Filming Night Sky with GL2 at DVinfo.net

Steve Sirinides · January 11th, 2006, 03:32 PM

I was wondering what settings would be best for filming the moon, clouds, and stars. The moon is almost full, and it looks wonderful with the fast-moving (fairly bright) clouds floating beneath it and a few stars, but I was wondering what would be the best way to capture that on the GL2. I've messed with some of the manual settings, but I can't get it just the way I'd like. Shame there is no camera like the human eye...

I'd like to keep the gain down to reduce noise and the aperture open enough to pick up the clouds and details on the moon. But every time I either get the moon shining way too bright or the clouds getting way too dark. Any suggestions? Maybe a lens or filter?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 11th, 2006, 04:45 PM

I've shot the moon a few times with the XM2 (GL2) and other cameras and it's always a problem to try to get the moon and any clouds near it to be exposed properly - simply because the contrast ratio between the moon and the rest of the sky is just to high.
You could try shooting at dusk however - when there's still some vestigial light in the sky. That could give a very pleasing effect.
My advice is to stick to manual controls as well - set the colour balance to daylight and use the exposure setting to place the exposure where you want it. It could be handy to have a little monitor (even a TV) with you to assess your settings on a bigger screen than the camera's little LCD.

Robin

Steve Sirinides · January 12th, 2006, 12:29 AM

Thanks Robing, I'll try that out tonight.

Nathaniel McInnes · January 14th, 2006, 04:49 AM

i find its best to just take photo of the moon and then in say Photoshop add artifical clouds

Jay Silver · January 14th, 2006, 06:02 AM

I did it once in two passes, one for the moon and one for the clouds. Comped it together in After Effects. Worked pretty well!

-j

Graham Bernard · January 14th, 2006, 07:52 AM

We got clouds in Sony Vegas. Oh yes .. along with some shots I do have of the moon, you've just given me an idea! Thank you ... G

Dale Guthormsen · January 16th, 2006, 11:05 PM

Steve,

I spent a bit of time filming the sky with the moon. I used straight manual controls, I set the camera on the tripod, shut off the image stabilization, Adjusted the exposure so that the clouds were dark moving objects with the lens setting the moon 2/3 to the top and centered. I then compressed the hour of footage into about 40 seconds. I then used it for rolling credits at the end of a film. It turned out just dandy, a bit of grain but not to offensive. I definitely did not need to use after effects or layers, but then that depends on the effect you are shooting for.

Gus

January 11th, 2006, 03:32 PM	#1
Steve Sirinides Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 41	Filming Night Sky with GL2 I was wondering what settings would be best for filming the moon, clouds, and stars. The moon is almost full, and it looks wonderful with the fast-moving (fairly bright) clouds floating beneath it and a few stars, but I was wondering what would be the best way to capture that on the GL2. I've messed with some of the manual settings, but I can't get it just the way I'd like. Shame there is no camera like the human eye... I'd like to keep the gain down to reduce noise and the aperture open enough to pick up the clouds and details on the moon. But every time I either get the moon shining way too bright or the clouds getting way too dark. Any suggestions? Maybe a lens or filter?

January 16th, 2006, 11:05 PM	#7
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	night film Steve, I spent a bit of time filming the sky with the moon. I used straight manual controls, I set the camera on the tripod, shut off the image stabilization, Adjusted the exposure so that the clouds were dark moving objects with the lens setting the moon 2/3 to the top and centered. I then compressed the hour of footage into about 40 seconds. I then used it for rolling credits at the end of a film. It turned out just dandy, a bit of grain but not to offensive. I definitely did not need to use after effects or layers, but then that depends on the effect you are shooting for. Gus

January 11th, 2006, 04:45 PM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	I've shot the moon a few times with the XM2 (GL2) and other cameras and it's always a problem to try to get the moon and any clouds near it to be exposed properly - simply because the contrast ratio between the moon and the rest of the sky is just to high. You could try shooting at dusk however - when there's still some vestigial light in the sky. That could give a very pleasing effect. My advice is to stick to manual controls as well - set the colour balance to daylight and use the exposure setting to place the exposure where you want it. It could be handy to have a little monitor (even a TV) with you to assess your settings on a bigger screen than the camera's little LCD. Robin

January 12th, 2006, 12:29 AM	#3
Steve Sirinides Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 41	Thanks Robing, I'll try that out tonight.

January 14th, 2006, 04:49 AM	#4
Nathaniel McInnes Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Taffs well, Wales Posts: 190	i find its best to just take photo of the moon and then in say Photoshop add artifical clouds

January 14th, 2006, 06:02 AM	#5
Jay Silver Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 112	I did it once in two passes, one for the moon and one for the clouds. Comped it together in After Effects. Worked pretty well! -j

January 14th, 2006, 07:52 AM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	We got clouds in Sony Vegas. Oh yes .. along with some shots I do have of the moon, you've just given me an idea! Thank you ... G