The pinnacle of all celestial events happens to be a fan-favorite for creators all over the world. Photographers will flock to witness and capture the total solar eclipse, where the moon passes between the sun and the earth. The solar eclipse provides a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity, but it isn’t quite as easy as point-and-shoot. If you want to capture great photos, you’ll need to do some legwork beforehand to ensure your shoot goes to plan. Despite the challenges that a total solar eclipse may bring, we have you covered so you can capture amazing photos of this rare event.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the sun and the earth, essentially casting a giant shadow on the earth. This causes it to be dark outside, as the sunlight is being blocked during totality. A total solar eclipse happens about every 18 months, but can only be viewed from certain spots in the world. Depending on the direction the earth is facing, you may be able to see a partial eclipse, the total eclipse, or no eclipse at all.
When looking to find a spot to photograph the solar eclipse, go online and find a map where you can see the area where the eclipse will be 100% visible, otherwise known as the path of totality.
Best Gear for Shooting a Solar Eclipse
Capturing a unique event like the total solar eclipse requires some special gear. First and foremost, you’ll want to pick up a set of eclipse glasses. Even though the sunlight is going to be blocked by the moon, looking into the sun will still damage your eyesight. In order to see the eclipse with your eyes and set your camera up perfectly, you’ll want to wear eclipse glasses.
Of course, you’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Despite what you may think, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a camera body to get nice photos. Where you will want to spend some money is on the lens. Many photographers opt to rent a lens for the eclipse, since you’ll need a lot of zoom in order to capture the eclipse in a way that fills the frame. A 1,000mm feels just right, but you can always use a lens with less zoom and crop later.
A tripod is also going to be your friend when capturing a total solar eclipse. Your shutter speed will be very fast. Although, trying to hold the camera steady with a massive lens is going to be nearly impossible. In addition to the tripod, be sure to pick up a solar filter so you can shoot properly exposed images of the sun. The solar filter is necessary to capture exposures of the sun before and after totality, but you need to take it off quickly during totality.
Preparing for the Solar Eclipse
You can almost shoot the solar eclipse from anywhere within the path of totality. For the best results, it’s recommended to find a spot with a clear, unobstructed view of the sky and ample space to set up your photography gear. You can find the path of totality easily with a simple Google search for the solar eclipse you plan to capture.
Once you’ve found a spot with a view of the sky, you’ll want to make sure the weather is going to be clear. There should be minimal haze or smoke in the air. There are plenty of astrophotography apps and websites that will show you predicted cloud coverage. Clouds will ruin your shoot and make it so that you can’t see the total solar eclipse.
Show up early. The partial eclipse will start about an hour and 15 minutes before totality. It will last about an hour and 15 minutes after. Since it might take you a while to get all set up, be sure to arrive with plenty of time to spare. Be prepared to sit for a couple hours before and a couple hours after the eclipse.
Best Camera Settings for Shooting a Solar Eclipse
Due to the extreme circumstances, you’ll get the best images while shooting fully in manual mode. If you haven’t shot in manual before, play around with it before the day of the eclipse in order to work out any kinks before the big day.
ISO and Aperture
You can start off by setting your ISO to 100 (or whatever the lowest native ISO is). There is no need to raise the ISO to introduce unwanted noise into the image. Next, set your aperture f/8 to ensure the best sharpness. Sharpness may vary on different lenses, but f/8 is a safe bet for sharp images.
Shutter speed
The shutter speed will need to be adjusted based on the place of the sun. Since you’ll already be out shooting, it’s recommended to shoot the time before and after the eclipse in order to capture the partial eclipse, which also looks incredible.
In addition, darker solar filters will require you to open up the shutter speed further. The best thing to do is use your camera’s histogram to properly expose the image. Once the moon is totally in front of the sun (signaling totality), you’ll need to greatly increase the exposure in order to properly expose the image in darkness.
You’ll also want to make sure that you nail your focus point. Nothing is worse than coming home to blurry photos, especially for an event as rare as a total solar eclipse. You can try using autofocus on the sun, but you’ll more than likely need to use manual focus. Switch your camera and lens into manual focus, turn the focus ring, and dial in the focus until the image is as sharp as possible. Using something like focus peaking, or zooming in on your camera’s screen while focusing, can help make this process easier.
Tips for Shooting the Solar Eclipse
Know the Differences
First and foremost, you need understand the different kinds of eclipses. If you feel like you hear about an “eclipse” happening every few months, that is because they do! Solar eclipses come in four different ways: total, partial, hybrid, and annular. In addition to the four solar eclipses, there are three different kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. The best kind of solar eclipse for photography is the total solar eclipse, which is what we’ve covered in this article.
Take off the Solar Filter
One mistake many photographers make is not taking their solar filter off the lens during totality. When the moon blocks the sun, it will get much darker and your solar filter will block you from seeing the sun. You need to quickly take off the solar filter when shooting during totality, which only lasts 4-5 minutes.
Knowing the ins-and-outs of your camera and being aware of how to dial in your settings quickly is crucial to avoid missing out on the shot. If you can’t get the filter off and adjust your settings quick enough, you’ll miss totality and will have to wait another 18 months (and long travel times) for your next chance.
Get Creative
Lastly, consider taking additional images to form a more creative composition. The standard zoomed-in shot of the eclipse that fills the frame is great but, if you have extra time, you should consider ways you can make your eclipse shot unique. Shooting a foreground to blend later or finding a subject that will silhouette inside the sun are two ways you can create a unique image that will help you stand out from the thousands of other photographers capturing the same eclipse.
Conclusion
Capturing a total solar eclipse is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for millions of photographers. It’s something every photographer should capture at least once in their lifetime. Be sure to utilize this guide in order to iron out the kinks before shooting — since you may only get one chance to nail the shot. Regardless of the preparation, time, and travel commitment, capturing a total solar eclipse will be something you’ll never forget and, if done correctly, will yield an amazing shot for your portfolio.
Featured Image from Shutterstock
