How do you photograph the moon?

I tried to photograph last months full moon for the first time and my shots just looked like a white dot surrounded by black space.  Not very interesting at all.  Certainly didn't feel like what I was looking at.  Can you suggest some tips on how to photograph the moon please?  

Looks like you are kind of new here, welcome here!

Photographing the moon can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it does require some specific techniques and gear. Here are a few tips on how to photograph the moon:

1. Use a telephoto lens: To capture a close-up of the moon, you'll need a lens with a long focal length. A lens with a focal length of at least 300mm will work well, but a longer lens will allow you to capture more detail.
2. Use a tripod (super important): The moon is a relatively stationary object, but even the slightest movement of the camera can cause blur in the final image. Using a tripod will ensure that your camera stays steady during the long exposures required for moon photography.
3. Use manual focus: The moon is often too bright for autofocus to work correctly, so it's best to switch to manual focus and focus on the moon manually.
4. Use a remote release or self-timer: To avoid any camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button, use a remote release or set your camera's self-timer.
5. Adjust your camera settings: To capture the moon properly, you will need to set your camera to manual mode. Use a low ISO (100-200) and a wide aperture (f/8-f/11) and a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second or longer.
6. Take multiple shots: To ensure you get the perfect shot, take multiple images at different exposure settings.
7. Experiment with different composition AND camera settings: When photographing the moon, you can experiment with different composition, such as including some foreground elements or shoot the moon with a landscape.
8. Edit your photo: After capturing the moon, you can use photo-editing software to adjust the exposure, brightness, contrast, and sharpness of the final image.

Keep in mind that the moon is (but will get much easier with practice) a difficult subject to photograph, so don't get discouraged if your first attempts don't turn out as well as you'd hoped. With practice and experimentation, you'll be able to capture beautiful images of the moon. One other thing I can't stress enough, don't forget to try to frame in interesting foregrounds this will add so much value to your photo!

Another aspect that people often forget when photographing the moon is focusing. The moon is often too bright for autofocus to work correctly, so it's best to switch to manual focus and focus on the moon manually. This can be difficult, especially when using a long focal length lens, so it's important to take your time and focus as precisely as possible.

Another interesting one

Everything said here is 100% spot on. The only thing I would add is that if you're using a DSLR then you'll want to lock the mirror. When the mirror flips up it causes camera shake and that is noticable when using long lenses. Basically your set-up needs to be as rigid as possible. Also if you're only seeing a white dot then decrease the exposure (decrease shutter speed/lower ISO).

I took this one in December. Focal length is 600mm so I used a timer to allow the camera to fully settle before the shot was taken. The rest is pretty straightforward: 1/50   f/6.3   ISO100

Moon by esseff , on Flickr

Absolutely love this forum, thank you all for helping me out here!!

Esseff wrote: Everything said here is 100% spot on. The only thing I would add is that if you're using a DSLR then you'll want to lock the mirror. When the mirror flips up it causes camera shake and that is noticable when using long lenses. Basically your set-up needs to be as rigid as possible. Also if you're only seeing a white dot then decrease the exposure (decrease shutter speed/lower ISO).

I took this one in December. Focal length is 600mm so I used a timer to allow the camera to fully settle before the shot was taken. The rest is pretty straightforward: 1/50   f/6.3   ISO100

Moon by esseff , on Flickr

  good point