Scouting a great location and practicing your shots ahead of time is key.
Even smartphones can get great photos of the total solar eclipse on April 8. Whether you’re on the ground or in the sky during this year’s Great American Eclipse, you can get stunning photos with a digital camera or a smartphone. You just need to plan ahead a little.
Get to totality
The path of totality for the Great American Eclipse this year will start in Texas and pass across the Eastern US all the way to Maine. Over 30 million people will be in the path of totality, which will move from Texas to Maine.
Scout your spot — then have a backup
The most important factor for great eclipse photos is something we can’t control: the weather. When you’re deciding where to watch the total eclipse, pick your ideal spot, factoring in historical weather patterns for early April. Then, have a backup location if the forecast is cloudy.
Use apps to your advantage
There are lots of apps that can help you create a great eclipse photo. Studer recommends PhotoPills, which allows you to plot the position of the moon and sun ahead of time. Carmichael likes Solar Snap, an app developed by former Hubble Space Telescope Astronomer, Doug Duncan, that acts as a solar filter for smartphones.
Consider renting equipment
It’s possible to get a great photo of the total solar eclipse with just your smartphone or a basic digital camera. But if you want a close-up of the sun and moon, you’ll need a telephoto lens. Studer recommends renting one.
Go automated
You don’t want to spend the entire time during the eclipse trying to snap the best photo. Carmichael recommends using a tripod and adjusting your camera settings so it can snap photos automatically while you take a moment for yourself.
Practice 24 hours before
Once you’ve found the perfect location, get on site 24 hours before the eclipse. Use the position of the sun to plan out the photos you want to take.
Don’t forget glasses – for your phone
Before you start shooting on the day of the eclipse, make sure your gear is safe. Hold a pair of eclipse glasses over the phone lens to help filter light.
Include other subjects besides the moon and sun
While the moon and sun are the stars of the eclipse, having other subjects in your photo helps give it context. Whether it’s a dramatic rock formation, a tree, or the profile of someone you love, the juxtaposition of a subject and the sun is very powerful.
Zoom out
To capture wide shots that involve not just the eclipsed sun but also the shadow of the moon and the shape of the land around you, zoom out.
Look around
During the partial periods of the eclipse, shadows take on a distinct crescent shape, there’s a dramatic 360-degree sunset effect, and animals often behave strangely. Capture these phenomena in your photos.
Enjoy it
Take time to pause, look up at the heavens, and appreciate the miraculous event.