How to Photograph the Solar Eclipse
A Guide to Capturing the 2017 Total Eclipse of the Sun
The most comprehensive guide to photographing eclipses you'll find!
- The Great American Eclipse is now history. I hope everyone experienced an incredible eclipse, wherever you were on August 21.
- As such, most of my ebook is also now obsolete.
- However, Chapter 11 contains valuable tutorials for processing your eclipse images: wide-angles, close-ups, and composites.
- With its more limited use now, I have reduced the price to $2.99 U.S.
In this 290-page ebook, you’ll learn:
- What to expect to see and what to shoot.
- How to shoot simple grab shots and eclipse “selfies.”
- What types of cameras are best.
- What tripod features are best.
- What filters to use and when to remove them.
- How to shoot wide-angle still images.
- How to set up time-lapse sequences.
- How to frame scenes for time-lapses and composites.
- How to plan great shots above scenic landmarks.
- How to shoot close-ups of totality.
- What focal lengths are best for framing the Sun.
- What types of telescopes and mounts are best.
- How to align tracking mounts in the daytime.
- How to focus and avoid image blurring from sky motion.
- What the best exposures will be.
- When to shoot on auto exposure vs. manual.
- How to plan shoots with single or multiple cameras.
- How to automate a camera.
- Tips on last-minute moves to avoid clouds.
- What can go wrong and how to avoid the common mistakes.
- How to capture the eclipse and still see it!
- And finally … How to process your eclipse photos, from simple wide-angle scenes to complex multi-exposure stacks and composites.
The book contains:
- Dozens of sky charts made specifically for the 2017 eclipse, and for both the eastern and western United States, to show how to frame the scene with a range of focal lengths, and for planning your shoot.
- Active links to websites for equipment suppliers and for detailed eclipse maps and times for your site.
- Step-by-step tutorials take you through processing, from basic developing of Raw files, to assembling time-lapse movies, and stacking images for composites, plus blending of multiple exposures with luminosity masks.
What’s in the book:
Chapter 1: Introduction
• A summary of the techniques the book explains
Chapter 2: The Eclipse Experience
• What you will see and experience during the eclipse, with the naked eye and through optics • Eclipse etiquette
Chapter 3: Where to Go
• Where you need to be in the path of totality • Plan B options
Chapter 4: Eclipse Photo Fundamentals
• Choosing filters • Shooting partial phases vs. totality
Chapter 5: Shooting Wide-Angle Stills
• Choosing cameras (from simple to complex) and lenses • Choosing exposures and other settings • Framing options, for capturing easy but dramatic wide-angle scenes and panoramas
Chapter 6: Shooting Close-Up Stills
• Choosing cameras, lenses, and telescopes for detailed close-ups • Tracking mounts vs. untracked tripods • Setting up a tracking telescope • Focusing tips • Recommended exposure sequences • Framing the corona • Practice tips for shooting the Moon
Chapter 7: Shooting Time-Lapses
• Setting up wide-angle and close-up time-lapses • Framing the motion of the Sun. Tracking the Sun • Controlling the camera
Chapter 8: Shooting Video
• Video camera and lens options • Setting exposures
Chapter 9: Shooting Composites
• Planning a multiple exposure composite • Framing the scene • Wide-angle vs. close-up sequences
Chapter 10: What Can Go Wrong?
• Common equipment and user malfunctions! • Checklists • Operating multiple cameras and shooting plans • Automating a camera • Cloudy options • Contingency plans
Chapter 11: Processing Eclipse Images
• Workflows • Photoshop basics • Developing Raw images • Processing wide-angle scenes and close-ups of the corona • Processing time-lapse sequences • Stacking composites • Stacking and merging multi-exposure blends with HDR and luminosity masks.
Chapter 12: Conclusion
• Advice for eclipse newbies • Future eclipses • Where to learn more – for detailed maps and information on your site.
Published February 2017
ISBN 978-0-9939589-1-5
Contents © 2017 Alan Dyer/AmazingSky.com
Available on the Apple iBooks Store
The iBooks version offers greater interactivity and easier navigation than the PDF sold below.
But it is only for MacOS computers and iOS mobile devices. This is the best option for iPads.
NOTE: A few iOS users report formatting issues and missing content. Turning "Scrolling View" OFF fixes this. Tap on the "aA" menu button.
$2.99 U.S.
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A few customers report issues with PayPal – the transaction does not proceed but loops back to the Pay Now screen. This happens for some people attempting to pay from their PayPal account or from their linked bank account. Their U.S. bank is rejecting the transaction from a foreign vendor (me!) but gives no message to that effect. If this happens, choose to pay via your Credit Card. That option seems to work fine.
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