*OFFICIAL* Snapshot of the Day (one image per post please) #2

[MaximusJ]

Dave. In those case, I have the reflex of lowering the iso and then getting a faster shutter speed; which lowers the exposition until its acceptable. Is there anything wrong with this method over the -1ev one?

I find that the lower the ISO, the more detailed the moon is. Then with the SS, you control your exposition until you're good to go.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

Dave. In those case, I have the reflex of lowering the iso and then getting a faster shutter speed; which lowers the exposition until its acceptable. Is there anything wrong with this method over the -1ev one?

I find that the lower the ISO, the more detailed the moon is. Then with the SS, you control your exposition until you're good to go.

I'm not understanding what mode you're shooting in. Lowering ISO will slow SS, not raise it. In any Auto mode, like Av, Tv or fully automatic, the sensor will take an average reading and then over expose the moon as a result. You could switch to Center Weighted or Spot for metering and then get a good reading, but I prefer to simply spin the EV dial to -1EV, chimp the preview and raise or lower EV until I get really good detail with no blow outs.

If you shoot in manual mode and lower your ISO while keeping the SS and f-stop the same or even raising the SS, then it's the same thing as lowering EV in one of the auto modes. I grew up shooting Manual mode, but I prefer to use the meter that I paid a lot for in my camera. The key is knowing how the meter works with different light sources.

Dave

[MaximusJ]

90% of the time, I shoot in aperture priority, but when the lighting conditions are stable (like a moon shot), I go manual.

ISO50 is awesome on the D800 for shots like this. But you need an extremely stable setup since you need long exposures when you want to keep a deep DOF.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The moon is quite bright, so you need around -1EV with most lenses.

Nice and sharp.

I was actually at -2EV. I'm surprised it was still so bright.

My biggest issue with shooting is my eye sight. I see perfectly well through the viewfinder without glasses, but even with my normal reading glasses I have trouble seeing the LCD screen clearly, so reviewing pics is difficult. I need to figure out what strength I need in a pair of bifocals (clear on top) just for photography.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I was actually at -2EV. I'm surprised it was still so bright.

My biggest issue with shooting is my eye sight. I see perfectly well through the viewfinder without glasses, but even with my normal reading glasses I have trouble seeing the LCD screen clearly, so reviewing pics is difficult. I need to figure out what strength I need in a pair of bifocals (clear on top) just for photography.

Have you got your "blinkies" (highlight warning) turned on in you preview? I would think that you could see that going on. Also, when I focus on something stable, like the moon, then I use Liveview and 10X magnification.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

90% of the time, I shoot in aperture priority, but when the lighting conditions are stable (like a moon shot), I go manual.

ISO50 is awesome on the D800 for shots like this. But you need an extremely stable setup since you need long exposures when you want to keep a deep DOF.

Ok.

I use a higher ISO typically and often hand hold my moon shots. ISO 200 or 400 gives you plenty of SS and DOF. Of course, I'm using a Canon, so noise isn't as big a worry to me. (Ok, ok, I take it back, but I keep running into Nikon guys that shoot incredibly low ISOs for some reason).

Dave

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Have you got your "blinkies" (highlight warning) turned on in you preview? I would think that you could see that going on. Also, when I focus on something stable, like the moon, then I use Liveview and 10X magnification.

Dave

I do have the blinkies on. That last shot had some minor blinking in it, but I thought it would still be ok. I should have cranked in more -EV, I suppose.

I use Liveview and 10x zoom on a tripod, but holding the whole rig out in front of me for moon shots guarantees a blurry image. I can't hold it steady enough like that. Using the normal viewfinder I have my steady hold techniques (adopted and adapted from military marksmanship training) that work quite well. This shot, for instance, was handheld at 1/4 sec.

[dcstep]

Isn't IS wonderful?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Isn't IS wonderful?

I love it. It amazes me how well it works.

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Ok.

I use a higher ISO typically and often hand hold my moon shots. ISO 200 or 400 gives you plenty of SS and DOF. Of course, I'm using a Canon, so noise isn't as big a worry to me. (Ok, ok, I take it back, but I keep running into Nikon guys that shoot incredibly low ISOs for some reason).

Dave

My camera can handle high ISO as high as 6400 before noise can become a problem. I dont know what your gripe against nikon is (typical canonian reaction tho), but you should try a D800 and call it a day.

But on some very dark shots, I try to keep it as low as I can.

Personnal choices / tastes I guess.

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Nice shot!

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

Nice shot!

Thanks. That was a rare opportunity to walk around inside the Tower of London grounds after they closed for the evening. I took full advantage.

[triton3k]

In Between The Lines by Denn-Ice, on Flickr

[triton3k]

Trash on The Street by Denn-Ice, on Flickr

[ddk632]

Nice shots, triton3k - I reallly like "In Between the Lines"

Is this optical blur or did you add additional blur in PP to either of these?

First one looks like it could be done with a lens - maybe a tilt-shift - but second one seems to have blur all around the subject in a way that (in my possibly incorrect opinion) a lens couldn't possibly produce.

Anyway, I really like the first one!

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

My camera can handle high ISO as high as 6400 before noise can become a problem. I dont know what your gripe against nikon is (typical canonian reaction tho), but you should try a D800 and call it a day.

But on some very dark shots, I try to keep it as low as I can.

Personnal choices / tastes I guess.

I see the smiley; otherwise I'd think that I chapped your ass. I thought I put enough disclaimer in there to make it clear that I was only pulling your chain.

No hard feeling, I hope.

Dave

[Kielan]

This is from this summer from my time spent over in Sweden. 782 whp turbo M50.

[dcstep]

Moon, two-days before full by dcstep, on Flickr

[M_Six]

^^^^That's awesome, Dave. Every day I've been driving home looking at the moon in the late afternoon sky and I've been thinking about grabbing a shot.

Was yours handheld?

Heheh, from your EXIF: Subject Distance 650.24 m

Maybe just a tad farther than that, eh?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

^^^^That's awesome, Dave. Every day I've been driving home looking at the moon in the late afternoon sky and I've been thinking about grabbing a shot.

Was yours handheld?

Heheh, from your EXIF: Subject Distance 650.24 m

Maybe just a tad farther than that, eh?

Yes, 700mm hand held, BUT at 1/2500-sec.

The key was waiting for the moon to rise high enough to minimize haze and smog. Also, we'd had a front come through in the morning, so haze was less of a problem than usual.

Even at relatively close distances, the distance EXIF always seems funky to me.

Dave

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I see the smiley; otherwise I'd think that I chapped your ass. I thought I put enough disclaimer in there to make it clear that I was only pulling your chain.

No hard feeling, I hope.

Dave

Dont worry, I just couldnt let that one go unanswered ahah

DPS is filled with those (serious) nikon haters. I would had been surprised to see such thing over here. As long as you handle the reply.

[dcstep]

Big buck searches for scent by dcstep, on Flickr