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Hi
This is my first posting here. I'm lucky enough to have a site on the line of the American Eclipse (if all goes well) on 21st August. I have a filter for my camera that cuts out 1/1,000 of 1% of the light and I can get descent pictures of the sun, well from SE London anyway.
I was wondering if there is any advice out there for trying to catch Bayle's beads. I have a DSLR camera that is able to take pictures of the moon, so with a tripod I should be able to catch something.
Are there any tricks and tips people have, given that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can't really practice.
Thanks in advance for any tips or tricks.
Regards
Graham Watson
Posted : 02/08/2017 4:55 pm
Hi Graham and Trudy,
As I replied at the solar viewing session on Tuesday I have no experience in photographing a solar eclipse and suggested you posted on the forum to see if any of our more experienced astrophotographers could offer you some advice. However, I had a quick look on the internet and found this website which might be a good starting point:Photographing an eclipse.
Hope this helps. Any questions you have hopefully one of our members might be able answer via this forum. Have a great trip and best wishes for clear skies.
Posted : 03/08/2017 5:43 pm
Topic starter
Thanks Clive, that site has some excellent tips. I'll post any decent images I get on here.
Regards
Graham
Posted : 03/08/2017 6:54 pm
A word of warning - a "normal" neutral density filter will absorb enough light from the sun to be able to take a picture - but you might want to test upfront how hot it gets by that, i.e. what happens if you point it to the sun for an extended period of time. (Apart from that, my B&W ND filters are expensive, and I am not sure whether I want to risk whether they bleach out...)
The solar filters used in astronomy reflect a large proportion. I personally bought a step ring 77 to 95mm and glued in a Baader film - that looked a bit safer to me.
Focal length is going to be an issue - few people carry a 600mm lens around, test before how large the sun is on your picture.
And there's obviously still going to be a huge contrast between the sun and the world around it - if you want one of these "classics" with the sun over the landscape, you'll have to take one picture for the sun and one with the landscape.
Have fun in the US, and enjoy the eclipse (we are going to be at the beaches of South Carolina - will be nice! 🙂 )
Posted : 06/08/2017 11:21 am
