8.15am 14-06-09

by Ian Smith
(Dunedin, New Zealand)

'See, it's not Green-Cheese after all'

This is not a 'North Queensland' photograph. It was taken from Dunedin, New Zealand, on Sunday, the 14th of June 2009 (hence the title). A Canon SX10-IS camera was used (not a top-priced model) with maximum telephoto of
560mm (35mm equivalent).

The trick is to take such shots at either dawn or dusk, and to assess when the contrast between the moon and its sky background permits the maximum 'detail' to the achieved.

That is usually when the the camera's in-built metering system budges from where it has sat static overnight, and shows a significant reading of (say) 1/80th second (exposure) at f5.6 or similar.

If the mornings/evenings are clear, it is possible to 'bracket' shots taken at five-minute intervals, until you secure an optimum exposure.

In fact, 'optimisation' is the name of the game, as I use 'photo-optimiser' software by 'Ashampoo' in Germany to automatically darken the skies for me. (Wonderfully simple software, every digital-photographer should have it).

If 'optimisation' does not do the trick, I carry out the same process manually, using a 'graphics' programme. The picture, as you might imagine, has had a fair amount cropped off to give the image the prominence I feel it deserves.