Moon shutter enthusiast crafts mesmerizing lunar trail over a coastal beacon, detailing his techniques
The night sky is a canvas waiting to be painted with stories, and one photographer, Ricardo Ad Santos, has done just that by capturing a mesmerizing Moon trail using a single long exposure shot.
To achieve this, Santos used a DSLR camera, a stable tripod, and an essential piece of equipment - an ND1000 (10-stop) neutral density filter. This filter drastically reduces the light entering the lens, allowing for very long exposure times.
Santos also relied on a remote shutter release or intervalometer to reduce shake during the exposure. He planned his photography session carefully, choosing to shoot when the Moon was rising or setting, ideally during twilight to capture an appealing sky gradient. He used the Stellarium app to predict the Moon's timing.
The photographer set his camera's aperture to around f/8 to f/16 for sharpness and sufficient depth of field. The ISO was kept low, around ISO 100, to reduce noise. The exposure time was very long, several minutes, allowing the Moon to leave a smooth trail as Earth rotated.
To ensure the shot was as sharp as possible, Santos made sure there was no wind and stepped away from the camera after starting the exposure to prevent any accidental movement.
Post-processing involved minor adjustments like noise reduction and contrast enhancement to improve clarity. If needed, stray light or spots were retouched using content-aware tools in software like Lightroom or Photoshop.
The resulting image contrasted the celestial motion with the stillness of the terrestrial landscape. Santos's Instagram account, @ricardo.ad.santos, is a treasure trove of his astrophotography work.
This method contrasts with stacking multiple shorter exposures, which can also create Moon trails but requires more post-processing.
Here's a summary of the recommended settings for capturing a Moon trail using a single long exposure with an ND1000 filter:
| Aspect | Suggested Setting | |------------------|---------------------------| | Filter | ND1000 (10-stop ND) | | Aperture | f/8 to f/16 | | ISO | 100 (lowest possible) | | Exposure Time | Several minutes (30+ min) | | Stability | Tripod + remote shutter | | Timing | Moonrise/sunset twilight | | Location | High spot with clear sky |
Patience is crucial in astrophotography, and each session teaches something new. Santos's first attempt at capturing a Moon trail was successful, and he learned a valuable lesson in the process - making mistakes is a part of the learning process in astrophotography.
The photography session took place at a high spot behind Santos's house with a clear view of the sky. The foreground image was also captured at sunset and using the same focal length. A foreground shot from the Berlengas Islands was used to complete the composition.
In essence, capturing a Moon trail using a single long exposure with an ND1000 filter is a rewarding endeavour for any astrophotographer, providing a unique way to tell the stories hidden within the night sky.
Astrophotography is a remarkable hobby that intertwines the beauty of the night sky, the precision of astronomy, and the tranquility of lifestyle, turning home-and-garden areas into celestial observatories. For instance, Ricardo Ad Santos transformed his high-elevation backyard into a shooting location for his mesmerizing Moon trail photograph, perfectly showcasing this blend of ordinary and extraordinary.
