I'm going to canyonlands nat park next week, and I recently found out that there is going to be a full moon. I'm interested in taking scenics lit by the moon, but have no idea on exposure, and I dont think my meter will be able to read the low light. Any starting points for ISO 100 speed film would be greatly appreciated. thanks

-- Ryan Olson (ryno@bitstream.net), October 14, 1999

Answers

Many meters and cameras are capable to measure exposures in moonlight, maybe yours, too. My Nikon F3 of 1980 does the job in autoexposure mode quite well so far as 5 mins exp time - the handbook says nothing of it, but it does.

Moonlit landscapes are said to be in EV1, which means 8 s at f/4. There are some charts in the net, try http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm#evchart

My own experience is, that quite a lot more ligth is needed - the season, foliage, is it open country etc. has some effect. In open country I'll start with 30 s at f/4 and bracket wide. Shades need probbaly 5 mins at f/4.

A couple of things to consider: first, if your camera draws current from the batteries, when the shutter is open, can 5 min exposures be disastrous - your shutter may remain open, if the voltage drops or something. Use fresh batteries and have some reserve. An external battery back is useful, some cameras use the winders batteries if it's attached etc.

Second, a good exposure meter gives you just the right exposure. Problem is, the scenery is very much like sunlight when moonlight - the difference in colour is quite subtle. It's maybe a good idea to try to shorten the exposure a bit, so you'll have some feeling of night. Frontlighted scenery is not so different in moonlight - in pictures, I mean. In sideligth the shadows are deeper, maybe.

Sakari

-- Sakari Mdkeld (sakari.makela@koulut.vantaa.fi), October 14, 1999.