2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Photobug

Made a good decision Saturday when I ordered the above unit from B&H. I just called two local Welding Supplier stores in the area, one sold out last month and their 5 suppliers are out of the Welder Shield #14. The other sold 500 #14 over the past 5 weeks or so. They have the small 2" x 4" in stock but the larger 6" section are gone due to buyers preparing for the Solar Eclipse. Their 4 suppliers have been out for over 3 months.

Look what us photographers did for these suppliers.

dissent

FYI - It seems from my reading of several web sites that there could be some confusion between as "normal" 5 to 10 stop photographic filter and what seems to be termed a 5.0 Solar ND filter, which is something like 16.5 stops, akin the the Hoya or Marumi ND-100000 type filter. I'm not sure if even the Solar ND type is viewfinder safe.

dissent

I think for diamond ring and Bailey's Beads you'll still need the solar filter on, but will have to up the exposure (slower shutter speed, no?).

mcammer

spraynpray- there's the true issue: exposure will change so rapidly during the minute before and after totality that it will be difficult to keep up. The Mr. Eclipse chart dissent linked to above shows a setting for Diamond Ring (same as Corona 0.2Rs). It is pretty dim and would definitely fall in the "no filter" part of picture taking. My plan is to err on the side of leaving the filter on going into totality, and err on the side of leaving it off on the exit.

spraynpray

Sounds like a plan. Use a good measure of common sense for when to stop shooting and cover your lens!

Msmoto

Looks like I will drive about 4 hours to get to the full eclipse, will do the 0.001% transmission filter while the moon is beginning to cover the sun, quickly take this off for a minute and shoot multiple exposures during the complete eclipse, then drop the filter back in for the reappearance of the sun. My plan is to use the 400/2.8, TC-20EIII on the D500.

Most likely I will do a "dry run" sometime before I head out, going through the entire procedure to check timing, the logistics of where to place the filter when not using it, and other issues. This decreases the chance of a "surprise" occurring and no images being captured.

A note on filters... I have been told that it must cover the front element. While the 400/2.8 has a filter slot, and I have a 10 stop ND filter, this is way down after multiple elements of the lens have seen the raw light of the sun. If the lens is exposed to the sun, the heat builds up so rapidly internally it will destroy the lens, thus, placing the filter over the front element is apparently best. This is of course during the initial phases of the eclipse and during the complete phase the heat should not be a problem.

Photobug

Msmoto said:

Looks like I will drive about 4 hours to get to the full eclipse, will do the 0.001% transmission filter while the moon is beginning to cover the sun, quickly take this off for a minute and shoot multiple exposures during the complete eclipse, then drop the filter back in for the reappearance of the sun. My plan is to use the 400/2.8, TC-20EIII on the D500.

Most likely I will do a "dry run" sometime before I head out, going through the entire procedure to check timing, the logistics of where to place the filter when not using it, and other issues. This decreases the chance of a "surprise" occurring and no images being captured.

A note on filters... I have been told that it must cover the front element. While the 400/2.8 has a filter slot, and I have a 10 stop ND filter, this is way down after multiple elements of the lens have seen the raw light of the sun. If the lens is exposed to the sun, the heat builds up so rapidly internally it will destroy the lens, thus, placing the filter over the front element is apparently best. This is of course during the initial phases of the eclipse and during the complete phase the heat should not be a problem.

That last paragraph is consistent with my research....must be in front of the lens.

Lucky you that your only 4 hours away to see the full eclipse. Look forward to seeing your photos.

Photobug

Why we have total solar eclipses:
The sun is 100 times bigger than Earth and Earth is 4 times bigger than the moon. Even though the Sun is 400 times bigger than the moon, it is also 400 times farther away from Earth than the moon. That means the sun and the moon appear the same size to us her on Earth.

Photobug

The Earth has a diameter of 7,926 miles. The diameter of the Moon is 2,160 miles.

Every year or two, the Moon's orbit lines up perfectly and the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun revealing its faint corona, the halo of plasma that surrounds the Sun. That's when a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth. We say somewhere because the total eclipse is only visible from inside the path of the Moon's umbral shadow, the shadow in which the Moon blocks the entire Sun, as it sweeps across our planet. This is call the Path of Totality.

The Moon has a second shadow called the penumbra and it's much larger than the umbra. The penumbra is the shadow in which the Moon blocks only part of the Sun. People inside this larger shadow will experience a partial eclipse.

On average, a total eclipse is visible from one given spot on Earth about once every 375 years. So if you stay in one spot, your chance of seeing one of these astronomical wonders is pretty slim.

Photobug

If your lucky to be in the path of totality on August 21st, you will never forget it. Daylight is replaced by a mysterious dusk, and bright planets and stars become visible. Plants and animals act as thought it were night fall as flowers close up and birds return to roost. There's a chill in the air because the temperature drops a dozen degrees or more. The brilliant Sun is replaced by a black orb surrounded by a ghostly halo. The colors of sunset ring the horizon, and the hair on the back of your neck stands up as those around you scream in amazement at the totally eclipsed Sun.

Photobug

The history lesson continues....
All total eclipses begin and end with a partial eclipses and the entire event can take nearly 3 hours. But the total part of a solar eclipse usually lasts only 2 to 3 minutes, so there is very little time to absorb this spectacular sight.

As totality ends, a brilliant burst of sunlight appears along the edge of the Sun. This is the "diamond ring effect" since the corona and sunburst look like a celestial engagement ring.

There are very few key cities that will experience 100% totality. Charleston, SC being one of them.

REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST. Be sure your Eclipser Safe Solar Glasses meet the ISO requirements.

Photobug

FYI, in 1973, scientist used a Concorde supersonic jet flying at 1,250 mph to stay inside the Moon's shadow during an eclipse over Africa and to extend the duration of totality to 74 minutes - 10 times or more longer than can ever be observed from the ground.

Other cities in the path of Totality include:
Salem, Oregon; Idaho Falls; Idaho; Jackson, Wyoming; Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Grand Island, Nebraska; Kansas City, Kan; Carbondale, Ill, Paducah, Ky; Hopkinsville, KY; Nashville, Ten, Greenville, SC; Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC.

The path is about 70 miles wide and runs from west to east through parts of the states mentioned above. The duration is 2 minutes in Oregon and increases to over 2-1/2 minutes in Nebraska through South Carolina.

Don't forget that you MUST BE IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY in order to see the TOTAL ECLIPSE!

Photobug

For those of us outside the path of totality, we will see an incredible partial solar eclipse, which shows a crescent Sun and must be viewed with safe Solar Glasses. If you are inside the path, you will also see these partial phases, but once the Moon completely covers the Sun you can view totality and the Sun's corona without the safe solar glasses.

Fun Facts
Fewer than 1 person in 1,000 has ever seen totality.

A total solar eclipse is the only time the Sun's faint corona is viable from Earth.

The glowing halo surrounding the Sun during a total eclipse is called the solar corona. It is the Sun's outer atmosphere consisting of a super hot 2-million degree plasma.

During the total solar in 1878, Thomas Edison observed the eclipse from a chicken coop. He used the tasimeter to measure the temperature of the Sun's corona but it failed.

The last time totality occurred anywhere in the 48 states was on Febraruy 26, 1979.

Everyone in the U.S will see some part of the Sun eclipsed by the Moon on August 21st.

The average speed of the Moon's shadow as it crosses the United States is nearly 1,700 miles per hour.

To be safe, be sure that your solar glasses are lab tested and meets the new ISO 12312-2 requirements - Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun.

It's extremely important to remember that only during complete totality may you look at the Sun without solar glasses. Never look directly at the partial phases of the eclipse without solar glasses.

There are tables that list eclipse times and duration for the lucky cities inside the path of totality.

BE SAFE with your eyes and remember, you need a special filter in front of your lens to avoid burning out the sensor in your camera. For those with long telephoto lens with filters behind the lens elements you cannot drop the filter in behind the elements, it will heat up your lens elements...resulting in damage to the glass. You must put the filter in front of the lens! Again, the welders #14 filter must cover the entire front of your lens not partially cover the front. Or use a solar filter...way expensive...or use some of the special low cost filters that are equivalent to a #14.

Hiker

The Sun is unforgiving. DO NOT remove your solar filters at any time. Think of your camera as your eyes. Even though the Sun will be in total eclipse it can still cause damage. There is no reason on this Earth to take such a chance with either your precious eyes and your equipment. I also am a amateur astronomer. There is a reason solar filters cut 99.9% of the light from the Sun. Doesn't matter if it's eclipsed or not. Don't take a chance!!!!!!!

dissent

Hiker, everything I've read says that, IF YOU ARE IN TOTALITY, then you will need to remove your solar filter. Then put it back on just before totality is over. Anything outside the path of totality DOES require a proper solar filter for ALL of this event.

Photobug

dissent said:

Hiker, everything I've read says that, IF YOU ARE IN TOTALITY, then you will need to remove your solar filter. Then put it back on just before is over. Anything outside the path of totality DOES require a proper solar filter for ALL of this event.

Your correct @dissent. For those not in the TOTALITY they need to keep the filter on the lens all the time. Once the Sun gets behind the moon, they suggest removing the filter for the pictures then replace the filter before the Sun comes out on the other side of the moon.

Photobug

Here is excellent warnings from B&H.
DO NOT look at the sun with your naked eyes. Permanent damage to your eyesight, and even blindness may result. ALWAYS wear properly certified solar viewing glasses when viewing the sun before, during, and after an eclipse. Do not use non-solar binoculars to aid in viewing the eclipse, even when wearing protective eye gear. During an eclipse, when the moon covers a portion of the sun, the intensity of the light remains constant.

DO NOT point a camera at the sun unless the optics are fitted with a properly certified solar filter. Optics can magnify the intensity and brightness of sunlight, and this can cause damage to you or your equipment.

DO NOT look through the viewfinder of an unfiltered SLR camera when it is pointed at or near the sun, because of the increase in brightness of the sunlight passing through magnifying optics.

DO NOT look through the viewfinder of a rangefinder camera when it is pointed at or near the sun, as the optical viewfinder will not protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging light.

DO NOT point an unfiltered digital camera at the sun and use live view or an electronic viewfinder, due to the possibility of focusing concentrated, unfiltered sunlight at your camera’s sensor.

Products should only be used for their intended purpose and in an appropriate manner. Misuse of products may cause serious injury and property damage.

Rx4Photo

I bought a couple of #10 Grade glass Welders Mask replacement lens from Home Depot for a little over 8 bucks. They were out of #14's.
Went outside to test it with full sun. For the few moments I'll have on the 21st it'll work just fine. I'm working that day so won't have a chance to photograph it.

Msmoto

Posted mine on PAD...., the rain was coming about a minute after I captured a couple images... This was the only glimpse I got as cloud cover was about 95%...

I ended up using the D800E, 400/2.8 plus TC-20EIII, ISO 400, f/8, 1/2500 sec, but at this exposure I believe I saw the sun spots...

Photobug

My early shot is also on PAD, lots of overcast sky, no rain . Sorry to hear MsMoto that you didn't get more. I shot from 11:20 am to 2:20 pm.

I used the D7100, 200-500 plus TC-14EIII 1.4X, ISO 1600, F/8, 1/200 sec at 285mm. Focus through eye piece. After about 10 minutes, switched to Live View focusing and it was easier to focus....except when the clouds started coming in.

Tommy, you might want to fix the name of the photo you posted on PAD....on Flickr it says Sunday instead of Monday.

Photobug

This one taken later at 718mm x 1.5 crop factor at ISO 1600, F8, 1/125 sec at 718mm,

MegapixelSchnitzel

At 79% in Sacramento (at 10:17 a.m.) it was far too bright to be perceived any differently than the normal, full sun. But what I noticed was a distinct dimming of the ground light. It almost seemed like dinner time for a few minutes.

Photobug

dissent

Nice eclipse shots! I had planned to get to Chester IL, but the forecast on Monday looked dicey. Briefly considered going to St. Clair MO based on the space.com final cloud forecast, but the early morning forecast on the local news in St. Louis area was too uncertain as to clouds. Went east instead to Vienna IL, but there was still some forecasted rain so we went even further east to Hopkinsville KY. Good grief it was some lot of driving. But completely worth it.
Just got back home an hour ago. I need a beer. I hope some of my pics turned out. But whatever I have, I don't see how it can compare to what I saw with the two cameras in my head. Simply amazing!

dissent

Here's a quick edit from one of the earlier brackets I shot during totality.


I think I'm gonna go get that beer now.