Photographing the Moon(Continued from "How to Photograph the Moon")
You can get great photos of the moon using a standard point and shoot camera and a little creative thinking. The photos of the moon I've included in this article all have other elements in the composition to make them more interesting photographs.
The vertical line of window lights on the right balances with the moon and it's illumination of the clouds on the left.
I would have preferred if our lunar subject were not so close to the edge. The reflections on the water in the lower left would also have added more to the photo if they were not so far to the left.
Trying a few variations in placement of the bike more to the left might have been interesting to try.
The reddish light of the setting sun behind the photographer provided a warm glow on these buildings and the moon. This contrasted nicely against the cool blue sky. Composing the photo without the building on the right or cropping it with photo editing software afterward would be an interesting composition. This would place the moon at a point that agrees with the rule of thirds in photography.
The lighting on the crucifix is just right. It's the right intensity and the right direction to perfectly balance with the bright moonlight.
Photographing the moon does not have to be done at night. This is a very simple composition and does not have any other elements other than the moon and clouds. The wispy clouds almost appear as if they are being emitted from the moon into the early morning air. This Desert Moon photograph below is one of my favorite photos of the moon. A powerful telephoto lens was used to zoom in and make the moon bigger in the photo. The silhouette of the ground and the cactus act as a framing device in this composition. The timing was perfect in terms of balancing the fading daylight and the rising moonlight. The mixing faint pink light and the bluish light from the sky on the clouds are spectacular combination.
Knowing how to photograph the moon is not just about the technical side of taking your photograph with the proper exposure and the right sharpness. Like other nature photography, composition and proper lighting are just as important. If you want to read the tips on exposure and sharpness with your moon photography, you read this: How to Photograph the Moon. Back from Photographing the Moon to Photography Composition |
Photographing the moon is something almost everyone has tried. Taking a close-up photo, where it fills most of your digital camera's sensor requires a strong telephoto lens. 
