The effects of shutter speed in photographing the moon

Test shots comparing various shutter speeds using a constant f-stop (f/8) and a constant ISO (ISO 400)
Images taken 12/03/09 - 1 day past the full moon
9:30 PM PST - Olympia, WA

First shot - 1/100 sec. at f/8 ISO 400
Characteristics: some detail on the face of the moon. Moon's shape is well delineated.

Second shot - 1/40 sec. at f/8 ISO 400    + 1 1/3 stops brighter than first shot

Characteristics: Moon is still well delineated. Face of moon has lost its detail



Third shot - 1/15 sec. at f/8 ISO 400     + 2 2/3 stops brighter than first shot
Characteristics: Moon is delineated. Small amounts of surrounding clouds beginning to show.

Fourth shot - 1/8 sec. at f/8 ISO 400     + 3 2/3 stops brighter than first shot

Characteristics: Moon is begins to glow noticeably beyond its edges; Color begins to appear in clouds around the moon.

Fifth shot - 1/4 sec. at f/8 ISO 400   +4 2/3 stops brighter than first shot
Characteristics: Moon noticeably soft along edges; glowing and bleeding noticeable. Cloud structure well pronounced.

Sixth shot - 1/2 sec. at f/8 ISO 400    +5 2/3 stops brighter than first shot.
Characteristics: Moon has little defined structure. Clouds show size, depth and density, as well as strong color.

Final shot (#7) - 1 sec. at f/8 ISO 400     +6 2/3 shots brighter than first shot

The Artistic Shot of the Evening: 16 sec. at f/8  ISO 400
While the clouds were moving with great gusto over the face of the moon, causing the moon to be obscured for most of the exposure.

Another day: Same moon, different situation
Photos taken 11/20/2007  4 days before the full moon
5:45 PM PST Bellevue, WA

5:51 PM