Step by step

STEP 1

Homework is important for thin Moon attempts. Determine where the Moon is relative to the Sun and work out where it will be relative to the horizon after sunset. Choose a shooting location where the horizon appears low and unobstructed. A clear sky is best, as haze or low cloud will hide the crescent from view.

STEP 3

Keep ISO in a low range of 100-1600. Start low and increase for evening sessions, as the sky darkens over time. For morning sessions, start high and lower the ISO as sunrise approaches. See opposite for how to focus accurately. If you can see the Moon on the back of the camera, use that to ensure the focus is sharp.

STEP 5

Examine the result using your camera’s histogram display. If the graph is stacked hard to the left or right, you’ll need to adjust exposure. If it’s too dark, you’ll need to increase the exposure and/ or ISO; if it’s too light, you’ll need to decrease the exposure and/or ISO. Aim to get the peak within the left-right limits of the graph.

STEP 2

If you plan to use a lens, choose one which will show a good crescent. This typically means something with a focal length starting around the 200-300mm mark. A 1000mm setup (typically achieved using a telescope) will give you a good crescent size. A focal ratio between f/9 and f/16 is ideal.

STEP 4

Line your camera up so the Moon is in view. There’s a chance you may not be able to see the crescent visually if it’s very thin. If so, you’ll need to judge where to point your camera relative to the horizon and rely on it being able to record the crescent. Take an image using a test exposure of 1 second.

STEP 6

Load the results into your image editing software. A tweak to the brightness and contrast settings may help bring out the faint lunar crescent. Alternatively, open the curves tool and place an anchor in the centre of the adjustment line, then adjust the curve’s shape to become more of an ‘S’ to improve its visibility.