It was a fun photo day today with my absolute favorite one actually in my challenges/extras album - http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2013-08-17 - which is a sequel to the sunflower photo from a few days ago. So the main album shot follows advice from @danielwsc a few months ago. His moon shots are amazing and he mentioned that you can see more on the moon when it isn't full, because the angle of the reflection highlights more of the craters. I gave it a try tonight and saw this for myself. The craters are more visible in more places than in my full moon shots.
What I chose not to post: I finally got a shot of the osprey that was clear enough to post (and may use as a filler later) AND I caught a turkey vulture in flight overhead. And, my grandkids are here so of course there are bunches of cute kid shots (because of course I'm biased about the subjects). 7 more days on the island...hard to believe.
Stunning image. As I am your Get Pushed buddy I challenge you to photograph running water. I hope you can return the favour by challenging me to something too.
@mzzhope@archaeofrog Hi Hope and Katie. First thanks for the wonderful comments. In terms of technique and processing, there are a few things I think are critically important. First, you need a zoom and you need to have enough pixels so that you can crop. Without that, I think it would be hard to get the size you would want for the final photo. Second, you need to have a steady hand, or be taking it early enough in the evening so that you are using a fast shutter. For this one, I bumped the ISO up to 1000 so that I had 1/800 shutter speed since I was using handheld. For others, I've stopped down and used long exposure but used a tripod. Third, use spot metering. It's critical. Otherwise the lighting just isn't going to be right. Fourth, take several shots. Last night I probably took 20 in a 5 minute period, so that I could delete any with any kind of camera shake at all, or if a tree limb blew in the way I deleted.
Now on to processing. I'm sure there are better ways to do this as I have very limited editing tools. I use Aperture with Nik Suite plug-ins, one of which is a sharpener that you can use for RAW post processing. So, first I crop to the size I think I'll want. Then I edit with the sharpener (not much or it looks weird -- just enough to bring up the shadow/light for the craters). Then, I go back into Aperture to tweak white balance, highlights, etc. Finally, I use silver efex to convert to B&W if I want to do it that way. That step is easily skipped as it doesn't look that different without b&w. There are much more sophisticated ways to process (with stacking that @danielwsc uses, for example) that give you more spectacular images. But those are beyond my knowledge level for now. Hope this helps!
@joluise Thanks Jo, you're very kind. But if you have a chance to read what I wrote for Hope and Katie, I think you'll see it isn't really hopeless! But I appreciate your thinking that what I did was special!!
Awesome moon shot!!! Good information ...and YES..@danielwsc is the moon master. I hoping to get one someday. It is very inspiring to see such great images and have some information as well. FAV!
@kerristephens@eyesmile@tthompsonca@ness50@espyetta
thanks Kerri, Gena, Therri, Ness, and MaryBeth. I think the detail comes out from the processing with 'sharpener' from Nik Suites. It makes a big difference in clarity to run it through that plug-in at the lowest level possible.
@thirtysevenways Thanks TSW (weird to call you that, but I realize I don't know your name after all these months!). Good luck with your potential move -- it seems like you are thinking through your options. If there is an international school, have you talked with them? Maybe English instruction beyond just the kids would be a possibility.
@taffy I've kept my name off the site for a reason which I don't need to go into now but there are a couple of people out there that know my name and I am happy to share :) It's Andy! Sadly no international school here. It is basically in the middle of the bush but with a growing population because of the nickel mine and processing plant 20 minutes to the north. As always in these cases the population grows first and then the infrastructure comes several years down the track. I work in a bilingual program in public schools in the Southern Province at the moment but the Northern Province, where we are looking at moving, wants to promote local languages rather than English so I would look to our ex-pat friends who have indicated a strong desire for me to teach their children. There should be enough with study on top and keeping my two entertained to keep me out of trouble.
Wow wonderful deatil Taffy!! I didn't know that about getting more detail when the moon isn't full so thanks for that!! Great info on your processing too which is always useful!! A fabulous shot - I am blown away when I see all the craters!! I love moon shots!! Fav!!
@cjphoto THanks so much Chris, for your fav on this and wonderful comments, and for all your comments and the favs on others in my album. It was fun and such an ego boost to read such nice things from you about my images!
@pflaume THanks for the fav, Lisa -- I appreciate it! I do love moon shots. I was up at 3:30 a.m. tonite hoping to catch it over the lake, but it was still too high and then I slept through my plan to get up at 5 and catch it then. Oh well...I really wanted to do this before we leave so I have 4 more shots at it.
Fabulous detail in this shot Taffy. I have never managed a good moon shot. Just read your reply to Lisa above, gosh that is dedication to yur photography!
@jankoos Thanks!! That was sweet of you to do that! I've been waiting and waiting for a photo of the full moon over the lake. Last night I finally got up at 5:20 a.m., only to learn that the moon does not go over the lake at this time of year!! So your comment on this photo is particularly timely and make me feel great.
@amandal Gosh, thanks Amanda -- for going back and looking at my earlier shot! I think this is one of the best moon shots I've taken but a lot of the detail came out in the post production processing. Thanks so much for the fav!
October 20th, 2013
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FAV
Now on to processing. I'm sure there are better ways to do this as I have very limited editing tools. I use Aperture with Nik Suite plug-ins, one of which is a sharpener that you can use for RAW post processing. So, first I crop to the size I think I'll want. Then I edit with the sharpener (not much or it looks weird -- just enough to bring up the shadow/light for the craters). Then, I go back into Aperture to tweak white balance, highlights, etc. Finally, I use silver efex to convert to B&W if I want to do it that way. That step is easily skipped as it doesn't look that different without b&w. There are much more sophisticated ways to process (with stacking that @danielwsc uses, for example) that give you more spectacular images. But those are beyond my knowledge level for now. Hope this helps!
Thank you Vee, Catherin, SW, Barbara, Carol, and Jo for your wonderful comments and faves. I never would have known how to do this if it weren't for 365 friends and advice!
thanks Kerri, Gena, Therri, Ness, and MaryBeth. I think the detail comes out from the processing with 'sharpener' from Nik Suites. It makes a big difference in clarity to run it through that plug-in at the lowest level possible.
Thank you all -- I'm glad to share any processing tips, as I've learned so much from my 365 friends!