18 20 July 2019I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113
OLLIE’S TOP TIPSPlanforthegoldenhour
Planyourshotstotakeadvantageof the
atmosphericlightaroundthegoldenhour.This
shotof theDolomitesshowsthegoldenhour
overCrodadaLagoridgein Italy.Theviewing
distancefromthesubject (the ridge) was
approximately 8km.Trythedarkskytechnique
MoonriseoverInnerFarneIslandLighthouse,
Northumberland.Forthisshottheviewing
distancefromthesubjectwasapproximately
5km.I usedthegrey-cardtechnique–
removingit fromthetoppartof theframe
during the last second of the exposure.locationyouselect.PhotoPillsalso
enablesyoutopinpointyourelevation
inrelationtosealevelandyourtarget
landmarkheightanddistance,allowing
youtoworkoutapproximatemoonsize
versusfocallength,andhowlongit will
taketoriseoverlandmarks.Forme,the
goldenhouris oneofthemostrewarding
timesofthedaytoshootthemoonover
thelandscape,andtechnicallyit’soneof
theeasiesttimestotacklethissubjecttoo.
Shootingduringthegoldenhourhasa
numberofbenefits:themoonis clearly
visibleasthesundipsandthelandwill
stillbeamplylit,enablinganexposure
thatwillrecordsharpnessinthemoon’s
surface– if needed,thelandscapecan
alwaysbelifteda littleinpost-production.
Duringthegoldenhour,youcanshoota
singleframe,exposeforthemoonandthe
landscapewillusuallytakecareofitself.
Avoidusinggraduatedfiltersastheywill
leadtolongerexposuretimes,decreasing
theprobabilityofa sharpmoonsurface.
Bracketingbya stoportwo either way is
oftengoodpractice.
Darkskytechnique
Therearevarioustechniquesthatwill
enableyoutoshootthemoonintotal
darkness,thoughit canbeverytrickyto
achievethiswithina rural,unlitlandscape.
Oncetotaldarknessfalls,thereis a drastic
differenceinexposurebetweenthemoon’s
surfaceandthelandscape.Unfortunately,
grads won’t help at all as they won’t block
SunsetoverGranCanaria
andtheAtlanticOceanfrom
Tenerife’sMtTeide,Spain
SonyA7III,16-35mm,
1/400sec at f/5.6, ISO 250