Solar Photography

On the afternoon of April 8, 2024, about 95% of the Adirondack Park will be shadowed in the totality of a solar eclipse as the path of totality darkens a swath of the Earth from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, from Mexico to Newfoundland. Having experienced and photographed the August 21, 2017 total eclipse in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I thought I’d share tips and techniques that could help others photograph the 2024 eclipse. Standing in the dusky darkness of totality, and looking up to the dark side of the moon, surrounded by the eerie glow of the sun’s corona is a lifetime experience you will not want to miss. Having the right equipment and practicing photo techniques ahead of time will allow you to capture stunning eclipse photos, and also be relaxed enough to enjoy this unique experience. The suggested equipment and information will help you photograph the sun at any time, capturing sunspots and other solar features with additional equipment, as well as offer settings for photographing the sun during the eclipse. This is the last total solar eclipse to traverse the continental United States until August 12, 2045.