Much preparation went into the sequential lunar images shown below. Using an 85mm lens and ISO800 film, the shots were made from single negatives; no "sandwiching" of negatives or computer manipulation was involved.
Photographed Oct. 11, 2000, the shots were months in the making, primarily due to the rarity of an anywhere-near-full moon visible in the often overcast skies of Northwest Ohio. The rest was fairly easy. How was it done?

Here's how:

A five exposure sequence was chosen since the full moon all but disappears photographically when its correctly exposed image is halved five times. The five exposures of the moon, proceeding from the underexposed frames to the final, correct exposure, were f22 at 1/2000, 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250 and 1/125. Using a Nikon FM2 camera, the sequence was selected to minimize contact with the camera (only five turns of the shutter speed selector were needed) and to allow for synchronization of the electronic flash used to illuminate the trees for a final, sixth, exposure. Though there is a formula for determining how long it takes an object measuring so many arc minutes to move a given distance across the sky, I used trial and error to conclude that the five images of the moon would bridge the distance between the trees when shot at five minute intervals.
For the sixth exposure, it was necessary to refocus on the trees and to open the lens aperture to f8 to correctly expose the trees with the electronic flash. The sixth exposure was made about a half hour after the others, when the moon had disappeared behind the foliage.

For the shot of the Iridium flares below, computer manipulation was involved.

On April 6, 2000, Iridium 77 was predicted to flare at magnitude -0.7 in the north some 40 seconds before the fainter -0.0 Iridium 43. They would be separated by one degree azimuth and altitude. Using ISO 800 film and a 50mm lens set at f2.8-4, I had planned to capture both events on the same frame by briefly covering the lens between flares. Instead, I accidentally released the shutter after the first flare. I had to hurriedly advance the film and re-open the shutter to capture the second flare. Because of my negligence, what could have been captured on one frame had to be recreated by digitally "sandwiching" two separate frames. The bright star at left is Errai in Cepheus. The diagonal light trail came courtesy of the pilot of a small plane who happened on the event with impeccable timing and artistry.

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