# Last night's moon + RP **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape, astro, intimate\ **Created:** [March 20, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175 "2026-03-20T14:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/1 "2026-03-20T14:44:29Z")
And a RP leaving some room for the virtual earthshine (for anyone else who is as OCD as I am). ![_49A2015-Edit-Edit](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/6/9/69a6f188bfcf5e1326a620181b1e37f88b65b1c1.jpeg) ![_49A2015-Edit.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/4/f/4f347069424a9d32d2433e869c750ef8b79e0d1d.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description With trees to the west (and even taller ones east) I rarely get a first-day crescent. It wasn’t dark enough to see this one until just before it disappeared in the trees. And I’m shooting over about 25 miles of land that got pretty warm yesterday so the air wasn’t still. ### Specific Feedback All comments welcome! ### Technical Details ![Screenshot 2026-03-20 at 7.32.51 AM](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/9/099ce464ba895e8ff3aa546bc68391b99cfff7bc.png) A focus stack – the trees are maybe 100 yards away and no way to focus on both. No LR adjustments, stack in PS and mask the OOF moon. Minor tweak to sky color as it recorded with daylight WB as just slightly toward cyan. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@Ed\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ed_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/2 "2026-03-20T16:18:19Z")
Hi Diane, Sometimes less is more and that is certainly the case here. That crescent moon reminds me of the Cheshire Cat 's smile in Alice In Wonderland. I also like the moon’s location just above the treeline. No suggestions from me as the processing looks very natural for that time of day. ---
**Author:** ![Youssef\_Ismail](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/youssef_ismail/32/486_2.png) [@Youssef\_Ismail](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Youssef_Ismail)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/3 "2026-03-20T23:57:32Z")
Diane, Great work! The sharpness of the moon and trees is great and the composite worked perfectly. I am always impressed by how much resolution the modern digital cameras have in resolving that thin crescent. Did you have to correct for any chromatic abbertions? ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 1:42am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/4 "2026-03-21T01:42:12Z")
Thanks, @Ed_Lowe and @Youssef_Ismail ! This is just simple observation that is humbled by your ability to make it art! I keep hoping for at least some color gradient to justify a wider angle, but there was none. (There was some vague gold well to the SW…) No CA (except perhaps the slight correction that is checked when I import to LR. If it had been a lot darker there might have been some with the higher contrast.. I’ll try again tonight to see what happens when (if) I track it. I’ll try to do a regular capture as well, but I doubt I would have any. With stars, though, it’s a different story, with the regular camera. Even the telescope has a little (at a much narrower FOV) but it is corrected in the processing. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/5 "2026-03-21T03:01:32Z")
When I first saw this I was sure it was a @Youssef_Ismail image. What a surprise to find out it was yours. It’s very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/6 "2026-03-21T03:31:48Z")
Thanks, @Igor_Doncov – that is a real compliment! But at least this proves I tried! And tonight the moon was higher in a darker sky and I wanted to try to shoot it with the astro rig, but the little computer controller that runs it with an iPad interface was pouting because it was overheated and wouldn’t go to the moon. And the mosquitos were out in force so I gave up. And as I type this, back indoors, there is a mosquito buzzing around my head. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/7 "2026-03-21T03:34:45Z")
> [@Diane\_Miller](#): > > And as I type this, back indoors, there is a mosquito buzzing around my head. I hate when that happens. In such cases I find that I do more damage to my head than to the mosquito. ---
**Author:** ![Youssef\_Ismail](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/youssef_ismail/32/486_2.png) [@Youssef\_Ismail](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Youssef_Ismail)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:49am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/8 "2026-03-21T03:49:03Z")
> [@Igor\_Doncov](#): > > I hate when that happens. In such cases I find that I do more damage to my head than to the mosquito. Igor, that is hilarious. I know what you mean. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/9 "2026-03-21T15:07:02Z")
So so I! Is there an accessory for astrophotography that puts out some sort of insect-repelling signal? After the mosquitos have retired for the evening, my red headlamp attracts moths – in droves. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Williams](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/john_williams/32/28797_2.png) [@John\_Williams](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/John_Williams)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/10 "2026-03-21T17:02:46Z")
What @Youssef_Ismail said! 🤣 What a lovely cradle and sliver of moon Diane. My only thought, which granted is typically incorrect, is to play with a 4x5 crop that makes the moon a little larger (cropping back into the tree on the right and a bit off the top and bottom?)? ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/11 "2026-03-21T17:45:38Z")
Thanks, @John_Williams! I was remiss in framing because I was about to lose the moon and now I see I didn’t leave room for the virtual earthshine (which was swamped by the ambient light but was just barely visible the next night. I was busy with tracker issues due to the heat and just too crabby to set up the real camera again. I’ll do a RP with more canvas on top and see if that works better. Stand by… ---
**Author:** ![Youssef\_Ismail](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/youssef_ismail/32/486_2.png) [@Youssef\_Ismail](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Youssef_Ismail)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/12 "2026-03-21T19:06:39Z")
Diane, I like the repost with more room for the earthshine portion. I noticed it as well in my photo, which for such a thin moon and when I photographed it at that time it is rare to have as much earth shine we it did. Perhaps the incredibly clear skies we had on Thursday was in part the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/13 "2026-03-21T19:31:20Z")
Thanks, @Youssef_Ismail ! Yes, I think the clear air helped, and for you, so close to the coast, it must be even better than shooting at such a low angle over radiated heat and air pollution. And I definitely need to find a more lovely tree. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Lowe](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/michael_lowe/32/7118_2.png) [@Michael\_Lowe](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Michael_Lowe)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/14 "2026-04-01T17:09:34Z")
I missed this on. What a lovely little shot. I’m not seeing the earthglow though. Maybe a touch at the top? ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/last-nights-moon-rp/50175/15 "2026-04-01T18:29:45Z")
Thanks, @Michael_Lowe ! Earthshine was swamped by ambient light and air pollution and the thickness of the atmosphere at this low elevation. There would be some wonderful captures of it from space, or even from a mountaintop in very clear air. It’s more obvious the second or third nights when it’s darker before moonset. I’ve managed to capture it some of those days, but with very tedious masking of the bright area. ![042 _49A5826-Edit-Edit-Edit](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/9/798d66460042d186ce5ffbfa3e6e6a809a26cf22.jpeg)