Here is an attempt of the moon-feel free to comment

[anut4disney]

I didn't want to put my picture in the other thread with the beautiful pictures so I am starting this one for my attemps of using new camera.

This is at my house, laying on the steps of my front porch. Boy brick is cold against your back in the winter. Cat wasn't sure what was going on either, she kept running around me.

Okay you great photographers, after wincing, what do you think? Don't worry about hurting my feelings because you can't. I'm just trying to get the hang of my Canon S2 IS camera.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They look better than my moon shot attempts, earlier cameras or my new S2 IS. I just get a dot. I like these two here, you see the tree in the forground and a large moon. Like I said, I just get a small dot. What were your settings?

 

[Muushka]

I like them! I have not tried a moon shot, but you have inspired me.

One comment, and believe me, I am NO EXPERT! We love taking night shots. I find that on a clear night the sky is the most blue and beautiful. I think it was probably cloudy that night (guessing here) and that is why the sky looks like it did. I would probably try shooting it on a clear night and keep the lens open longer. I probably wouldn't use a flash (looks like you did?) and go for the sillouet of the trees against the beautiful blue sky. This is how I picture it in my mind. I have not tried it, but I am going to be on the look out for a clear sky and full moon! Thanks for posting your pics.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I still can't get a picture the moon. I can take a picture of a dot, though.

 

[ndelaware]

I think you'd be better off without the flash. It really highlight the branches and brings them to the forefront instead of the moon. And zoom in more if you can.

 

[anut4disney]

They look better than my moon shot attempts, earlier cameras or my new S2 IS. I just get a dot. I like these two here, you see the tree in the forground and a large moon. Like I said, I just get a small dot. What were your settings?

Thanks Dan, you take such beautiful pictures, that you like mine makes me very proud. I am such a novice. I love trees and I was trying to get the outline of the tree in front of the moon. I had it on SCN and tried with and without the flash. I also used the zoom. That was all I did, hope to really start trying more this weekend

I like them! I have not tried a moon shot, but you have inspired me.[/COLOR]

One comment, and believe me, I am NO EXPERT! We love taking night shots. I find that on a clear night the sky is the most blue and beautiful. I think it was probably cloudy that night (guessing here) and that is why the sky looks like it did. I would probably try shooting it on a clear night and keep the lens open longer. I probably wouldn't use a flash (looks like you did?) and go for the sillouet of the trees against the beautiful blue sky. This is how I picture it in my mind. I have not tried it, but I am going to be on the look out for a clear sky and full moon! Thanks for posting your pics.

You are right it was cloudy, I was hoping to catch the clouds around the moon. Yes I did use the flash, I tried it both ways but the ones w/o flash the camera shook on me so they didn't turn out well. How do you keep the lens open longer? I am going to read on this but sometimes it can be explained better than the book.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Cass]

I love the first one, when the moon is centered behind the V in the branches.

 

[Sparx]

I like the first one. They are very nice. athough I agree with the one poster who said to turn the flash off. Very nice pictures though.

 

[miss missy]

Kewl! keeping playing and show us some more!

 

[ndelaware]

Thanks Dan, you take such beautiful pictures, that you like mine makes me very proud. I am such a novice. I love trees and I was trying to get the outline of the tree in front of the moon. I had it on SCN and tried with and without the flash. I also used the zoom. That was all I did, hope to really start trying more this weekend



You are right it was cloudy, I was hoping to catch the clouds around the moon. Yes I did use the flash, I tried it both ways but the ones w/o flash the camera shook on me so they didn't turn out well. How do you keep the lens open longer? I am going to read on this but sometimes it can be explained better than the book.

Thanks for your input.

To set the shutter speed (how long the lens is open) you have to put the camera in "Tv" mode, which lets you set the shutter speed only and the camera makes the rest of the adjustments, or "M" mode , which you set the shutter speed and the aperature (f/stop). The beauty of a digital camera is you can just keep taking pictures til you get what you like. Experimenting with the settings is the best way to learn what your camera can do. If you are going to try really slow shutter speeds i would recommend getting a tripod. Since the S2 is fairly small you shouldn't need to spend a lot of money on one.

 

[anut4disney]

To set the shutter speed (how long the lens is open) you have to put the camera in "Tv" mode, which lets you set the shutter speed only and the camera makes the rest of the adjustments, or "M" mode , which you set the shutter speed and the aperature (f/stop). The beauty of a digital camera is you can just keep taking pictures til you get what you like. Experimenting with the settings is the best way to learn what your camera can do. If you are going to try really slow shutter speeds i would recommend getting a tripod. Since the S2 is fairly small you shouldn't need to spend a lot of money on one.

Thanks so much for the information. I am actually printing off and I have started a book so I can go back look at all the advice that I have been given.

 

[ndelaware]

I keep a small note book in my camera bag so I can reference it when I am trying to recall certain settings. BTW, the creative modes, P, Tv, Av, and M, are covered starting on page 84 in your manual.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Agreed, shutter priority or manual, with a tripod. And if you wanted to use the flash for something in the forground, try playing with the 'Slow' setting.

 

[TheLionKing]

Does that camera have a noise reduction setting to it? That is sometimes helpful with night time long exposure photos. I think I see a fair amount of digital noise in those shots.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

You know most places on the Internet I would have been scared to death to open a thread with the title "Here is an attempt of a moon feel free..."


I agree with theLionKing, sensors are notorious for introducing noise into long exposures so you should see if your camera has a noise reduction setting. If not, software such as PhotoShop CS2 have some great algorithms for eliminating the funky artifacts that get introduced.

Another fun thing to do with long exposures is to take a flashlight or or any light source and turn it on briefly shining on foreground objects. It brings out details and gives an errie feeling to the photos.

Jeff

 

[anut4disney]

You know most places on the Internet I would have been scared to death to open a thread with the title "Here is an attempt of a moon feel free..."


I agree with theLionKing, sensors are notorious for introducing noise into long exposures so you should see if your camera has a noise reduction setting. If not, software such as PhotoShop CS2 have some great algorithms for eliminating the funky artifacts that get introduced.

Another fun thing to do with long exposures is to take a flashlight or or any light source and turn it on briefly shining on foreground objects. It brings out details and gives an errie feeling to the photos.

Jeff

OMG! Didn't even pay attention to how that might sound. Believe me if it was the other moon they would close this down so fast it would make your head spin. Thanks for the information.

 

[RobinMarie]

Nice job with your moon shots, mine didn't come out half as nicely. My hat is off to you!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/386455068/481877324sirYGO

 

[anut4disney]

Nice job with your moon shots, mine didn't come out half as nicely. My hat is off to you!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/386455068/481877324sirYGO

Wow! You have some great pictures on your site.

 

[RobinMarie]

How flattering, thank you!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Nice job with your moon shots, mine didn't come out half as nicely. My hat is off to you!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/386455068/481877324sirYGO

Very nice shots. The sunset (or sunrise) pictures are great, soothing. And the ones of the trees are so pretty, the Fall color and all. Thanks.