Last Total Lunar Eclipse for 3 YEARS!

[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