Chasing Totality: I learned these lessons learned for photographing a solar eclipse so you don’t have to

On August 21, 2017, I used to be greeted by my alarm clock at 6 am, and I rolled away from bed with pleasure. I had been eagerly anticipating today for the previous couple of years, and the time had lastly arrived. In a mere 9 hours, I’d expertise The Nice American Eclipse, the primary whole photo voltaic eclipse seen from the USA in 38 years, a time earlier than I used to be born.

My girlfriend and I obtained in her automotive and left Louisville, Kentucky, embarking on the 2-and-a-half-hour drive south to a secluded park in Sharon Grove. The morning air was heat and welcoming, and as we obtained on the interstate, the world appeared quiet and peaceable, with most individuals nonetheless tucked away of their properties. The light hum of the engine and the wind whipping over the automotive had been the one sounds accompanying us on our journey.

Because the solar peeked over the horizon, I used to be pleased to really feel its heat and see its glow embrace my discipline of view. The golden rays cascaded throughout the panorama, portray the sky in an excellent array of oranges and pinks. There have been no clouds in sight, and the solar shone as if it had been another summer time day, blissfully unaware of the celestial occasion that may quickly unfold.

With every mile that handed, my anticipation grew, and I couldn’t assist however think about what it will really feel prefer to witness the moon blocking the solar’s gentle, casting an eerie darkness throughout the land. Little did I do know that this expertise could be one which I’d cherish for a lifetime.

Imaging Gear Used For The 2017 Photo voltaic Eclipse

A Humbling Realization

My purpose for the day, in addition to witnessing the eclipse with my very own eyes, was to seize it with roughly $5,000 price of imaging gear that I utilized in my common line of labor as a videographer. With a decade of expertise creating movies, I figured I’d be capable of seize some superb pictures. In any case, I had seen tons of of different beautiful images on-line, so how laborious may or not it’s to create one thing related?

Because it seems, capturing pictures of an eclipse was a talent that I had but to grasp. In contrast to most of my skilled video work, I had by no means recorded an eclipse earlier than, and I may solely guess what methods and settings would yield the most effective outcomes. It was a humbling realization that even with a decade of expertise, I used to be nonetheless a novice when it got here to this distinctive occasion within the sky.

Earlier than I’m going any additional into my eclipse pictures journey, I wish to provide some recommendation. If anybody plans on seeing an eclipse and is contemplating recording or photographing it, I don’t utterly advocate doing so. Not solely is it extremely troublesome to seize from a technical standpoint, however you additionally solely have one probability to get your pictures. Extra importantly, the eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise that’s much more awe-inspiring when witnessed in particular person. I feel most individuals would somewhat totally stay within the second, somewhat than fussing with publicity settings and framing up pictures with their digicam, doubtlessly lacking the breathtaking magnificence unfolding earlier than them.

Hindsight and Realization

With that out of the best way, again to the story and what I discovered from 2017. The solar, now greater within the sky, solid an excellent gentle throughout the countryside, illuminating the luxurious inexperienced fields and towering bushes that lined the freeway. It was a picture-perfect day, and I couldn’t assist however really feel a mixture of pleasure and nervousness about my try and {photograph} this distinctive occasion.

After we lastly arrived on the secluded park, I rapidly arrange my gear and commenced capturing the solar because the moon slowly crept throughout its face. My girlfriend determined to benefit from the expertise with out the distraction of a digicam and sat beneath a shaded picnic space, patiently awaiting the second of totality.

Because the eclipse progressed and I continued to regulate my cameras, I couldn’t assist however really feel that I wasn’t totally embracing the second. I messed with my gear, adjusting dials and framing, however realized I is likely to be lacking out on one thing really particular by focusing a lot of my time on the three cameras I had introduced alongside.

It wasn’t till later after I reviewed my footage and mirrored on the expertise, that I noticed I had made a number of errors in my try and seize the proper pictures. These errors, together with some issues I did proper, helped me create a listing of dos and don’ts for anybody contemplating photographing or recording a complete photo voltaic eclipse. Hopefully, this record will assist others take advantage of this expertise whereas avoiding a few of the points I encountered.

This video reveals what I captured of totality through the 2017 photo voltaic eclipse, and you’ll hear the audio response from my spouse and myself:

5 Classes Realized the Laborious Approach

Listed below are 5 don’ts to remember when trying to seize an eclipse:

1. Don’t report the solar earlier than totality with out utilizing a photo voltaic filter.

Fortunately, this is without doubt one of the few issues I obtained proper. I made a number of photo voltaic filters from photo voltaic movie, which is basically like a pair of sun shades to your digicam, however designed particularly for trying on the solar. I’ve seen images posted on-line the place folks ruined hundreds of {dollars} price of pictures gear by pointing their cameras on the solar with out this safety. In some cases, the solar burnt the digicam’s sensor, whereas in different conditions, the solar really melted the aperture blades within the digicam’s lens.

2. Don’t use an especially tight zoom on the solar.

Whereas it might look neat for the solar to fill all the body, except you have got specialised astrophotography gear that may counteract the rotation of the earth, the solar will probably be out of the digicam’s framing earlier than the eclipse is over. Goal to have the solar take up not more than 20% of the body. A photograph or video that’s a little bit extra zoomed out could appear much less fascinating, however it’s much better to have the solar within the shot, even when it’s smaller than you’d like. Keep in mind, cameras have excessive resolutions now, and you’ll all the time crop the picture later if desired.

3. Don’t contact your tripod throughout totality.

This pertains to the earlier tip of getting a wider shot. After I recorded the eclipse in 2017, my digicam’s lens was too zoomed in, and the solar obtained to the sting of the body because the totality began. I spent 10 or 15 seconds twiddling with the tripod as soon as totality started. That’s an eternity relating to one thing that solely lasts a couple of minutes and is an occasion you could solely get to see as soon as in your life.

4. Don’t shoot the eclipse in gradual movement.

I assumed it will be actually fascinating to see the solar’s rays from the corona dancing round in gradual movement. It seems the corona doesn’t actually transfer all that a lot in real-time, and with some cameras, you lose the power to seize audio in gradual movement. The one scenario the place gradual movement is likely to be cool is a shot of the “diamond ring” impact because the solar peeks by way of the valleys of the moon proper earlier than and after totality. Sluggish movement simply complicates issues.

5. Don’t overlook to take away your photo voltaic filter throughout totality.

It’s unlucky that I’ve to convey this up, however on the digicam I had set as much as take common pictures, I utterly forgot to take away the photo voltaic filter because the moon utterly blocked the solar. After I appeared for the pictures of totality, they turned out to be utterly black. To keep away from making the identical mistake, think about setting a timer to go off proper earlier than totality with a label reminding you to take away the photo voltaic filter.

This video reveals how rapidly the earth darkens and brightens from a drone’s perspective proper earlier than and after an eclipse:

Three Methods to Create Lasting Eclipse Recollections

Fortunately, the issues I do advocate for photographing the eclipse are a lot simpler to do and will likely be extra priceless to you once you look again on today sooner or later.

1. Do take a look at the eclipse with your individual eyes (as soon as the moon has utterly blocked the solar).

Cameras merely don’t do justice to what you’re going to see throughout totality. Seeing a complete eclipse is, fairly frankly, an indescribable expertise that it’s important to witness firsthand. Perhaps sometime cameras can seize the second precisely, however for now, they merely don’t do the occasion justice.

2. Do take a gaggle picture.

Proper earlier than it will get utterly darkish, take a selfie or group picture of your self and whoever you’re with. There are going to be tons of nice images posted on-line of the eclipse, and lots of will even look related to one another. Nevertheless, one picture that’s going to be utterly distinctive and doubtless extra significant is seeing your self and who you had been with that day. That’s a photograph that you just gained’t discover anyplace else on-line. Don’t fear about getting the proper shot; the vital factor is to seize the reminiscence of being collectively throughout this unbelievable second.

3. Do report audio of the eclipse.

This was by far the smartest factor I captured through the eclipse, and it was utterly by chance. In addition to the bugs and animals going almost silent, which in itself was fascinating, I used to be utterly shocked after I went by way of the footage and listened to my girlfriend’s and my response to seeing the eclipse. I don’t get excited a lot, however it was so neat to listen to real pleasure and awe from each of us throughout this superb occasion. You’ll by no means bear in mind your precise ideas from the second, however you’re most likely going to say some issues through the eclipse that you just’ll actually cherish once you look again on the day.

To report audio, use a smartphone with a pre-downloaded audio recorder app, as you could not have cell service or be capable of obtain an app within the path of the eclipse as a result of inflow of individuals within the viewing space. Place the audio recorder in the midst of your group for the most effective outcomes. Understand that if it’s windy, the wind noise may drown out what you say, however capturing your reactions continues to be price a attempt.

The Bittersweet Great thing about an Eclipse

With the recommendation I’ve given, there’s really nothing that may totally put together you for the awe-inspiring expertise of witnessing a complete eclipse. It’s like being granted superpowers, however just for a fleeting two to 4 minutes. Irrespective of how a lot you put together, you’ll by no means be capable of do all the pieces you need in these temporary moments. The eclipse will likely be over in what looks like an instantaneous, leaving you with a bittersweet sense of getting witnessed one thing extraordinary that you could be by no means expertise once more.

Throughout totality, concentrate on being totally current within the second. Lookup on the sky and permit your self to be immersed within the expertise. Look on the floor within the minutes main as much as totality, and also you’ll see the world reworked, with crescent-shaped shadows solid by the leaves on the bushes.

Embracing the Second, Not the Digital camera

Personally, I’d resist the temptation to seize the occasion by way of a digicam lens. Images and movies can by no means do justice to the precise expertise. As a substitute, cherish the reminiscence of witnessing the eclipse in its entirety with out the distractions introduced on by know-how. The reminiscences you create by being totally current will likely be much more priceless than any picture you may seize.

Because the moon drifts away from the solar and the sunshine returns, you’ll be left with a profound sense of getting been a part of one thing really unbelievable. The expertise could also be short-lived, and you could by no means have the prospect to see one other whole eclipse once more, however the reminiscences and feelings will stick with you for a lifetime. It’s a robust reminder to cherish life’s most superb moments whereas they final.

P.S. If you’re on the lookout for extra, we have now extra nice ideas for photographing the eclipse from Canon ambassador Keith Ladzinski