How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse

Solar eclipse photography (Teacher Kou Wen’s courseware)

(Teacher Kou Wen’s courseware)

The use of digital cameras during a total solar eclipse:

Digital cameras: SLR and point-and-shoot cameras can be used to take photos of the solar eclipse.

Be proficient in using the camera you are using.

What was photographed:

Large-scale totality scenery with landscape: wide angle, header.

Photographs of a total solar eclipse with large planets and bright stars. Wide angle, header.

Solar eclipse series: wide-angle lens, calculate and design in advance, arrange shooting angles and time intervals.

The whole process of the solar eclipse, Bailey's beads, prominences, chromosphere, corona (inner and outer corona)

Gray light on the lunar surface: The corona will be overexposed.

Other distinctive scenery on the ground.

Focal length of lens: wide angle, medium focus, telephoto

Selection of telescope:

Requirements for telescope: aperture, focal length, imaging quality

It is recommended to use a short-focus refractor, with an aperture of 60-80 mm and a focal length of about 500 mm.

Connection of telescope and camera:

Bayota adapter ring, magnifying photography bracket, Nikon port, Canon port, etc.

Several important aspects of digital cameras Parameter settings:

Photography mode: manual

Exposure speed: 1/8000-1 second or more

Aperture:

ISO Setting: The principle is to be as low as possible. Depends on specific circumstances. Sensitivity and exposure time are inversely proportional. Setting the sensitivity too high affects image quality.

Image quality: Adjust the pixels to the maximum.

Storage medium: CF card, capacity, spare. Plan in advance to make sure you have enough, and try not to change cards before or after the Whole Foods to prevent unexpected situations.

Battery backup: Make sure the battery is charged. It is best to prepare two or more batteries. Be sure to confirm the battery power before the whole food, and it is best to replace one.

Focus: Use the sunspots on the sun to carefully adjust the focus. If there are no sunspots, you can only see the edge of the sun, but it is difficult and depends on your daily experience.

Conclusion: You must be familiar with the camera you use. You can't count on others at critical moments.

The process of a solar eclipse:

Initial eclipse: Just like when photographing the sun, take the time to adjust the focus and test the exposure time. It's best to have an overall plan in advance, such as taking a picture every 3 or 5 minutes.

Before eating: Carefully remove the light-dampening board a few minutes before eating to prepare for snapping Bailey's beads. Then adjust the exposure time step by step and shoot continuously. The exposure time gradually slows down from the fastest, for example: 1/8000 second to 1 second

Eclipse period: Take as many photos as possible during the total eclipse. Make a plan in advance. According to the length of the total eclipse, I will take one photo each time. The average speed is used to arrange the exposure speed of the shot. It is recommended to speed up the exposure after eating.

Light generation: The exposure speed before light generation is accelerated to 1/2000 second-1/8000 second, preparing to snap up Bailey's beads.

Compound circle: After generating light, add a light reduction plate to shoot a partial eclipse.

Attention when shooting:

The light reduction of the telescope:

It must be strong and reliable, easy to remove and easy to install. be safe.

Neutral filter: 5-6 cm in diameter (limits the aperture of the telescope). Note: Focusing problem. Due to lens quality issues, removing it may affect the focal length.

Bad film: currently the most popular

0.012mm thick

Visual viewing: 5.0, light reduction 10,000 times

Photography: 3.8< /p>

When you make your own light-reducing plate using Bard film, you need to take many test shots beforehand to accumulate experience.

Be adaptable and be prepared according to weather conditions.

For example, when the weather is not very good, you may need to remove the light-reducing plate.

Other methods are not recommended:

Smoked glass, waste film, welding sheets, disks, ink dripping from water

It is best to use a shutter release cable when shooting Or remote control:

Reduce camera shake as much as possible.

In fact, if there is no such thing, you must pay attention to the force when pressing the shutter with your hand.

The environment in which the bracket is placed is also very important:

When installing the equatorial mount, you need a north compass and a horizontal bulb to find the North Star. There is no Polaris during the day.

The tripod should be firmly grounded.

Don’t interfere with each other and keep a certain distance.

Tips:

Be prepared in advance:

Know the food situation at the observation location and the start time of each stage.

Charge the camera battery and clear the memory card in advance

Focus adjustment: the key to success or failure, accumulate experience in daily life. If possible, display the photos you took on your computer.

Be sure to remove the light reduction device before the whole eclipse! ! Remember! !

Be sure not to change the focal length when removing the light reduction plate.

Snap for Bailey's Beads: Master the exposure time, fast

Chromosphere: The exposure time should be fast

Prominences: The exposure time should be fast

Corona: from fast to slow 1/8000 second - more than 1 second

Bracket:

Lightweight equatorial mount, stable, strong and reliable tripod.

It doesn’t have to be electric tracking.

Be sure to consider the cost of carrying.

Be proficient in operation and practice using it regularly.

When choosing an observation location, be sure to avoid obstructions in the sunset direction.

It is best for a person to only do one job. Don't be greedy for too much.

The above are all shooting methods under normal circumstances. At the same time, you must consider contingency measures and flexibly adjust your plan according to weather conditions.

Possible situations:

Weather conditions: cloudy, cloudy, foggy, poor atmospheric transparency, strong winds.

Equipment failure: damaged bracket, camera failure.

(Backup)