- Pick the subjects you want to photograph.
Obviously, in this case, the moon is one and
the other can be anything that will take up
the lower half of the frame, such as a
cityscape. - Get the exposure settings for both subjects.
If the exposure settings for the foreground
object need a slower shutter speed, then use a
tripod that can be angled to get the moon in
the shot easily. - Choose any white balance setting except
auto. You want to make sure that the white
balance stays the same in both shots, so you
don’t want the camera to choose for you. - Set the camera to manual and enter the
exposure settings for the foreground object. - Turn on the double exposure setting.
- Take the photograph of the foreground
object. - Change the exposure settings to properly
expose the moon and take the second part
of the double exposure. - Check the results on the LCD on the
camera.
Once you have the basics down, you can start to
explore the composition. With practice you will
get better at achieving the results you want. For
example, zoom in as close to the moon as possible
and as wide for the foreground element as possi-
ble to make the moon look big in comparison, or
change the order of the images and shoot the
moon first.
To create a double exposure using two separate
exposures you combine using photo-editing
software, make sure the camera is on a tripod
and doesn’t move. Then, then take an image
that is exposed for the moon (Figure 7-10), and
take a second image that is exposed for the fore-
ground element (Figure 7-11), which will likely
The initial settings I use are 1/250 second at f/11
and ISO 400. Then I shoot the moon and check
the exposure by using the LCD on the back of the
camera. I zoom in to look at the edge of the moon
as this is where you will most likely see the expo-
sure problems. This instant feedback allows you
to make adjustments until you get the exact
exposure you want.
Double exposures
A double exposure is a single image created by
combining two different photographs. This was
done on film by taking a photo, then without
advancing to the next piece of film, you took a
second photograph, creating a single image from
two exposures. If the moon is only a part of your
composition, then its brightness can be a real
problem compared to any other elements in the
scene. There are two different solutions, but they
both involve using two different exposure settings
to capture the scene: double expose the image in
the camera or combine two images using photo-
editing software.
To create a double exposure in the camera, you
first need to know if your camera can do this, so
check the camera manual. The setting is usually a
menu choice or a combination of buttons on your
camera. This type of photography can be a lot of
fun, but it can also be a little frustrating because
it can be difficult to visualize the final outcome.
And, if you are double exposing in the camera,
the frame is set with the final image and you lose
the two individual shots that make up the double
exposure. Remember, however, that if you have a
scene with a foreground element and the moon in
the same frame, getting the right exposure correct
for both elements is impossible. The best way to
deal with this problem is to create two images
with different exposures and combine them in
postproduction.