This coming Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 there will be a lunar eclipse, which should be visible form Spirit Lake , and other areas of the Midwest. Photographing an eclipse can present some challenges. Use a tripod and remote release.
Manual focus is the way to go for this project. Focus to infinity. If your camera offers Mirror Lockup, use it to reduce the possibility of camera movement from the mirror activating. If you are using a mirrorless camera you are good to go.
Find a location where you can get a good view and have a interesting foreground and background, if possible.
Exposure is the fun part. I usually use the Spot meter. I meter on the moon and set the camera to those settings, in manual mode. As the eclipse progresses, the exposure will change, so meter as the moon is covered, and gets darker, during the eclipse. Since the moon, and the earth, are moving do not use really long shutter speeds. Doing so can lead to blurry images.
I will be shooting with two cameras, one with a wide angle, set to Interval Shooting to create a time lapse sequence. The second will have either my 100-400mm or 120-300mm zoom. The 120-300 is a 2.8 so that is what I will probably use, since it is easier to focus, and the 2.8 aperture helps maintain a higher shutter speed. Remember to turn off Image Stabilization when the camera is on the tripod. I suggest checking basic camera settings, such as M mode, ISO, and manual focus, before heading out. That way you will have less to set up when you get to your chosen location. I start at ISO 100 and raise as needed.
Take a flashlight along so you can see the camera controls, and where you are going, as you move to and from your location.
I will be shooting in RAW and editing in Lightroom. Take lots of images.
Make sure the batteries are fully charged, as the eclipse takes several hours. I will be dressing for the weather, as the temperature here will drop quickly as it gets dark.
Here is a link to a previous eclipse I photographed.
https://animoto.com/play/I5Vy0Zwrv3F17YLPgWqxUw
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