MOONSHOT

JUNE 2023 

Almost as soon as I bought my first digital camera, I wanted to be able to take photographs of the Moon. It has been a source of fascination for me, since childhood, so being able to see it more closely is naturally something I had to pursue. The 300mm lens I got with the Samsung camera gave me a fair insight into the possibilities, especially as the lens and camera include dedicated astrophotography settings. The reach on the lens wasn't quite enough to reveal much detail, but did give me some nice shots of the full lunar disk.

As with other photographs, it wasn't till I moved to analogue lenses again, that I got the ability to really fine tune the focus and exposure and using RAW format for post processing, helped improve results.

The Maksutov MTO-500 lens, with its catadioptric mirror really opened up the opportunities for me, as being comparable to a small telescope itself, was ideal for the task. One thing I immediately noticed when attempting to photograph the moon, was how quickly it moved - as the catadioptric lenses are heavy and difficult to focus, by the time I had pulled the focus sharply enough, the moon had drifted out of frame! The other issue I came across was due to the weight of the lens and even more so with the huge MTO-1000, camera shake is a big issue. Even using a sturdy tripod, wind and vibration from passing traffic on a nearby road, can be a big problem. Focus is achieved by rotating a ring near the front of the lens and usually requires two hands due to the weight and stiffness of the mechanism, but also for precision movement. As a result, getting sharp focus is really difficult and sometimes a matter of trial and error. 

 In order to try and maximise the successful outcome, I used exposure bracketing with a couple of degrees over and under the standard exposure, so that 3 shots are taken simultaneously. Spot Weighted exposure and Apeture Priority settings help to achieve a good shot. Both MTO models came with a filter set - a skylight, and orange and a yellow filter on the larger model and a red, green and a neutral density filter for the 500. The green and the ND in combination can reduce the glare of a full lunar disk and increase tonal contrast.

Shooting the Moon is part phase, as it waxes or wanes, gives great shadowing around the terminator and cross the seas and craters, showing features in higher relief, than as a full moon.

Compare these with other shots of the Moon, taken with smaller lenses over the years. The plane shot was sheer luck, as the red lights on the wings were visible from a good distance, prior to crossing the face of the moon and I just had time to drag the disk into reasonable focus before the plane swept past.

I usually try and take at least one shot of the full moon each month, dependent on weather.

Clouds are invariably an issue, but can sometimes lend themselves to a more mysterious shot.

Equally, having some other element in the scene, such as these chimneys, can make an interesting composition.

The July 2019 eclipse made for an ideal photo opportunity, but at the time I was limited to the 300mm lens.

AUGUST 7 Additional

At the beginning of August was a supermoon event, where the moon, on its closest approach of the year, due to its elliptical orbit - appeared much larger in western skies. At least it should have done, but due to unseasonably bad weather in Britain, cloud cover obscured the skies for several days. Undeterred, I hoped for better weather to come and in anticipation of such, bought a new lens. The Clubman 500mm Mirror lens was advertised as having some 'fungus or degradation to the mirror', so was offered very cheaply. When it arrived, a cursory inspection and partial dismantling showed the back silvered rear element did have some considerable damage, but aside from some donut shaped artefacts on the images, it wasn't too bad at all.

The image size was similar to my MTO 500, but a little softer and less sharp. Mirror lenses are renown for lack of sharpness, so this was to be expected. So I tested the lens with some remote objects and found the quality acceptable, given its condition.

The Bell tower was approximately 400 yards away and the water tower about a mile distant.

Then, late last night, I spotted a partial lunar disk had risen over the houses and immediately set out with the small mirror and squat tripod. Sitting the camera on the roof of the car, it was much easier to focus the lens, than the immensely heavy Russian models and even allowing for the defects and general softness of the lens, I managed to get a fair shot of the orange moon rising. A full moon next month perhaps?