Camera Settings by Phase
🌕
Penumbral Phase
Begins ~2 hours before totality
Moon enters Earth's outer shadow. Subtle dimming visible.
ISO
100-400
Aperture
f/8-f/11
Shutter
1/125s - 1/250s
Notes
Similar to regular full moon photography
🌗
Partial Eclipse
~1 hour before totality
Earth's umbra creates a dark bite in the moon's surface.
ISO
400-800
Aperture
f/8
Shutter
1/60s - 1/125s
Notes
Increase exposure as shadow covers more of the moon
🔴
Total Eclipse (Blood Moon)
~62 minutes of totality
Moon turns deep red. The most dramatic phase for photography.
ISO
1600-6400
Aperture
f/4-f/8
Shutter
1/2s - 4s (tripod required)
Notes
Experiment with exposures - brightness varies
Photography Tips
- 1Start with normal full moon settings during penumbral phase
- 2Increase ISO and exposure as the eclipse progresses
- 3Use a tripod - totality requires exposures of 1-4 seconds
- 4Bracket your exposures for HDR processing later
- 5Capture a sequence showing all phases of the eclipse
- 6Use manual focus and check focus between phases
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using auto-exposure (moon becomes overexposed white blob)
- ✗Not bringing a tripod for long exposures
- ✗Forgetting to adjust settings as conditions change
- ✗Only shooting at one focal length
- ✗Not checking weather forecast and backup locations
Quick Reference
Essential settings for each phase
Recommended Gear
- ✓Telephoto lens (200mm+)
- ✓Sturdy tripod
- ✓Remote shutter release
- ✓Extra batteries
- â—‹Star tracker (optional)
Difficulty LevelIntermediate