Moonshot with a handheld Fuji XF150-600 and a Fuji X-T3

The moon doesn’t forgive technical sloppiness. Any softness in focus, hint of motion blur, or weakness in exposure shows up instantly. This crescent was taken handheld with the Fuji XF150-600 on an X-T3 — a combination that, on paper, might not seem ideal for lunar work without a tripod. Yet, that challenge was the point.

The compression of 600mm brought the surface’s rugged texture into relief, and the X-T3’s sensor resolved the fine gradations between illuminated craters and the shadowed terminator with satisfying clarity. The key here was managing shutter speed — 1/1000s gave me enough to counteract handshake, but I kept the ISO just high enough to hold detail without inviting unnecessary noise into the blacks.

Compositionally, I left the moon adrift in negative space, resisting the temptation to crop in tighter. The surrounding void isn’t empty; it’s an active part of the image, emphasising the crescent’s fragility and the sensation of suspended isolation.

Technically, this shot works because the lens’ stabilisation played along with disciplined shooting technique. The handheld constraint didn’t compromise sharpness — instead, it added a certain immediacy. No meticulous setup, no waiting for perfect stillness — just me, the lens, and a thin slice of moon hanging quietly in the night.