[Leica] Leica moment...Moon Rise!

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Here's a nice Leica moment.

We've just finished a few rolls of 100vs shooting the full moon rising over
the Strait of Juan de Fuca which seperates British Columbia, Canada from
Washington State of the USA.

Gorgeous moment on a beautiful summer evening, The sun had set by about ten
minutes as a huge full moon came up over the horizon, a few clouds to give
some effect, rather than a bare naked bluish sky.

Lens on tripod, started with a 280 2.8, R8 and spot metered through the
camera in manual mode, plus several letting the camera pick the shutter
speeds on centre weighted.

Then added a 1.4 extender making the lens a 400 f4.0, same type of
metering, shot a bunch with varying compositions. Took the 1.4 off and
replaced with a 2X, lens becomes a 560mm and a very nice size moon.

By now the sky had darkened, exposures changed and the moon has moved,
surprisingly fast. The problem with trying various lenses and extenders is,
the moon doesn't just sit there and let you plink away with your fine Leica
glass. Consquently, you must have everything at your finger tips, including
a "flashlight!" as the spinning planet Earth waits for no one!:)

We were fast running out of nice composition space due to the moon getting
higher and no way of relating a good size moon via long lenses to something
on the water, islands, boats or light house.

Final quick shots (400 2.8) were multiple exposures on the same frame. The
R8  is a piece of cake for this.

Switch the re-wind lever over to re-wind position and shoot however many
frames you require, then just before the last frame set the release back to
normal. Trip the shutter and the film gets final exposure and  advances.

On these we spotted on the moon, set exposure for manual then panned the
camera to where we wanted the first moon to register, shot one, moved
camera, shot again for 7 exposures, re-set rewind lever and fired the last
frame. Film automatically advances via winder.

Getting the right exposure for this kind of picture taking is a piece of cake.

If you are using 100 ASA,  Set your meter for 400, then shoot 8 times on
the same frame, then advance. The film is processed normally and you get
amazing multiple exposure images.

You can do this with any film by simply setting the exposure meter to
whatever ASA you want, then doubling the number of exposures of the ASA.
In other words, if an ASA 100 film is used, the meter is set for 800....you
then shoot 16 times on the same frame or set to ASA 1600, you shoot 32
times on the same frame.

And with Leica glass you get some very interesting multiple images.
Regardless of the content. But many moons are neat!:)

So endth the lesson for to-night. It was a nice evening Leica moment. Of
course the greatness of all this will be seen or not seen to-morrow morning
after the colour lab does their thing. :)

ted














Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant