Solar Eclipse Photography tomorrow am

Andrew Davies Photography

Andrew Davies Photography

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OK so anyone got any experience or tips on this one as I am going to have a go at it tomorrow but will be the first time for me at photographing an eclipse.

Timewise looks to be 8.45am - 10.30 am with the peak around 9.30.

What protection can I use other than the standard lens filter , I have cpls nds etc is there any truth in the ability of photographing the eclipse damaging the sensor , i would have thought shutter speeds would be pretty high still so no massive long exposures ?

Other than that just scouting out a location at the moment and hoping for at least a clear sky !
 
Try holding a magnifying glass between the sun and you hand, and focus it until you can see the sun on your skin. That agonizing pain and smell of burning skin is a hint. It'll do the same to your sensor if you get it wrong, and do it even faster to your eye. In other words, be bloody careful.

Taking pictures of people looking at the eclipse can give good results.
 
Only what I read on NikonUSA, use solar filters or you may damage your sensor.

No idea if they are erring on the side of caution but....................

When I was a child, around 6 or 7 I think, I used to sit on a sunny day and stare at the sun because I wanted to see what it was made of I guess.

My eyesight is fine so don't know if it's all scaremongering or not. I'm old enough to know better and not do it again.

Maybe a 10 stop ND would suffice? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable that a berk who used to stare at the sun in the 70's will come along soon with a definative answer.


Terry.
 
A solar filter is the only way to get a shot of the eclipse, you could probably get by with some welding glass though the colour would be wrong. If you get it wrong a sensor can be replaced but you only get one set of eyes, so be careful.
 
Too late to find any solar filters where i am now , I have an 8 stop ND ? dont know whether that will particularly protect though. I will not be particularly that bothered about getting close ups though so might just stick with the landscape approach in which case the sun should not be an issue , will take my second body and 70-200 for a couple of closer shots and maybe stick an nd over that. Quite looking forward to a different challenge ! :)
 
jon ryan said:
Try holding a magnifying glass between the sun and you hand, and focus it until you can see the sun on your skin. That agonizing pain and smell of burning skin is a hint. It'll do the same to your sensor if you get it wrong, and do it even faster to your eye. In other words, be bloody careful.

Taking pictures of people looking at the eclipse can give good results.
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As they scream in agony ? :)
 
I came looking for an answer too. I wondered if it might be ok to do it when the sun is 80% covered and use my ND filters..3-stop 4-stop or 10-stop (Terry mentions this one) but as some have said it's not worth risking the eyes nor the sensor. Maybe the best advice is to find a clear region and just enjoy it. What about Andrew's idea of using a wide angle..17-40 24-105 with an ND ?

Earlier, I contacted BBC TV 'Points West' (covers Gloucestershire and Somerset) asking if,during their weather forecast this evening in the 6.30-7.00pm news programme they could give an idea where to go outside our region but not too far away and I just got a reply to say that they will be doing exactly this. I'll be going north up the M5 or south and onto the M4 into east Wales depending on what the Points West forecaster says tonight….infact I think the reply I got meant they will include this as an item rather than just include it in the forecast at the end. I think we'll just be under cloud so a short trip looks to be on the cards..
 
You need nothing less than a solar filter for it. If you haven't got that then I wouldn't risk anything at all. Go in to your w h smiths and get a copy of the sky at night magazine which has free solar sun glasses, if they have any left of course. and view and enjoy.

Check if its clear with this cloud forecast from first light optics

stargazing live is also on and covering the event as well.
 
Well I will be using a 10 shade welding lens taped to the front of my sigma 150-500. I was lucky enough to go up in a plane when we had the Total solar eclipse back in 1999 and used one then leading up to the 2 minutes of totality,then it was quickly removed for the good bit. Didn't really come out that well as we were shooting through triple layered glass of a Boeing 737.:whistle: Hopefully tomorrows will be cloud free here in Lincolnshire.:)
 
Robin, it is recommended if using welding glass, to use 14 not 10.
 
Proper solar filters are 16.5 stops and also filter out harmful UV and IR light that is not obvious.......you have been warned.

The www.widescreen-centre.com in London still had some and Baader protective metalised film a couple of days ago.
 
johnnypanic said:
Robin, it is recommended if using welding glass, to use 14 not 10.
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Might as well try and look through a wall as a 14! ;)
I will only view through my LCD screen and not the view finder then. Thanks for the warning.
 
Is this the 9th or 10th thread on the solar eclipse / filters ?
 
Big Rob said:
will only view through my LCD screen and not the view finder then. Thanks for the warning.
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If your using Live view then the mirror is locked up and light hitting the sensor which is probably not best advised !

Is this more a case of manual shooting at say f11-16 and hyperfocal focusing or infinity focusing depending on subject so as not to over expose the sensor ?
 
Going through all these helpful and informative posts it's clear to me that unless you have the right lens it's a no-no. so I'll give it a miss and just experience the darkening and listen to the birds 'not singing'..:D
 
Big Rob said:
Might as well try and look through a wall as a 14! ;)
I will only view through my LCD screen and not the view finder then. Thanks for the warning.
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Just remember Robin, as well as your eyes, you also have to think about your camera sensor. Which could, quite literally, get burned!
 
The usual grey cloud cover should put a dampener on things here in North Yorkshire :(
 
JohnC6 said:
Going through all these helpful and informative posts it's clear to me that unless you have the right lens it's a no-no
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Not at all , consider any normal day with the sun in your shot , do you panic worry about filters etc , no - because all good lenses are coated to protect them against the suns rays and filter certain things out.

So why is this any different , if you want a shot of a landscape ( which btw is what i am intending ) with the eclipse in the shot its really not much different apart from some manual exposing being probably easier as its going to change continously, maybe a HDR combo with a good 2 stops either side will work well too , there are plenty of options that dont involve damaging the sensor and as long as your steering clear of actually zooming in and focusing on the sun itself i really dont see any reason for not having a go
 
Andrew Davies Photography said:
Not at all , consider any normal day with the sun in your shot , do you panic worry about filters etc , no - because all good lenses are coated to protect them against the suns rays and filter certain things out.

So why is this any different , if you want a shot of a landscape ( which btw is what i am intending ) with the eclipse in the shot its really not much different apart from some manual exposing being probably easier as its going to change continously, maybe a HDR combo with a good 2 stops either side will work well too , there are plenty of options that dont involve damaging the sensor and as long as your steering clear of actually zooming in and focusing on the sun itself i really dont see any reason for not having a go
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^this - everyone has been banging on about solar filters, but I am guessing all these people will be pointing long lenses directly at the sun. I've taken countless landscape shots with the sun in before and it is perfectly fine....the only sound bit of advise for people attempting to capture the eclipse in a landscape style shots is DONT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN - but then anyone ever age of 3 knows that anywho.
 
we saw the eclipse in Kazakhstan in 2008, was 80% same as expected here - and tbh it isn't 'that' exciting. A total eclipse like the one in 1999 is much better. The birds really do go quiet then! But as far as getting a pic, I don't think you'll see much from a landscape shot tbh.

But on a more positive note, go to your local tanning salon and ask for some wink-ease which are little sticky eye protectors. You could put these on an old filter , or even just some plastic, and stick them in front of your lens. They protect eyes from UV at very close quarters so I expect they'll give your sensor some protection. Some are given away free but if they charge for em will be like 50p or something :)

of course I don't know that they will work, was just an idea...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wink-Ease-Disposable-SunBed-Goggles-Tanning/dp/B001WMVFGS
 
I have a CPL lens, no time for a solar lens now!
If I wait for the 98% cover, will I be okay? (Or even 90%?)
 
BintyMcFrazzles said:
I have a CPL lens, no time for a solar lens now!
If I wait for the 98% cover, will I be okay? (Or even 90%?)
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No, no, NO!

The bits of the sun which you can still see are just as bright as usual, and looking directly at it through a lens is just as dangerous as usual. A CPL is grossly, dangerously inadequate.
 
It has been said on here so many times, is this just trolling?

Its common sense but there doesn't seem to be a lot around here.
 
StewartR said:
No, no, NO!

The bits of the sun which you can still see are just as bright as usual, and looking directly at it through a lens is just as dangerous as usual. A CPL is grossly, dangerously inadequate.
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shreds said:
It has been said on here so many times, is this just trolling?

Its common sense but there doesn't seem to be a lot around here.
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Oh, meant to say I wasn't going to look directly through the viewfinder!!!! LOL. :exit:
What I meant to ask was will it damage the sensor if I wait until it's 98%? I have a feeling it's not adequate.
 
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Andrew Davies Photography said:
Not at all , consider any normal day with the sun in your shot , do you panic worry about filters etc , no - because all good lenses are coated to protect them against the suns rays and filter certain things out.[/quotes]


So why is this any different , if you want a shot of a landscape ( which btw is what i am intending ) with the eclipse in the shot its really not much different apart from some manual exposing being probably easier as its going to change continously, maybe a HDR combo with a good 2 stops either side will work well too , there are plenty of options that dont involve damaging the sensor and as long as your steering clear of actually zooming in and focusing on the sun itself i really dont see any reason for not having a go
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Jimmy_Lemon said:
^this - everyone has been banging on about solar filters, but I am guessing all these people will be pointing long lenses directly at the sun. I've taken countless landscape shots with the sun in before and it is perfectly fine....the only sound bit of advise for people attempting to capture the eclipse in a landscape style shots is DONT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN - but then anyone ever age of 3 knows that anywho.
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With a normal photograph, no great risk to the sensor. The mirror is down, and no light hits the sensor until you shoot, and the fraction of a second the shutter is open will be fine.

However... LIVE VIEW... is a definite no no. Then the mirror is up, and the image of the sun is focused directly onto your sensor for a long time. That is a recipe for a burned sensor. This is also true for a landscape shot with the sun directly in the frame. The heat generated on that spot will get searingly hot after a short time. Live view is Definitely NOT recommended.

The further towards totality, the less the risk of course.
 
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Has anyone got clear skies? I'm currently sat on the top of mam tor and the cloud is right where the eclipse will be! Anywhere within 45 mins of Sheffield?
 
For anyone thinking of using welding glass, it is your call, but I would have thought it will filter out IR and UV light as both are produced by arc welding.

However, after about 6 good days, some with wall to wall sunshine all day long, here in NW Scotland we have wall to wall cloud this morning.

Good luck everyone

Dave
 
camera bag packed. we have a good view of the morning sun from my work place, so if the weather doesn't play ball - i guess its back to work
 
Muzzieman said:
Has anyone got clear skies? I'm currently sat on the top of mam tor and the cloud is right where the eclipse will be! Anywhere within 45 mins of Sheffield?
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Virtually a cloudless sky over Plymouth this morning. I was out on Dartmoor for the last one which was totally eerie. Off out there again now.
 
Why is the advice not to point the camera at the sun in case the sensor gets damaged? People take photographs with the full sun in the frame all the time.
I can see that it could be a problem if you have quite a wide angled lens which concentrates the sun into a small dot. In the past, Leica used to warn about this as pinholes got burned into shutter curtains. But I think most people will be using longer lenses which spread the sun over a larger area of the sensor.

(p.s. I'm not arguing against this advice, just asking about the reasoning behind it).


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Why is the advice not to point the camera at the sun in case the sensor gets damaged? People take photographs with the full sun in the frame all the time.
I can see that it could be a problem if you have quite a wide angled lens which concentrates the sun into a small dot. In the past, Leica used to warn about this as pinholes got burned into shutter curtains. But I think most people will be using longer lenses which spread the sun over a larger area of the sensor.

(p.s. I'm not arguing against this advice, just asking about the reasoning behind it).


Steve.
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Probably general advice because so many people use bloody live view as opposed to the viewfinder. Using live view, and focusing the sun onto your sensor isn't a great idea. Most will think it's a safe way to do this though, as they don't need to look at the sun or look at the sun via the viewfinder.. which is true... except your camera may not thank you for it.

Using the viewfinder however, can damage your eyes.
 
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Steve Smith said:
Why is the advice not to point the camera at the sun in case the sensor gets damaged? People take photographs with the full sun in the frame all the time.
I can see that it could be a problem if you have quite a wide angled lens which concentrates the sun into a small dot. In the past, Leica used to warn about this as pinholes got burned into shutter curtains. But I think most people will be using longer lenses which spread the sun over a larger area of the sensor.

(p.s. I'm not arguing against this advice, just asking about the reasoning behind it).


Steve.
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I think the main danger is the diamond effect just before the point of obscurity. It's far more intense at that point.
 
Muzzieman said:
Has anyone got clear skies? I'm currently sat on the top of mam tor and the cloud is right where the eclipse will be! Anywhere within 45 mins of Sheffield?
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Clear blue sky here and a blazing hot sun.
 
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