disposable Camera speed, LOL!
Thanks again for the shout and the welcome nudge to stop by. Glad you stirred by feathers to fly over.
Hugs to you and happy shooting.
Keep up the great work with your blog! :)
I quess that you liked this moons SO much , I do anyhow, this are THE best captured ever!!! Welldone. How are you doing?
Have a great weekend
Visit my blog, see my abract Skies.
JoAnn from Holland
I ended up with a few that I'm proud of, but mainly I realized that I really could use a long lens.
A pal at work has a new Nikon D300 (a really sweet ride) and an old Nikon 500mm mirror reflex lens and got shots like yours. Much better than mine.
I got some sharp ones, but couldn't blow them up very much before noise became an issue.
Again, yours are fantastic.