How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse: Tips for Photographing a Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. The moon blocks out the rays of the sun in whole or part and casts its shadow over the earth. There are three types of solar eclipses: a total eclipse, a partial eclipse and an annular eclipse.

• A partial solar eclipse is when the moon moves partially in front of the sun but parts of the sun remain unobstructed.
• A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes completely in front of the sun.
• An annular solar eclipse is similar to a total eclipse but occurs when the moon is too far from the earth to completely obscure the sun and therefore a bright ring appears around the moon.

Some gear is necessary for viewing a solar eclipse regardless of if you are planning to photograph it or not. It’s unsafe to stare directly at the sun with your naked eye, therefore it’s necessary that you acquire certified eclipse glasses if you plan on viewing a solar eclipse. You can also build a DIY pinhole camera using a cardboard box or view the eclipse through your iPhone or other smartphone camera or the live view display on your digital camera.

Here is a rundown of the basic equipment you’ll need to start photographing a solar eclipse:

• Digital camera: You don’t need much beyond a basic DSLR camera or point and shoot digital camera for photographing an eclipse.
• Telephoto lens: The sun is far away, so you’ll need some type of telephoto lens if you are planning on getting a close-up of the solar eclipse. A good camera lens is one of the most important pieces of gear for solar eclipse photography. Learn more about telephoto lenses in our guide here.
• Solar filter: You need to have a solar ND filter (neutral density) equipped on your lens in order to prevent serious damage to your eyes while capturing your eclipse image.
• Tripod: If you are using a telephoto lens, you will also need a tripod in order to hold the camera steady and take a clear photo.
• Memory cards: As with any photography shoot, you’ll want to make sure you have extra memory cards in case you fill up your other cards.
• Remote shutter release: If you’re in the path of totality (the geographic area that experiences complete darkness during a total solar eclipse) then the light levels will be dropping to such a low level that you’ll need to use a very slow shutter speed to bring in as much light as possible. When taking such long exposure shots, a remote shutter lease is necessary to prevent camera shake. Learn more about shutter speed in our guide here.

Solar eclipses are dynamic events that present unique challenges for photographers—lighting conditions are constantly changing over the course of the eclipse. As a solar eclipse photographer you have to be able to adjust settings on the fly in order to capture your images and adjust for the dynamic range of the light as it changes. Here are some good starting points for your camera settings when preparing to photograph an eclipse:

• ISO: You’ll want to have your ISO set to the lowest level available, preferably ISO 100 or ISO 200. Learn more about ISO in our in-depth guide here.
• Camera mode: In order to experiment with different exposure settings and turn off autofocus, you should switch your camera to manual mode.
• Aperture: Stop your lens down to somewhere between f/5.6 and f/8 for the best exposure. You can find out more about aperture in our guide here.
• Shutter speed: Start with your camera set at its fastest shutter speed value and adjust down as the light decreases.
• Bracketing: Bracketing your shots means that you take multiple exposures of the same thing but with different camera settings. For example, if you are experimenting with aperture, you take one image at the settings you think should be best, then you take another photo one stop down, and another one stop up. This helps to ensure you have options when selecting photos.
  

Be prepared to adjust shutter speed and other camera settings during different phases of the eclipse. Keep in mind that optimal exposure time can be very long if you’re photographing a total eclipse.

When photographing a solar eclipse, two main considerations are framing and focus.

• Framing: Framing can be difficult for a solar eclipse photographer, especially if they are planning on including landscape, people, or are taking a more complicated timelapse style long exposure shot. Frame you shot carefully before reaching totality, or the point of total darkness when the sun is fully eclipsed, so that you can be sure you get the right shot.
• Focus: No matter what sort of camera lens or focal length, getting proper focus can be difficult when photographing a solar eclipse. Some photographers recommend setting focus on the full moon through your viewfinder prior to its visual convergence with the sun.

Part of what makes solar eclipse photography so exciting to amateur photographers and sky-watchers, is how rare the opportunities are to take eclipse photos. Make sure to consult online resources like the NASA website to see when the next eclipse will be and where you’ll have to be to view it. Some eclipse photographers also enjoy taking photos of lunar eclipses which you might consider in between solar eclipses.

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