A total solar eclipse is coming up, and unfortunately, it will not be visible to viewers in India. But in case you are in a part of the world where it will be visible, here are 4 tips on how to photograph it using your smartphone straight from NASA.
A total solar eclipse is a sight to behold and it is a unique opportunity for people to see the Sun completely blocked by the Moon in between the latter and Earth. These celestial events also give scientists a great opportunity to study the Sun and its effects on the planet. Apart from that, it is a perfect opportunity to capture once-in-a-lifetime images. Here are some eclipse photography tips that NASA shared this week.
Safety first
Looking at the Sun is dangerous in the first place before you even point your phone at it. To take images of the partially eclipsed Sun, use a specialized solar filter to protect your smartphone’s camera sensor. You will also need a pair of solar viewing glasses or eclipse glasses to protect your eyes. Make sure you remove the filter when the Sun is completely blocked, you can remove the filter to see the Sun’s outer atmosphere — the Corona.
Don’t just look at the Sun
The Sun is obviously the center of attraction during a total solar eclipse but don’t forget to look around you. When the Moon moves in front of the Sun, the entire landscape around will have a completely different kind of lighting and shadows. If you see any place where light can filter down through the leaves of trees, you might notice the leaves making natural pinholes that project miniature eclipse replicas on the ground. Even wide-angle shots could look great during the eclipse.
Practice makes perfect
Before you take your phone out on the day of the eclipse, go find a full moon day – around two weeks before the eclipse. Use that and the following days to practice with an object that will be a similar size in the sky as the Sun during the solar eclipse. Make sure you learn how to manually adjust the exposure on your camera app and other settings that will be useful to get the kind of image you like.
Before you share
It’s not just about clicking the image – you might also need to do some editing. You can fire up an app like Snapseed to adjust exposure, crop, tweak colors, and more before you share the image that you took.
Now, all you need to do is to get to a location where you know you will have an unobstructed view of the eclipse. Find a comfortable position to sit down or stand and get ready with your phone. Don’t forget to wipe any smudges on your lenses off with a microfiber cloth, the kind that is used for glasses.
