Get your cameras ready, the eclipse is almost here!
UPDATE: Friday, April 5 - We are now SOLD OUT of solar eclipse glasses. Enjoy the show, everybody!
Public places here in PA experiencing totality include:
- Presque Isle State Park
- Erie Bluffs state park
- Public parks in Erie PA
You’d also have a good view from Buffalo and Rochester.
Be sure to check local state park posts for public parking, and be sure to arrive early. Many people will have the same idea. Traffic for eclipse tourism can be intense!
To photograph the eclipse, you need to use a solar filter on your camera lens. There’s no substitute for this! Pointing your camera directly at the sun without proper protection will damage your gear. Check out this blog post from Lens Rentals to see exactly what that damage looks like:
https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2017/09/rental-camera-gear-destroyed-by-the-solar-eclipse-of-2017/
In addition to the main event, look for other unique photographic opportunities. Try photographing crescent moon shaped points of light in shadows 1 hour up to 15 minutes before totality. You can also use a kitchen strainer to project a shadow of lots of tiny crescents on the ground. Or poke hole in a sheet of cardboard. The hole acts like a pinhole camera, projecting an image of the crescent of the eclipse on the ground, and you see the same effect from the dappled light that shines through the leaves in the trees.
The quality of light during the eclipse is different than anything we normally see. As the eclipse approaches totality the light becomes very dim, but still has the quality of daylight. Shadows are distinct and colors look normal, so you might not even realize how dark its gotten until you notice that automatic street lights have turned on.
During totality the light is like twilight, but in all directions. It's almost like a 360º sunset. You'll also notice that planets and brighter stars have become visible in the sky.
The next three photos were taken by Dan's staff member Steve Miller during the 2017 eclipse in western North Carolina starting with a wide angle of the quality of light visible during an eclipse, the moments before totality, and of course totality with several red prominences visible.
1 to 2 minutes before totality look out along the horizon you may see a prominent shadow moving towards you. Also 1 to 2 minutes before totality attempt to capture the rare shadow bands that appear like the rippling quality of light on the bottom of a swimming pool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_XMnU7Ad40
These shadow bands are best observed on light colored objects without pattern.
During totality a camera lens of 400mm or longer is ideal to see bailey’s beads, the diamond ring and prominences looking like red flares emitting from the solar disk.
Be sure to capture the landscape and maybe even a portrait of those near you with a second camera body to document their emotion and the unique quality of light happening now. Consider having your phone take videos on a tripod, or if you prefer just enjoy the moment.
More Eclipse & Photography resources around the web:
If you get some images be sure to share them on our
Dan’s Friends and Fans facebook group!
Let us know if you have any questions, we’re always here to help. we’ve got plenty of eclipse glasses in stock, and we even still have some of those solar filters left too!
