What would you take if you had a shoot on the moon?
An eagle eyed Reddit user (is there any other kind?) has spent some time detailing a fascinating breakdown of the kit used by Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong to capture their lunar landing- complete with exposer instructions. What’s more amazing is that ahead of their time NASA used a nifty little ‘life hack’. They eliminated the need for batteries through the use of a manual shutter.
When planning a shoot half the work is deciding on the correct gear for the environment. Working out whether to shoot minimal with perhaps only a Mitros flash, or load up the gear bag with as many light diffusers and remotes as it can fit. Astronauts are no exception to this debate, and it seems with the meticulous planning that you would expect from NASA the whole shoot was carefully planned.
Summary:
- ISO / ASA 160
- Shutter Speed 1/250
- Aperture varies: 5.6 – 11
- 60mm lens (~39mm equivalent for 35mm)
For the benefit of those born after the event its lucky it was, as the moon landing must surely still rank as one of the most important events ever. Having it documented so vividly allows us all to share in the magic. What this post also shows, as picked up on by Reddit commentators, is how essential photography, as an art form, is to science. Especially space studies. PetaPixel have a more detailed breakdown of the kit used for those who want an insider analysis.
Although, the more interesting question is what would you take with you? How would the kit bag and settings have changed if it was to happen today?