When the sun and the moon and the earth line up with the moon in the middle it makes a solar eclipse. This happens from time to time, but since the moon is so small, you have to be in just the right place on Earth to see a total eclipse where the sun is completely obscured. I saw a partial eclipse in 2014, and that was incredible. But our American readers are in for a real treat because next August 21st there will be a total eclipse in much of the United States. Thanks to a note from my friends at the Eastern Idaho Photographic Society, we’ve got a head start on planning for what to shoot during the eclipse.
The Map in the cover photo is from Xavier Jubier’s terrific map, which we’ll discuss more below.
What to Photograph?
Unless you’ve got a very long lens, making a picture of the eclipse itself probably won’t be that interesting. In a picture, the sun and moon look very small, so I wouldn’t suggest the eclipse being the subject of the picture for most of us. I suggest you find a subject that will benefit from being photographed during an eclipse.
I shot this with a 75mm lens on a GH4, so it’s like a 150mm lens on a full frame. It’s not very big, and it’s not very interesting.
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If you’re near the center of the strip that will be in total blackout, then the sun is supposed to be very dark, maybe giving only as much light as a bright full moon. That means the difference between light and dark will be significantly reduced. That may mean it’ll be like making HDR photographs without using HDR software (like the magnificent Photomatix).
As you plan what to photograph, consider what subjects might be good. Is there some architecture that might be stunning? Perhaps a natural feature nearby, like a striking rock or mountain? Would you do well with a model to pose for you? Is there a particular client who would love to be photographed during a once-in-lifetime event?
I made this portrait during the last eclipse and the sun was merely darkened from my position. That darker sky made it easy to make a portrait with balanced light in the background and on the subject with a flash.
Tools for Planning
Here are a couple of good resources for planning your shoot during the eclipse.
Photopills This app will help you plan where the sun will be in relation to landmarks on any day. It costs a few dollars, but I find it really useful. I reviewed it in this article.
The Photographer’s Ephemeris This site is similar to Photopills and will help you plan any photograph.
www.Eclipse2017.org This site has all kinds of helpful information about the eclipse.
Xavier Jubier’s Map There’s a search box in the top left corner of this map. Just enter your city and it’ll tell you all kinds of information about the eclipse in relation to you. This is a really cool tool.
Thanks to this map, I know I’d better go visit my brother-in-law’s family in Newport, OR if I want to see the total eclipse. Now, to find something there to photograph…
Levi Sim
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Keep in mind that totality will only last for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Needless to say, that’s not a lot of time to pose a person or fidget with equipment to get the right shot. And, while doing all of that, you’ll miss out on actually observing the spectacle yourself! Our advice is to take photographs in the hours leading up to totality, when the quality of the lighting starts to subtly change. Also, note that the ONLY time it is safe to look at the Sun during a total eclipse is during the very brief period of totality. If you want to try to photograph the partial phases of the eclipse, you need special filters for your camera to prevent permanent damage to your eyes.
Thanks for the tips!
Here’s another advantage to mirrorless cameras: we’re never looking directly through the lens at anything!
I would plan on using live view. Is there a concern for the camera sensor when shooting the sun directly?