Last Total Lunar Eclipse for 3 YEARS!

[smokey the elder]

I woke up at 10:00 when it was nearing totality (mainly red) and I could see Saturn and Arcturus in very close conjunction. Wonderful astronomical eye candy!

[moosmom]

It was beautiful!! I got outta work just in time to see it. I only wish I had a pair of binoculars to see better.

[Argranade]

It was sooo beautiful lol.

I was getting pissed off because I never did night shots before but I did ok lol.

[Catlady711]

I was getting pissed off because I never did night shots before but I did ok lol.

I did get to see some of it. Unfortunately we have no windows that would let me see if from inside so I had to go out in the cold, and man was it cold!
I did get a few shots (why didn't I think of using the self timer) but even with my tripod they turned out blurry.
But it was something to see!

Here's mine....
This one would have been nice if I knew how to take better pictures

You guys both did great for not having done moon shots before!

It will be a while before we have another lunar eclipse but you can practice for the next one.

The reason your pix were blurry (unsatisfactory) was probably due to a couple reasons based on the pix you two posted (this would apply to anyone with similar pix results)...

1) the shutter speed was too long. The moon moves pretty fast and anything much over 1/4 of a second will show motion blur. To get more light open up your aperature or use a higher ISO speed instead.

2) If your camera has the self timer use it to help minimize any shaking of the camera from you pushing the shutter button. If you have an RF cable release that works good too. (I was in a hurry so didn't use mine)

3) If your camera is a DSLR (or film SLR) if it has mirror lock up function, use it. What that does is lock the mirror up prior to the shutter button actually being pressed. When you press the shutter button the mirror doesn't have to go up first to get out of the way, it only has to drop AFTER your exposure is done. The advantage of doing this is any minor movement causes your pix to lose sharpness and if the mirror isn't having to move around before your exposure then it's going to be a sharper pix.

Regardless a tripod is a MUST for night shots like these. Oh and carry a small flashlight with you, I almost tripped over my tripod trying to work in a dark room with curious cats milling about. lol

If you want some practice for the next time, (wait till it's warmer out lol) and take your tripod outside at night and just try some moon shots and experiment. You don't need an eclipse to practice and we all know practice makes perfect.

I'm sure next eclipse we have you guys will be posting pix here to blow us all away! Of course then you'll have to frame them and enter them in contests and collect a whole lot of money in prizes... LOL

[Jessika]

You guys both did great for not having done moon shots before!

It will be a while before we have another lunar eclipse but you can practice for the next one.

The reason your pix were blurry (unsatisfactory) was probably due to a couple reasons based on the pix you two posted (this would apply to anyone with similar pix results)...

1) the shutter speed was too long. The moon moves pretty fast and anything much over 1/4 of a second will show motion blur. To get more light open up your aperature or use a higher ISO speed instead.

2) If your camera has the self timer use it to help minimize any shaking of the camera from you pushing the shutter button. If you have an RF cable release that works good too. (I was in a hurry so didn't use mine)

3) If your camera is a DSLR (or film SLR) if it has mirror lock up function, use it. What that does is lock the mirror up prior to the shutter button actually being pressed. When you press the shutter button the mirror doesn't have to go up first to get out of the way, it only has to drop AFTER your exposure is done. The advantage of doing this is any minor movement causes your pix to lose sharpness and if the mirror isn't having to move around before your exposure then it's going to be a sharper pix.

Regardless a tripod is a MUST for night shots like these. Oh and carry a small flashlight with you, I almost tripped over my tripod trying to work in a dark room with curious cats milling about. lol

If you want some practice for the next time, (wait till it's warmer out lol) and take your tripod outside at night and just try some moon shots and experiment. You don't need an eclipse to practice and we all know practice makes perfect.

I'm sure next eclipse we have you guys will be posting pix here to blow us all away! Of course then you'll have to frame them and enter them in contests and collect a whole lot of money in prizes... LOL

My in-laws followed nearly every one of your tips thanks to me except they didn't have a DSLR, just an advanced point-and-shoot, they still got some pretty decent pics... they wipped out ye olde tripod, I made the suggestion to use the timer so as not to shake the camera when pushing the button, NO FLASH, I think the only thing they couldn't do was set a longer shutter speed to allow in more light, but I did bump up the exposure.

[pitc9]

WOW! Great pictures everyone!
I missed it... I fell asleep in my recliner after American Idol was over!

Shame on me!

[Catlady711]

NO FLASH, I think the only thing they couldn't do was set a longer shutter speed to allow in more light, but I did bump up the exposure.

ROFL my first thought when I read the NO FLASH part was 'man that must be one powerful on camera flash to light the moon!' LOL Sorry I found that funny. I didn't even think about the pop up flash, I usually have mine turned off.

You wouldn't want a very long shutter speed anyways, much over 1/4 sec anyways. I was on manual and tried several settings just to see what they would do and if I got longer than 1/4 sec I tended to see blurring.

That's great that they were able to get some decent shots thanks to you. I don't think the actual camera matters, as long as it has some adjustments available (iso etc) and is on a tripod with self timer. I know many people think they have to have super expensive cameras to get good pix and that's just not true. A good understanding of the camera a person has and a decent tripod go a long way in taking good pix.

[M&M's Mommy]

WOW. I didn't get to see it because I totally forgot about it . Bad, bad Theresa!

But, thanks to your pictures, I get to see it now!! I didn't realize we have sp many professional photographers on this forum

[wolf_Q]

Thanks for sharing the great photos, everyone! I went outside to check it out but the sky was completely covered in clouds.

[anna_66]

Catlady711-Thanks for the tips! I'll practice, practice practice

[Catlady711]

Been playing around with some of my photo programs I only know how to half use (I'm better at photography than cpu programs).

Anyways I came up with this if anyone is actually interested in seeing it.

[Jessika]

That's awesome!!!!!! I really hope you et it framed!

[Catlady711]

That's awesome!!!!!! I really hope you et it framed!

I doubt I'll have it framed. lol Aside from the slightly visable square around the center moon (which I didn't know was there until I flattened the layers and saved it. DOH!).

I just realized the first pix of the whole moon (at about the 11 O'clock spot) belongs directly opposite on the other side. DOH again!

Yup, I definately need more work doing these things that's for sure. lol

[BC_MoM]

Aww, that's easily fixed, though:

[Catlady711]

It just reminds me there is a whole lot more to the concept of 'photoshopping' something that I thought. I don't actually have photoshop but I have cheapie programs that can do some similar things.

Programs are a whole different animal than just photography. And here I thought going digital would be easier. ROFL.