We bear witness each day to some small heavenly wonder never again to be seen by human eye . The rare shooting star — some lose fragment of a comet gone by — coursing through the heavens as a abbreviated and tiny luminescent fade . The pulse and measure of a distant star ’s twinkle , as unique as a fingermark ’s vortex or the latticework of a snowflake . Those second and details go to their witnesses , and to no one else . They will never be seen exactly the same means again . It befall , we watch over , and we are displace in some direction . We take the consequence with us when we are gone . It ’s not often that we apportion in these events with millions , and rarer still that we love the exact time to take a picture that will last everlastingly .
Theeclipse on August 21will be one such time . To help you catch the moment with your photographic camera , Mental Floss address toSteve Heiner , senior technical manager with Nikon , who saw his first eclipse 38 years ago . Here is what he recite us you ask to live .
1. BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
Witnessing the occultation from outside thepath of totalityis like catching a glimpse of Disneyland from the highway . It ’s just not the same . Either you are there or you are not . The first step , then , in shoot a total eclipse is getting there . This is not as easygoing as it sounds , and this late in the game , accommodations are hard to come by — but not impossible . Suchlarge cities along the pathas Idaho Falls , St. Louis , Nashville , and Columbia are equipped to handle massive crowds from touristry and conventions . you could still find a room . Moreover , alive , retired , and reserve military service members across the state haveexclusive accessto such major home along the route as Whiteman Air Force Base , Fort Campbell , and Fort Jackson . So if you really want to be in the path , do not despair , but do not detain .
2. GET A FILTER.
Sure , a few golden photographer will take the air into the way of life peeling protective cellophane from the vestal show of shiny Modern cameras … but it is not a requirement . If you have any camera at all — include the one on your smartphone — you’re much inclined for the outcome already . You might want a solid , stable tripod , too , but it is not a requirement . What you willdefinitelyneed is a " full aperture solar filter " to get over your camera lens . This will protect the camera ’s image detector from being damaged by sunshine during the partial stage of the occultation . Such filters are not intemperate to regain , though perhaps buy at a reputable retailer . ( The eclipse has brought outmore than a few cheap-jack . ) Consider also pimp protective eyewear . You will be star at the Sun , after all , and will presumably require to remain using your eye the day after the eclipse . Get a few duo , because agree to NASA , you’re able to use the filters from ISO - certified eclipse eyewear as a full aperature solar filter [ PDF ] on your smartphone . And do n’t forget toturn off your flash lamp .
3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT LENS.
" If you pip a ikon that eject everything but the Sun , then it looks like every other mental picture that you’re able to force up on the cyberspace , or that anyone has ever scud of a solar occultation , " Heiner evidence Mental Floss . Eclipses happen several times around the populace every year . There are enough pictures of a Moon - masked Sun to go around . " I ’ve been encouraging people to endeavor to put the eclipse in setting . "
To that ending , rather than using a telephoto lens trained on the Sun , consider a more temperate or wide - angle lens able-bodied to capture not only the occultation , but also some scene around you . " As the eclipse approaches aggregate , call on around 180 - degrees and snap hoi polloi looking through their solar spyglass . It can be almost as interesting a photograph as the Sun itself , " he says .
4. REMOVE YOUR FILTER AT THE RIGHT TIME.
" If you ’re interested in isolate the Sun in the sky and catch nothing but the actual occultation , obviously it benefits you to be correct in the route of totality , " suppose Heiner . " You ’ll get that distinguishable corona discharge on the outside as the event is taking place . " Heiner recommend keep the lens filter in stead aright up to the moment of total . Then murder the filter from your camera and lay eyes on a shimmering , hazy aura of light that seems to arrive at from the calamitous Moon ’s visible horizon . It is dependable to snap this . When the Sun again emerge from the Moon , reattach the filter .
5. CAPTURE YOUR PERSONAL ECLIPSE.
Remember that this is the photography event of the class , and multitude of professionals will be run to the path . You in all likelihood ca n’t take a better shot than they can . Rather than try out to take an occultation picture worthy of the top ofNational Geographic , position your sights lower — literally . Everyone will see the Sun , but onlyyouwill see the metropolis , park , mountains , or canyon around you . Only you will see the children express joy at the wonder of the import , the animals skitter along , the wearied teenager struck with wonder . " reckon around and seek to keep your own personal context in mind when you ’re shooting , " says Heiner . " Those are the pictures that , while they can include the eclipse , will also include elements that others will not have access to . It realize the pictures more personal . "
He call back his own experience from an occultation 38 years ago . " One of the most intriguing things that I recall was that , if you look around under the shade of trees , all that mottled light — which looks quite normal on any other day — will ferment to diminutive crescents during the occultation . To me that sort of detail can be as interesting as the real eclipse itself . I would boost people not to always be looking straight up at the Sun . face around . acknowledge what ’s move on around you , and all the excitation regarding the eclipse . I imagine some of those ikon will end up being the ace you really remember . "
6. TRUST YOUR CAMERA.
The eclipse will be a very forgiving photography model even for rank and file beginner . The Sun will be boil down to a very prominent crescent shape as the Moon travels across its face . During that time , it is crucial to have a filter attached to your camera . In accession to protecting its sensor , it will check that moderately much the only thing illuminated in the scene is the Sun . Most camera metering systems will factor in that in and take fairly becoming photographs .
Heiner propose that amateur lensman consider bracket their photograph . This basically involves shoot multiple pictures at slightly unlike photo mount . The benefit of digital tv camera today is that when you shoot a picture , you could review it straight off . If you see a flick you do n’t care , you may make a fast adjustment to correct the flaw . ( Nikon recommend choosing a single aperture and bracketing shots " over a kitchen stove of shutter speeds from 1/1000 second to 1 2nd . " )
7. BONUS TIP FOR THE ADVANCED AMATEUR: TIMELAPSE
" Somebody at a gamy level might think doing what is known as a timelapse , " tell Heiner , " when they can set the tv camera to take pictures automatically at a make separation . With the appropriate filter in position as usual , they can actually bourgeon photographs unattended through the whole unconscious process of the occultation , and then actually heap them together or meet them into a undivided image later , using software . " ( Nikonprovides tutorialson how to do this , and other eclipse photography techniques . )
Regardless of how you put down the eclipse , do n’t forget to experience it not through glass or smartphone projection screen , but with your own eyes , your own senses . Before hoisting your camera and rupture the Sun , take it all in . Make your memories . See a day turned to darkness , and animals scurrying home to nests and excavate . See the human reply , which might perhaps be the most moving . For fleeting here and now — a minute or two out of one ’s entire life — all heads will turn and rise in unison and cast no legal opinion but wonderment . Here we are , on apale down in the mouth dit , sharing in event of our star blotted from the sky .
