You know when you have a firm idea in your head what kind of photograph you wish to take, but the resulting image is entirely different? That’s exactly what happened when I took this image of the moon.
Looking out one night, I noticed an amazingly detailed full moon. It was ideal for a moon picture and so I set up my camera on its tripod and took numerous pictures with different lenses and shutter speeds etc.
No matter what I did, I struggled to get a detailed image of the moon. What I did get, however, was the moon flaring in almost perfect symmetry.
I’ve taken similar images of the sun many a time, but never with the moon. I was very surprised to see how vivid the flares were!
Another aspect I like about this picture are the clouds. They have a very smooth texture and that’s because of the long exposure time. They crept from left to right as the shutter was open.
As is my habit on a Sunday, I have added this post to frankly brilliant #MySundayPhoto blog linky. It’s hosted by the Photalife blog and well worth visiting if you have a spare few moments. Simply click on the badge below and it will redirect you to the linky so you can explore it.
31 thoughts on “Who knew the moon could do this?”
I had the same trouble with the moon this week. I tried everything I know, even watched a YouTube ‘how to’ video. At least you got a very nice usable picture. I’ve never seen the moon flare like that either. I actually thought you had taken a photo of the sun. #MySundayPhoto
Great photo! It really does look like that the sun. Was that taken last weekend? The full moon did seem particularly bright on Saturday.
It was taken on the Saturday, I think. It’s amazing how many people thought it was the sun.
We’ve had some beautiful moons this week
There have been some amazing moons. Just staggered I got the moon to look like this!
I have a telescope from the time before children, which occasionally gets dragged out into the back garden – I’ve only gotten as far as pointing the mobile phone into the eyepiece, but it seems to work – you know – you take fifty photos, and one of them turns out fine đŸ™‚
Oh wow, that honestly works? that’s amazing! I may have to try it. I didn’t take 50 shots to get this one….but it wasn’t far off!
Well if you hadn’t said anything I’d be sure it was the sun! That’s amazing
This is so funny, so many people have remarked they thought it was the sun. It honestly wasn’t, it was the moon!
It really does look like the sun.
Try not to take photos of the full moon, it’s just too bright. A few days after or before
Thank you for linking up
Sound advice from someone who has a much better idea what they’re doing! Thanks Darren.
I’ve found similar things when shooting the moon on a long exposure in the past. I believe this month’s full moon was the second closest of the year so it was particularly bright, contributing to the flaring. Great shot, though.
Ah, that’s why it was so bright? Explains a lot. Thanks Tim.
The moon is a tricky one. Need to let as little light into your camera as possible. So a very high F stop – 16-22 if your camera is capable. Then have the fastest shutter speed possible and the lowest ISO – 100. But also tricky to get any detail if you don’t have a telephoto lens and you wont capture anything else in the photo apart from the moon itself.
The moon has been brilliant this month so far though. I saw it come up on Bonfire night and it was really big and orange. But the fact you have captured the moon flaring just shows how bright the moon actually is. #MySundayPhoto
My word, now I know what I was doing wrong! I really need to invest in a big, heavy telephoto lens! I’ve been meaning to buy one for ages and I think it’s the only way I will get the detailed shot I am after.
If you hadn’t have said it was the moon I would have thought it was the sun! Fantastic photo x
And another one! Loads of people thought this was the sun!
Wow incredible I would have sworn it was the sun if I didn’t know differently, fantastic capture #mysundayphoto
Thanks for your kind words Lins. Quite a few have said they thought it was the sun.
I hadn’t realised the moon could be captured like that and o bet so many will think it’s the sun. It’s definitely a very interesting shot!
Many have indeed confused this with the sun. It came as a complete surprise to me as well that the sun could be photographed like this. it’s why I had to put it on the blog.
Maybe the moon knows how much you like a flare?
Well, I think the moon has a very good idea now!
That’s great! At first I thought it was a dusky sunset! đŸ™‚ #sundayphoto
Alas no, not a dusky sunset at all. It was a full moon and, believe it or not, just to my left the neighbours were letting off fireworks!
Thats amazing, it looks like the sun, I honestly would never have said it was the moon. Wow!
Does look a bit like the sun doesn’t it? You’re not the only one to have been fooled.
Wow, love it! The moon has been so clear and bright lately
It sure has, although I think I may need to invest in some better lenses to get the detailed shot I was after.
I never knew you could get a moon flare – but it was a very bright full moon, wasn’t it? I’ve never managed to get a decent moon shot yet. Love this one of yours even if it wasn’t the detailed full moon shot that you were hoping for.
I didn’t know you could get a moon flare either! Came as quite a surprise!