Capture a Solar Eclipse

Being in the right place at the right time to capture a total solar eclipse on film is pretty rare. There are fewer than five solar eclipses each year with a maximum of two (and likely none) being a total eclipse. Added to that, you can only see the eclipse if you are in the narrow corridor where it is visible. Wow. Talk about perfect timing, right? As a matter of fact, I can only remember one total solar eclipse in the last thirty years and I was in elementary school. (Stupid parents made me stay inside so I wouldn’t look up and hurt myself….argh!)

Back on track… if you are really interested in astrophotography, you will at some point find yourself on a mission to capture a solar eclipse on film. It’s like the Holy Grail of astro-geeks (which I mean in the most loving way). I know if I ever have the opportunity again, I won’t be inside. As a matter of fact I’ll be outside with all of my cameras (heck, I’d say that kind of event would call for some new cameras too!) and tripods. Timers, remotes, every gizmo I can get my hands on. Prior to show time? I’ll obviously defrag my hard drive so that I’m able to play (quickly, because I’m an instant gratification kind of girl) with all of the bazillion images I’ll have.

Have you ever captured a solar eclipse? How did you do it, and how did it turn out?

Photo Credit luc.viatour

June 16th, 2009 by birdievogel | Posted in Astrophotography | (0)