Solar Eclipse Photography Tutorial & Tips

Learn to get awesome photos of the sun and the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This photography tutorial teaches you to take pictures of the solar eclipse using an ND filter, tripod, camera, and telephoto lens.

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0:00 Introduction
0:13 Solar Filters
0:56 Tripod
1:28 Camera & Lens
2:16 Photograph the Eclipse
2:37 Camera Settings
2:44 Focus Settings
3:05 Exposure Settings
3:22 Shutter Mode
4:02 Take more pictures
4:32 Solar Eclipse Photography Checklist
4:39 Summary

[pinestreet]

It occurred to me that I'd rather have photos of my back yard or places familiar to me during the eclipse, to show how the light changed, than take pics of the eclipse itself. I'll see loads of photos of the eclipse; none of what my world looked like when it was happening.

[alansach]

This will be one of the most photographed spectacles in history. Worse than standing in line at sunrise at Ox Bow Bend in September! I was in the path of totality in 2017. Was mowing my lawn when it happened. Got dark and the birds stopped chirping and tucked their heads in. I just kept mowing!

[JHP_]

Thanks Tony - yet again you cut through the fluff to deliver an informative and concise how-to.

[matthewjbauer]

My Dad took his Fuji X-T10 to the 2017 Eclipse and used the Tokina 500mm screw mount reflex lens and he had a solar filter cover and 1.4x screw mount teleconverter + the screw mount to Fuji X adapter. Not the best combo but it worked. Me, on Monday, I plan on using my unbranded 420-800mm f8-f16 manual focus/manual zoom (Opteka sells it branded for double the unbranded price) telescope style lens with a slide on solar filter cover/cap on my X-T30. Dad plans to take his new X-T30II again with the Tokina reflex filter cover. Dad and I don't plan on using the X-T10 for anything serious as we don't have a lens, solar cover, or 3rd tripod for it.

[TheASM]

I recommend to use a camera with a pivoting viewscreen.Contrary to what Tony says, put the camera on a tripod below shoulders so that you will not be tempted to look up into the sun for the adjustments. Look down at the screen and if necessary use a blanket to cover your head (to shade the screen in full sunlight). Tape the sunscreen to your lens securely.

[alvinblackwell]

Tony you best post in a minute very informative 👏🏼 👍🏽 👌🏻

[AstroLaVista]

Great explanation, Tony, really nice video. Its so hard photographing objects in space using a stationary tripod due to the Earth's rotation. If you intend to do more of any type of astrophotography it's worth investing in a star tracker such as the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer which can keep the Sun, Stars, Moon and deep sky objects centred in the frame and remove motion blur on longer exposures also.

[thepincayreport]

Thank you for this. I'll be making my way to Austin this weekend to shoot the eclipse.

[Tommy.voodoo]

I photographed the last one with my cheap canon powershot and took an awesome photo!
Such a cool experience

[AbercrombieArt]

Great video Tony! Succinct and informative, this video was just what the doctor ordered for me. Thanks a bunch😊 !

[JS-wzkm]

I also got focusing cloths, so i can see the screens on the cameras better, remote shutter release/intervalometers, and a flip-up filter holder to make the transition during the eclipse easier. I'm going to use my phone to look back at us during the eclipse while we look up.

[seaeagles]

Hi Tony and Chelsea, some really great tips especially the safety part, to wear glasses to protect your eyes. Great presentation 😊

[okaro]

It may be also a good idea to think if there is something in the environment to photograph or take video if one is at the path of totality (outside it one will not notice differences in the environment)

[gianocurrie]

Thanks for info! Was great! Wish I saw this one month earlier.

[carlmcneill]

You don't want to use a 2x teleconverter at 600mm for one thing a 2x teleconverter softens the focus and doubles the aperture. Second, the chromesphere coming around the moon from the sun will be twice the size of the moon during totality. You will miss is if your zoomed in too much. That's the whole reason for taking your filter off so you can capture that part of the eclipse. That's like having your client go get a new haircut and then chopping the top of their head off in the frame. 600mm is the max focal length. Maybe even 500mm. Also, do a 9 shot bracket during totality if you want to capture all of it. Lightroom may can do an HDR but i usually don't have a lot of luck in Lightroom with that. There's YouTube videos on how to put the 9 frames together and to use each of the exposures. I would suggest shooting around 1/1000 ss, ISO 200 or 400, and f/ for the partial phase. Take the filter off when the diamond ring appears. The diamond ring and Baily's beads only last about maybe 15 seconds so hit that shutter release repeatedly or just before the diamond ring change to high burst mode and hold the shutter release down when the diamond ring appears. Change your settings for totality. Go to f/11, ISO 400, and start with 1/30 ss for your 9 shot bracket. The fastest shutter speed should be around 1/500 and the slowest and around 1/2. Even at 600mm you shouldn't see motion blur at 1/2 of a second. Change your settings back to the original and watch the eclipse and things around. Change the settings back to the original and then shoot the Baily's beads and the diamond ring on the other side. Put the filter back on and start shooting the partial phase again. Download the solar eclipse timer app and follow the instructions. It's only $2 for this eclipse and is well worth it. It uses your phone's GPS to know exactly what time to tell you when things are about to happen. You will hear verbal cues when to do things. I would suggest using an old phone or iPad and use it just for the timer. You don't have to pay twice if it's for the same app.

[andrewbristoe]

Recently got into telescoping ...whole new imaging world the thing that gets you is hoe much the planets move and location altitude changes over short periods of time .Also especially eclipses not to long lensing esp with devils comit at the same time .For Americans or visitors would be so torn in a most dependable weather location or Niagara Falls although the crowds spectacular if could somehow incorporate in the shots .

[andrewbristoe]

Got one in cairns australia framed between clouds so freaky birds go nuts if another think try landscape incorporated Astro and landscape really bangs

[porter]

If youre bored enough, there is an 80s movie called ladyhawke that has an eclipse as a central plot feature.

[RaelliaSama]

I'm glad I found your video. All these sources I found said you want an ND filter for full solar eclipse photography, which I want to capture every minute of direct photography from beginning to end without ruining my camera. What brand of solar film would you recommend for my Canon Rebel T7? I've got a telephoto lens that can go between 400mm and 800mm. Yes, I'm a newb lol, but this is such a rare event and I want my own photos and video to memorialize it. I'm also going to have another camera capture the shifting scenery so it won't be aimed at the sun at all. That will probably be just video for that and I can gather stills from the recording.

Anyway, I digress, just need the finer details and suggestions of what solar film to use so I don't mess up my primary camera being such a newblet.

[NickNoblePhotography]

Thanks. Bet I could spend between now and eclipse watching videos!