These web pages explore solar eclipse photography. Topics covered include what is involved and the equipment required. There are also comments regarding the etiquette of eclipse photography.

Photographing a solar eclipse is not only fun and exhilarating, but it provides a memory for you and others who were there that will never fail to bring a chill or a tingle. Getting a perfect picture of a total solar eclipse is not easy. Often times the pictures you see that show the corona in detail with prominences are the result of multiple images stacked together along with other computer/dark room work. But getting a good picture that you can call your own is not too difficult, if you have the right equipment and are ready.

Total Solar eclipses are not your everyday type of thing to photograph. Preparation is essential to success and learning how others have done it before is the first step. The following information is based on my own experience photographing numerous total solar eclipses using different types of equipment. Because your equipment will most likely vary from what I’ve used please consider the exposure times as recommendations from which to determine your own exposure series.

Another aspect of photographing a total solar eclipse is that travel is often involved. Getting your equipment to and from an eclipse can be difficult in many ways. My own experiences in traveling around the world play a key role in my recommendations. You might be lucky and have an eclipse taking place right over your own observatory. In that special and rare case take heed of the section on practicing for the eclipse. This will provide you with the best guidance.

The proper selection of a filter is very important when photographing the partial phases of a solar eclipse or the sun under normal circumstances. This section contains links to various suppliers of solar filters. If you have any suggestions or are a vendor of solar filters please pass along your URL so that it can be added. Affiliate programs are always of interest too!

There are many people out there on the web with a lot more knowledge than I have. If you have any input you'd like to share, it is VERY welcomed. Articles, pictures, comments, corrections and embellishments will be added whenever possible. Email the author