Descripción
Learn how to photograph each of the coming solar eclipses in 2026, 2027, and 2028 with a wide range of techniques and camera gear:
• Simple phone cameras
• DSLR and mirrorless cameras (for stills and video)
• Wide-angle lenses and telephotos
• Telescopes, both tracking the sky and untracked
• The book covers techniques for the coming trio of total eclipses and, as a bonus, the January 2028 annular solar eclipse.
In this 400-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 not 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 blur from sky motion.
• What the best exposures will be.
• When to shoot on auto exposure vs. manual.
• How to set video cameras for maximum detail and dynamic range.
• 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!
• The biggest chapter at 100 pages covers processing 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 2026, 2027, and 2028 (total and annular) eclipses, for sample locations along the paths, 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 HDR software and luminosity masks.
• The ebook is expanded by 40 pages from the original 2023/24 edition, with updated content to cover new camera capabilities and the latest software. And, of course, details specifically for each eclipse, 2026-28.
What’s in the book:
Chapter 1: Introduction
• The coming eclipses • A summary of the techniques the book explains • Who the book is for
Chapter 2: The Eclipse Experience
• Eclipse essentials • What to look for with unaided eyes • What to look for through optics • Eclipse etiquette
Chapter 3: Where to Go
• Where are the shadow paths? • Where you need to be • Where not to be! • Where to get eclipse details for your site • Weather prospects • Plan B options
Chapter 4: Choosing Equipment and Filters
• Choosing the best solar filters – Several brands tested • Choosing cameras, lenses, and tripods • Choosing astronomical gear – Telescopes and mounts • The “smart scope” option
Chapter 5: Shooting Wide-Angle Stills
• Using a phone camera • The best exposures and other settings • Framing the scene – with sky charts for several sites along each eclipse path
Chapter 6: Shooting Close-Up Stills
• Choosing a telephoto lens • The important tripod • Choosing a telescope • Solar filter test results for telescopes • Tracking mounts vs. untracked tripods • Setting up a tracking telescope • Focusing tips • Recommended exposure sequences • Practice tips for shooting the Moon
Chapter 7: Shooting Composites
• Planning a wide-angle composite • Framing the scene at each eclipse • Planning a close-up composite • Letting the sky provide the motion
Chapter 8: Shooting Time-Lapses
• Planning a wide-angle time-lapse • Framing the motion of the Sun • Exposures and intervals • Controlling the camera • Setting up a tracked time-lapse • Mount mis-behaviors to watch for
Chapter 9: Shooting Video
• Video options using DSLR or mirrorless cameras • Setting exposures. Setting video options – 8K vs 4K vs 4KHQ • Setting contrast curves • Using a smart scope for video
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 multi-exposure blends with HDR and luminosity masks • Extracting corona details • Creating composites
Chapter 12: Conclusion
• Advice for eclipse newbies • Future eclipses • Where to learn more – books, apps, and websites
About the Author
The author is a veteran of 17 total solar eclipses, shooting each one with a variety of camera and techniques. Alan is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope magazine. His eclipse images have been featured in many magazines and books, and his eclipse videos have been used in Discovery Channel TV documentaries. He is author of the ebook How to Photograph and Process Nightscapes and Time-Lapses and co-author of the widely acclaimed print book The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide.
