MANSFIELD — Your eyeballs aren’t the only lenses that need special protection on April 8.
Do you plan to snap photos of the upcoming solar eclipse? Here are some tips for keeping your gear safe and getting the best possible shots.
Use the right gear
Any camera can be used to capture the wide-ranging scene of the solar eclipse. If you want a close up, you’ll need more specialized equipment.
“Choose a lens based on your desired sun or moon size relative to your camera’s sensor. For wide-angle shots during a solar eclipse, consider lenses like the RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens,” said National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski in a press release.
“For those looking to make the most of the moment, I recommend using a versatile lens, like the Canon RF24-240mm Lens, the RF200-800mm or something that gives you a range of variability to mix up your compositions quickly and on the fly.”
Using a tripod and delayed shutter release timer will also reduce camera shake and help you snap clear photographs.
Protect your camera
Using the right filters is crucial. Otherwise, you could damage both your equipment and your eyes (if you’re looking through a viewfinder.)
“If you have a professional camera, it’s really important to use the correct solar filters and make sure it’s the right one for your camera and your model,” said Adrienne Hopson, a NASA solar system ambassador and biology professor at the Ohio State University.
“Most cameras work on some kind of photo or light sensor as part of their photo-taking capabilities. Trying to photograph the sun directly in the middle of the day, it’s just too bright. That’s why they sell solar filters. Absolutely get one.”
Solar filters need to stay on your camera or telescope any time your camera is pointed at the sun. It is safe to remove them only during totality — when the moon completely blocks out the sun, according to a guide from the American Astronomical Society.
Some retailers even sell cell phone solar filters.
There’s some debate as to whether protective equipment is necessary for smartphone cameras. Smartphone camera lenses are typically very small and don’t admit as much light. Plus, pointing a smart phone camera directly at the sun probably won’t result in a good photo anyway.
“Cellphones can be used unfiltered to take pictures, but you won’t see the shape of the sun,” said Keith Ladzinski, a photographer for National Geographic.
Holding the phone camera up to a pair of solar eclipse glasses may minimize these risks and result in a slightly better photo. That’s what Hopson recommends.
“During the last eclipse, I just held (my phone) up and looked through my solar glasses and took pictures that way. They all came out,” she said.
If you decide to take that route, don’t look at the sun until your glasses are back on your head.
“People really underestimate the amount of damage that can be done by looking at the sun, even during an eclipse,” Hopson said.
“Especially as partiality is happening, it often looks like it’s not that bright, but it’s still too bright for your eyes. People still need to wear the glasses and look through the glasses.
Take some practice shots
There will be no dress rehearsals for totality — the moment when the moon completely obscures the surface of the sun.
But you can still practice taking shots of the sun with your solar filters in place. Regardless of the camera you choose, using manual settings will give you more control of how the final image turns out.
“You have to be able to control the exposure of the camera with or without a solar filter. Get out ahead of time and experiment with your camera settings, with solar filters attached,” Ladzinski said.
“All automatic cameras try to make a daylight scene. As a result you will get a bright ball, with no sign of an eclipse.”
Don’t limit yourself to one shot
If you search for eclipse photos, you’ll likely find plenty of totality shots — a dark sky and a dark sun separated by the thinnest ring of light.
But the moments before and after totality can be just as fun to capture. Consider taking photos of the evolving phases, the shifting shadows and other people staring up at the sky.
Consider putting your camera down
For most Richland County residents, the solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event that’s over in a matter of minutes.
It may be more worthwhile to put the phone or camera down and simply take it all in.
“Most experienced eclipse chasers recommend that first-timers — especially those attending their first total solar eclipse — just watch the spectacle and not try to capture it in images or video,” a guide from Solar Eclipse Across America states.
“There’s so much to see with your eyes, and you’ll be able to view countless other people’s pictures and movies online afterward anyway.”
Need more info? Check out the following photography guides:
How to Shoot Solar-Eclipse Images & Videos
