You’ve probably heard this feeling before: you see an incredible moon and you pull out your phone because you need to capture it. You adjust the angle, zoom and click. Only to discover moments later that the photo is a complete failure.

With this article we want to help you so that this doesn’t happen to you anymore, or happens less often. Taking a photo of the moon is not always easy, but there are some tricks to increase your chances of success.

Take note of the following tips to get a photographic memory of the moon or the next ones summer star showers.

How to take photos of the Moon with your mobile phone

If you are not a fan of photography with a ‘real’ camera and you are happy with the versatility that smartphones give you, you can take good photos of the moon with a little skill. We leave you with 5 tips for taking a photo of the moon with your mobile phone In a simple way.

  • 1. Stabilize the mobile: If you don’t have a tripod handy, prop your phone up on a sturdy surface. Composition is important when setting up your shot. Look for objects in the foreground to frame the moon, provide context, or add an interesting pattern to your image, as suggested bysof one’s own POT to take pictures of the moon.
  • 2. Turn off the flash and focus on the moon: To avoid a blurry, white image, lower the brightness of your screen. One of the indicators that will help you take a good photo of the moon is if it looks grey instead of white on the screen. If you can see some lunar details on the screen, even better. Another key trick is to use the camera’s timer to avoid shaking your phone when taking the photo.
  • 3. Photography in moments of lower contrast: Try to take photos during dusk or dawn, when the moon isn’t much brighter than the sky. This will help your phone’s camera handle contrast better. You can also try photographing the moon when it’s rising over the horizon, as it tends to appear larger.
  • 4. Experiment with zoom: The zoom may or may not be useful, depending on your phone. Some phones have true optical zoom, while others only offer digital zoom that simply crops the image. Experiment with it to see if it improves your moon photo. If your phone allows you to change settings like ISO (sensitivity to light) and aperture (the size of the opening that lets in light), try setting your ISO low and your aperture wide. If possible, adjust your shutter speed to ensure the moon is well exposed. Start with a fast shutter speed and adjust downward.
  • 5. Use a telescope If you have access to one: If you have access to a telescope, point your phone at the eyepiece. With the right position, you can get a crisp, clear image of the moon.

How to put the professional camera to take photos of the moon

With a good professional camera, you have more options to take spectacular photos of the moon. Ideally, you should have a camera with manual control, which will allow you to easily make manual adjustments to control exposure, aperture and ISO sensitivity.

With manual focus mode you can ensure that the moon is in perfect focus. Use the magnification in the live view to fine-tune the focus.

As for the telephoto lens, it is recommended that it be at least 200 mm. The longer the focal length, the more detail can be captured on the lunar surface.

Recommended settings:

  • Opening: Set the aperture between f/8 and f/11 to obtain good depth of field and sharpness.
  • ISO: Keep the ISO low (between 100 and 200) to minimize noise in the image.
  • Shutter speed: The moon is very bright, so you may want to use a fast shutter speed, such as 1/125 or 1/250 second, to avoid overexposure.

On the other hand, remember that in the case of professional cameras, It is essential to use a tripod and a remote trigger to avoid movements that could ruin the photo.

When to take photos of the moon

Those who know well how to take good photos of the moon, like the Photographer James Burnsthey have some foolproof tricks.

  • 1. Take advantage of the ‘blue hour’: The best way to capture a spectacular moon is to take photos during the blue hour, that is, just after sunset or before sunrise. At these times, the sky is a deep blue that contrasts beautifully with the moon.
  • 2. Weather conditions: A clear sky is ideal for photographing the moon. Check the weather forecast to plan your session.
  • 3. Photography of the moon in the city: To take a good photo of the moon in the city you must incorporate architectural urban elements such as buildings, monuments or bridges to create an interesting and dramatic context.
  • 4. White balance: adjusts the white balance to compensate for artificial city lights. Shooting in RAW format will allow you to correct the white balance in post-production.

Advanced techniques for moon photos

There are two more things you can do in your quest for the perfect moon photo. One of them is the ‘Bracketing:’ Shoot a series of photos at different exposures (underexposed, correctly exposed, and overexposed) to ensure you capture all the details of the moon.

In the end, what you’ll do is combine the bracketing images in post-production to create an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image that captures both the bright areas and the shadows in detail.

For later editing, shoot in RAW offers more flexibility. You can adjust exposure, white balance and other parameters without losing image quality.

With these tips, you’ll be well equipped to capture stunning moon photos, both in rural and urban settings, and during special astronomical events.