Moon photography sits at a unique intersection of astrophotography and telephoto technique. The moon is extraordinarily bright — far brighter than most photographers expect — and capturing its surface detail requires settings that are almost the opposite of nightscape photography. Add an Atlanta landmark into the frame and you have one of the most compelling and technical cityscape-astro compositions in the genre.
The Looney 11 Rule
Start here every time: at f/11, your shutter speed equals 1/ISO for a correctly exposed full moon. At ISO 400, that's 1/400s. At ISO 100, it's 1/100s. The full moon in a clear sky is genuinely that bright — it's reflecting direct sunlight. Refine from there based on atmospheric conditions and moon phase. A gibbous moon (75–95% illuminated) is actually my preferred target: the terminator line — where light meets shadow — creates extraordinary three-dimensional crater relief that a full moon's flat frontal lighting can't match.
Focusing for Maximum Sharpness
Use Sony's Real-time Tracking AF on a crater edge for initial lock, then switch to manual and fine-tune with magnified live view. The moon moves faster than you expect — at 600mm, it traverses its own diameter in roughly 2 minutes. If you're shooting a single crisp frame, use a fast enough shutter speed (1/500s or faster) to freeze any tracking error. Shoot bursts of 5–10 frames and select the sharpest — atmospheric turbulence varies shot to shot and your best frame is rarely the first.
Atlanta Moonrise Alignment — The Money Shot
The most compelling moon shots place a recognisable Atlanta landmark in front of a rising moon. The Bank of America Plaza — with its distinctive illuminated copper pyramid — is my favourite subject. As the moon rises in the east, its warm orange tone from atmospheric refraction pairs perfectly with the plaza's copper illumination. I use PhotoPills' Moon Planner to calculate the exact date, time, and position I need to stand to align the moon with the spire. This level of planning is non-negotiable — the alignment window lasts maybe 3–4 minutes before the moon has moved.
Post-Processing Lunar Detail
Lunar RAW files need different treatment than nightscape images. Push Texture and Clarity aggressively (+60/+50) to reveal surface relief — the shadows in craters are your friend. Use the Detail panel's Sharpening at Amount 80, Radius 0.8, Detail 60 for the finest crater edge definition. Noise reduction should be minimal — the moon at base ISO is very clean. Convert to black and white for maximum drama, or keep the subtle warm tones of a moonrise for a more atmospheric result.