Photographing Lunar Eclipse...HELP ! How to...?

[raregem]

I would like to photograph the Lunar Eclipse April 4, 2015.
I need advise as I have no idea how to capture it. Can someone suggest filter(s) to use and settings on a DSLR camera? I appreciate any help here. Thank you. :ufo:

[Omni]

While I'm sorry I can't offer advice, I would like to say please do post the photos you take!

[DeDukshyn]

The maxim will be 7-ish AM in your area. I don't know if you will have light or daylight at that time, but I am going to assume you might have some daylight by then - this of course will affect what settings you need.

If it is dark - you want higher ISO - maybe 800 or even 1600 or higher if your camera is newer or higher end. Use lowest f-stop your lens allows. If dark out, a tripod with a very slow (a second or two) shutter will do wonders. If it is lighter out a lower iso or faster shutter may be warranted - if you have no tripod, try to rest your camera to utilize low shutter --> if you can't keep the camera steady or they are blurry, raise shutter speed - and if they turn dark try to raise IO one setting.

Best bet is to practice on the moon beforehand - use your most powerful lens (or use full zoom if it has optical zoom) at the time the eclipse will occur (7:00am - ish for you it appears) and get some shots of the moon that work for you a day or two earlier, and consider the moon will be a lot darker during the eclipse, so find a setting where you get a decent shot of the moon, but a bit over exposed --> that should be close to the settings you need.

If your shots are overexposed, lower ISO and/or increase shutter. If they are dark, increase ISO, and lower shutter, keep things still as possible.

Again, with a tripod, use a really slow shutter - a few seconds if you can do it - with lower ISO, without a tripod, try to rest it securely, and yo umay need a much higher shutter speed, which will also need a higher ISO, don't go too high on the ISO or you will get a lot of noise - 1600 should probably be max.

I would use a UV filter, but it is not imperative.

If you camera can save RAW format (some will save both a RAW and JPG image), that will give you the most power over adjusting it in software afterward (lightroom / photoshop, etc) - to get you the most out of the image)

Hopefully that helps!

Post the shots if they turn out!

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/dallas

[Ilie Pandia]

Here is what I would do :)

1) Use a tripod. Without one I would not bother to take any shots of the eclipse.

2) Use ISO 400 (old camera) or ISO 800 (newer camera)

3) Set your DSLR in Aperture priority mode from the dial/controls (It's "Av" on Canons). This way the camera will attempt to automatically set the exposure time for as long/short as it needs.

4) Set your aperture to be at the middle range of your lens. Around f/11. (Usually the lens is sharpest around that point).

5) Set your camera to shot in RAW mode + JPG

6) Set to have a delayed 2 second shutter release AFTER you press the button. This makes sure you don't have your hands on the camera when the picture is taken. Some cameras have 10 seconds delay. That also works. (Or you may even have a remote trigger, but I doubt it :p)

7) If your lens has image stabilization on it, turn that off, since it may cause vibration when used on a tripod.

8) Very important: you need to try all this stuff and see where everything is way before the shooting time. You don't want to be reading the manual when the eclipse happens :)

9) Setup your tripod and camera with at lest one hour ahead of the event. As I said, you will have little time to fiddle with stuff, or go to the toilet and so on. You will want to be ready :becky:

10) You may want to use manual focus in case so you're absolutely sure you're focusing on the moon and not on a fly or piece of dust that happens to be in front of the camera. Also auto-focus may not work as you expect in low light. So do your best to focus the lens manually. (I'd focus to infinity and then slightly back until sharp, or if you have Live View, you can use that to get super sharp manual focus).

Good luck, and whatever the results, do post them.

[Ilie Pandia]

You can replace the tripod with a tall chair and some cushions that will help you point the camera at the moon. But you need to be super careful not to smash your camera on the ground, if it slides off the chair. And you definitely don't want to be touching it when it takes the shot (use the delayed release function - usually used for selfies).

[Camilo]

Good luck with your project!

[shadowstalker]

here for times (http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/dallas)

http://c.tadst.com/gfx/eclipses/20150404/path-1920.png

[wnlight]

This article is very informative and covers lunar eclipse photography with small telescopes down to smart phone cameras.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/observing-and-photographing-lunar-eclipses/

Have fun!

[Jayren]

I live in the Eastern United states in Ohio, I don't know if i'll be able to see the blood moon today but if it does show I say it will most likely be around 6:30 ish till 7:00 am to see any effect of the moon and capture it and gladly share it here on PA.

[Camilo]

Hope you share your pictures with us.

[raregem]

HI Everyone-

The sky was completely clouded over. We had a mild cold front come through yet zero rain. Hmmm. By 2 a.m. I saw no sign of the sky clearing enough to matter. Moon was covered most of the time. Went to sleep.
I appreciate all the very useful studies offered. I still have learned more about my camera than Nikon taught. lol. Thank you very much.

:pop2: Show cancelled but not the popcorn ! :pop2: raregem aka Rhonda

[DeDukshyn]

HI Everyone-

The sky was completely clouded over. We had a mild cold front come through yet zero rain. Hmmm. By 2 a.m. I saw no sign of the sky clearing enough to matter. Moon was covered most of the time. Went to sleep.
I appreciate all the very useful studies offered. I still have learned more about my camera than Nikon taught. lol. Thank you very much.

:pop2: Show cancelled but not the popcorn ! :pop2: raregem aka Rhonda

My locale was clouded as well ... maybe next time!

[Axman]

Heres my shot today.

The Axman

[Axman]

One more.

The Axman

[Axman]

Tonight One More Shot.


The Axman

[raregem]

Thank you so much Axman. Please, keep 'em coming.

[Axman]

Did you get any shots raregem?

The Axman

¤=[Post Update]=¤

I have a couple more I will post a little later night night time fur me.

The Axman

[raregem]

Moon was completely covered with clouds all through the night. no.

[Axman]

Two more for you.

The Axman

[raregem]

Two more for you.

The Axman

Wonder what the "rings around the pix on right? They look uniform and separated at top middle but the bottom seems diffused.

[Axman]

Those are clouds just missed a jet flying past the moon bye a few seconds on that shot. Its too bad it was cloudy for you next time I would love to see them when you get some shots.

The Axman