The moment of totality during the solar eclipse in Glendo, Wyo., on August 21, 2017.
John T. Meader / John T. Meader
Updated on April 8, 2024 at 7:45 am ET
If you’re planning to view Monday’s total solar eclipse and all you have is a camera that also works as a phone, with a little preparation (and caution) you should still be able to get some relatively good shots. May be capable.
“It all depends on how much effort one is willing to put into it,” says Shawn Walker, associate editor of . sky and telescope magazine. For starters, you’ll need to wear eclipse glasses or similar protective eye equipment when aiming your camera or even just observing the eclipse.
In the US, the path of totality for the best views extends from southern Texas, through the South and Midwest, into the Northeast before reaching Maine. But if the weather is favorable, anyone in the continental US can see at least a partial eclipse.
Don’t look up – look down!
Even if you don’t live or travel to the area, it will still be possible to capture interesting photos where the Moon appears to cover the Sun almost completely. “If you’re within several hundred miles of the path of totality at the time of maximum eclipse,” says Walker, “the space between the leaves on the trees and anything else that’s basically pinholed will produce the image of a crescent sun on the ground or on the ground.” Will do. A wall… It depends on how high the sun is at that time.”
A photo shows the eclipse projected through the spaces between leaves, taken on August 21, 2017 in Glendo, Wyo.
John T. Meader / John T. Meader
“It’s all easier with a cellphone,” says John Meader, director of Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services in Fairfield, Maine. Another option is to shoot your surroundings as it gets dark as the eclipse reaches totality. “Maybe take before and during shots of the same scene to capture the changing levels of light,” he suggested.
Feeling more ambitious? A tripod is a must
If you’re determined to photograph the eclipse directly, you’ll need a little more preparation.
The key to getting a good photo is “a simple tripod that will hold your cellphone steady so you can take pictures and not be moving around the whole time,” says Walker.
Still, pressing the shutter button manually may cause unwanted shakes. To avoid this, consider Bluetooth triggering. Or set the camera to “timer mode,” giving it a few seconds to settle before taking a picture.
Randall Benton, a freelance photographer who is fond of solar eclipses, says another option is to shoot video “just as the sun is getting dark.” Although the quality of phone video isn’t as good as a still image, you can always extract images from the video later, he says.
For best results, use your phone’s manual settings
If you’ve never messed with your camera’s settings, now would be a good time. You’ll want to reduce the exposure, at least during the partial eclipse phase, and also set the focus to “infinity.” (Here’s how to access manual controls for iPhone or Android.) If you have a second pair of solar eclipse glasses, you can use those a filter To cover the camera lens on your phone, says Benton. This will protect your phone’s camera from potential damage caused by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and give you more dramatic shots.
“You want to get those solar glasses as close to the lens as possible, because most of them have mirror surfaces on both sides,” he explains. If any light leaks from the edges, it may reflect off the back side of the filter. And create glare or strange reflections that can spoil the image.”
If you’re on the path to totality, don’t forget to remove the filter when the magical moment arrives. “Try to zoom in, as viewing from totality won’t hurt your eyes. This is only when the Sun’s disk is visible, you really shouldn’t be looking at it directly without filtration,” says Meader.
Of course, you can always leave the photography to the professionals, live in the moment and enjoy the divine show.
“Although it’s great to take your own photos, if this is your first eclipse, really enjoy the experience,” says Walker. “When (you) actually experience totality, it’s hard to wrap your mind around it. … It’s just an amazing experience.”
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