Five tips for photographing the eclipse

It’s a safe bet to say that the 2017 eclipse will be one of the most photographed events of the year, but how do you photograph it? Should you even try?

Here are some tips we got from award winning local photographer Dennis Hammon.

Tip number one is to decide just what your photography goals are.

“Some of them want to photograph the environment,” Hammon said. “Some of the want to photograph the people and the interactions, and some of them want to photograph the eclipse.”

Whichever of those you want to photograph, tip number two is be prepared.

“Getting fresh batteries for their cameras and their devices,” Hammon said. “Having fresh memory cards and empty memory cards because they’re gonna shoot a lot.”

Tip number three is have the proper equipment.

Just as you need eclipse glasses to protect your eyes, you need eclipse filters for your cameras or cell phones or else.

“It’s gonna burn out the sensors on their cameras or even their cell phones if it’s prolonged exposure,” Hammon said.

The filters can range from the $250 glass filters like Hammon uses, to filters mounted on boxes to stick over the camera lens, to holding eclipse glasses in front of your cell phone lens. Just as with your eyes, these special filters will be needed except for the short span during eclipse totality.

Also needed, a tripod for a steady shot.

And if you do use a cell phone, the telephoto attachments will work far better than just zooming in on your screen.

Tip number four is practice.

“Go out and practice a couple nights before with the full moon,” Hammon said. “Practice because the size, the exposure are about the same and practice with it and your focusing.”

Tip number 5 is don’t bother.

Consider not even bothering to take pictures. Rely on millions of others who will take pictures.

“The total eclipse is gonna last two-and-a-half minutes,” Hammon said. “I’d rather have people enjoy rather than having to fumble around and not knowing what to do unless they’ve practice a lot with their equipment.”

We barely could scratch the surface on all the information on this topic, but if you Google “how to photograph the eclipse” you’ll get lots of resources from sources ranging from NASA to the various camera manufacturers.