How to photograph the total solar eclipse on April 8 2024

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image shows solar eclipse
(Image credit: Getty)

If you're planning on photographing the total solar eclipse on April 8 — either the partial phases or totality, or both — then preparation is paramount. You may only be able to view this astronomical event just a few times in your life, so getting prepped ahead of the event is vital. So is solid equipment, a good understanding of composition and camera settings you'll need before the moment arrives. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to capture brilliant eclipse pictures. But first, it's worth going over what actually happens during this natural phenomenon.

When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, those on the ground witness one of the most spectacular and rare sights in astronomy: a solar eclipse. This is a coincidence of cosmic proportions — the sun is roughly 400 times larger than our moon but also 400 times further away. If the sun was larger or the moon was further away, the phenomenon wouldn't happen.

If you're standing in the path of totality (where the moon's central shadow falls on Earth) the sun appears wholly blacked out for a few minutes. The ultimate photographic prize is to capture the sun's corona, which must be seen with the naked eye and photographed without solar filters. During totality, everything around feels different: birds go wild, it gets colder, and the Earth itself seems to slow, if just for a moment, as the darkness looms. 

People will travel from across the world to the path of totality on April 8, which will be around 115 miles wide and cross North America from northwest Mexico to southeast Canada, via parts of 15 U.S. states. A brief glimpse of a total solar eclipse is a true bucket list experience, but how do you practice photographing an event you may only witness once in a lifetime — and that lasts only a few minutes? With one of the best cameras for astrophotography (and an appropriate solar lens filter), a tripod and some practice, you can be confident that you will come away from the experience of having captured epic photographs.

Looking for more tips on capturing the night sky? We also have in-depth articles on how to photograph the ISS and plenty of more general guidance on astrophotography for beginners. If you don't have 'all the gear,' check out our guide to photographing solar eclipses with a smartphone.

The types of solar eclipses

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image showing a solar eclipse sequence

An image sequence of a solar eclipse. (Image credit: Getty)

The total solar eclipse is the most spectacular kind of eclipse, where the moon obscures the sun perfectly for a few minutes. The path of totality across the Earth's surface is narrow, and on average, there is only one total solar eclipse every 18 months. Totality is preceded and followed by partial phases. 

An annular solar eclipse is when the moon is further away from Earth, and therefore does not fully obscure the sun, leaving a bright ring visible. These also occur roughly once every 18 months. Annularity is preceded and followed by partial phases. 

A hybrid solar eclipse is the rarest type of solar eclipse. It occurs when an eclipse changes between total and annular during the eclipse itself. Just five more will happen in the 21st century, the next being in 2031. Totality or annularity is preceded and followed by partial phases. 

A partial solar eclipse is the most commonly seen, where only a part of the sun is obscured by the moon. Total solar eclipses and annular solar eclipses, when viewed outside the path of totality or annularity, appear only as partial solar eclipses. 

Safety

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image shows eclipse in red sky

An eclipse in a red sky. (Image credit: Getty)

The first thing to be aware of is the dangers of viewing a solar eclipse. Never look directly at the partially eclipsed sun with the naked eye or through additional optics such as the best telescope or binoculars. Do so, and you will burn your retina, and you could suffer instant and irreversible blindness. Always wear solar viewing glasses for the partial phases of a solar eclipse.  

The only time it is safe to remove solar eclipse glasses and solar filters for observing the sun is during the brief period of totality from that narrow path. 

The same film used for solar viewing glasses is also available as a solar filter for your lens from specialist retailers. Solar film is the equivalent of 20 stops of neutral density, significantly reducing the amount of light getting through. Pointing a telephoto lens at the sun without protection for your gear is a terrible idea. A telephoto lens magnifies the intensity of sunlight and, in extreme cases, can melt your sensor!

In 2017, photographer Sean MacDonald sacrificed a Canon DSLR to prove this point. With a 400mm lens pointing directly at the sun and unfiltered, the camera began smoking within seconds.

When and where to see a solar eclipse

Solar eclipses are rare to occur in a specific location, and a total solar eclipse is even rarer. Unless you're lucky enough to live in the path of totality, you'll need to travel to a suitable viewing location. 

Given their predictable nature, various websites and apps can help you find and map the path of totality on April 8. Eclipse chaser Xavier Jupiter's Interactive Google Map and TimeAndDate are the most popular. Specialized maps come from GreatAmericanEclipse.com and simulations of what you'll see from specific locations come from Eclipse 2024.  

Upcoming total solar eclipses

8 April 2024
The path of totality for this one will run across North America, from northwest Mexico, through Texas and the midwest U.S. and end over Atlantic Canada. Many large cities will experience totality including Austin, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Montreal. It will touch 15 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces.  

12 August 2026
Europe will next experience a total eclipse in 2026, which will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Weather permitting, several large cities will see totality, including Reykjavik, Bilbao, Zaragoza, and Palma. Most of western Europe will experience a partial eclipse.

2 August 2027
The path of totality for this 2027 eclipse travels across North Africa and the Middle East before terminating over the Indian Ocean. Egypt will see the longest period of totality, up to 6 minutes 22 seconds, near the city of Luxor, making this the second-longest solar eclipse of the century. Given the climate, time of day, and exceptional length of totality, this is likely to be the most favorable viewing position for any solar eclipse in this decade.

22 July 2028
The final total solar eclipse of the decade will occur in 2028, when Australia and New Zealand will witness an eclipse with a maximum totality of over five minutes. This eclipse will be notable for passing over Sydney.

November 25, 2030
Here's a path of totality that begins at sunrise off Namibia's Skeleton Coast and ends in Queensland, Australia. So the choice is an early morning totality in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa or Lesotho, or a sunset eclipse from South Australia, New South Wales or Queensland. It will last about two minutes.   

Equipment

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image shows camera and tripod set up to photograph a lunar eclipse

Make sure you have all of your kit prepared in good time. (Image credit: Getty)

You will need:

  • A DSLR or mirrorless camera with full manual control.
  • A super-telephoto lens — at least 200mm, but the longer, the better.
  • A sufficiently strong solar filter to prevent damage to your gear during the capture. 
  • The best tripod you can afford. A stable tripod is required when shooting in low light, but this is even more important when shooting at a long focal length because the motion of the slightest vibration or gust of wind is multiplied. Invest or borrow the strongest tripod you can — it needs to be as solid as a rock. 
  • Shutter release. This can be a cable plugged into your camera or a remote control that allows you to capture images without physically touching your camera. For the sharpest possible image, this is an important gadget to have in your arsenal.  
  • Eclipse glasses are essential for looking at the sun with the naked eye. Do not look at the sun without protection. 
  • Take several spares — at least one extra fully charged battery and an empty SD card. Maybe several! It would be heartbreaking to go to the effort and expense of the trip of a lifetime only to be let down by some inadequate gear. 

Choosing a filter

There are several manufacturers offering specialist solar filters, such as Thousand Oaks Optical, Seymour Solar and Baader. These typically comprise a screw-in thread for the front of your lens and a protective sheet of film. Solar filters are specifically designed for this task and will block UV and IR light beyond the visible spectrum — if in any doubt, opt for one of these.

Some manufacturers of regular camera filters, such as Kase, Lee, Formatt Hitech, and Nisi, make neutral density filters of sufficient strength that they can be used for solar photography as well as other long-exposure photography. Look for 16-stop, 18-stop or 20-stop neutral density filters. Weaker strength neutral density filters will be available, such as a 4-stop or an 8-stop, but these will not offer enough protection — you must only consider filters of 16-stop and above.

In order to find the correct size filter for your lens, look for the thread notation which is usually displayed on the front or side of your lens, sometimes next to the Ø symbol. For example, 82mm or Ø82 means that your lens requires a filter with a diameter of 82 millimeters. 

Choosing a lens

You will need a substantial focal length to get a close-up of the solar eclipse. The most common telephoto lenses tend to top out at 200mm or 300mm, very respectable focal lengths, but still, you're wasting precious pixels on empty space. Consider investing or renting a lens with a longer focal length for your mission. You could also look at a teleconverter, which is a secondary lens that fits between your lens and the camera body to magnify the center of your image. These typically come in factors of 1.4x, 1.5x or 2x magnification. For example, a 70-300mm lens with a 2x teleconverter offers a maximum focal length of 600mm.

Here is how a selection of different focal lengths look on the Nikon D850, a full-frame DSLR camera:

It may seem tempting to go for the closest, most extreme crop. However, shown above are just the partial phases. The real attraction of a total solar eclipse is the chance to see and image the Sun's corona, which is a halo of whitish light around the sun that's only visible during totality. Use a tight crop and you risk cutting off the Sun's corona. You'll also find yourself having to adjust your composition constantly — it will surprise you just how quickly the sun will move through the frame. You will find that something between 400mm and 800mm is the best choice for the shot — striking a balance between filling your frame and not having to recompose your shot as often. 

Preparation

Clean your gear
Photographing strong light means any specks of dust will be seen on your image. Invest some time and money cleaning your equipment before your trip. You should probably clean your camera sensor too, if you’re uncertain how to do this, find out if your local camera shop offers a professional cleaning service. 

Get there early
You will have established well ahead of time where you need to be and when. Arrive with plenty of time to set up, checking there is nothing obscuring your view. 

Level your tripod
You will be recomposing your frame every few minutes so ensure your tripod is positioned somewhere stable, level, and ideally as far away from other people as possible. The last thing you want is a clumsy eclipse observer bumping into your tripod in the dark.

Fit your solar filter
Before composing your shot, remove the lens cap and fit your solar filter.

Compose your shot
Use your camera's screen to line up your image. Do not use the optical viewfinder. You can always crop later, so it isn't critical to have the sun in the center of the frame, plus, it is in constant motion.

Finding focus
Getting sharp and accurate focus is of critical importance, but you cannot always rely on autofocus to do this correctly. Take a test shot and zoom in using your camera's screen to ensure it is sharp. If not, switch to manual focus and adjust incrementally, taking a series of test shots until you're happy.

Once you are absolutely confident that your lens is in focus, switch to manual focus and do not touch the focus ring again. It's a good idea to carry a small roll of tape to tightly secure the ring to the barrel so that even if you accidentally brush the focus ring with your fingers, it remains in place.

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image shows solar eclipse

You may only get once chance to witness a total solar eclipse. (Image credit: Getty)

Dial in your settings

For most of a total solar eclipse, and for the duration of an annular or partial eclipse, your settings will remain unchanged. 

  • Make sure VR/IS is turned off. Vibration reduction or image stabilization is not required while on a tripod. In fact, leaving it turned on will certainly result in a poorer image because your lens will be hunting for motion that isn't there. 
  • Use aperture priority mode. Here you select an aperture to remain fixed throughout your shoot. Experiment beforehand to establish where your lens is sharpest and has the least chromatic aberration. Somewhere between f/5.6 and f/8 is the sweet spot on many lenses. 
  • Choose an appropriate ISO. Too low, and the shutter speed required will be too long. Too high, and you'll introduce unnecessary noise. You should aim for a base exposure between 1/100s and 1/500s, depending on focal length.
  • Shoot raw. This allows you to capture a greater dynamic range and provides more data to play with during the editing process. 
  • Choose spot metering as your metering mode because your entire frame is going to be dark apart from the sun. Meter on the Sun before the event begins. 
  • You may wish to bracket your exposures. This is a technique where you take a sequence of images in quick succession, some correctly exposed, some overexposed and some underexposed. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras have this feature built-in to take between three and nine images with various increments of exposure. If some cloud obscures your view, you will lose some light, but by bracketing your exposures, you should still come away with a well-exposed image in the sequence. As you're shooting in aperture priority with a fixed ISO, your camera will compensate by increasing and decreasing the shutter speed for the other frames in the sequence. 

How to photograph a solar eclipse: image of three different exposures of the sun

L-R: -2 Stops of Exposure; Evenly Exposed; +2 Stops of Exposure. (Image credit: Future)

As the eclipse progresses, the amount of light reaching your camera's sensor will gradually decrease, meaning you may need to increase your ISO as totality approaches.

Shooting totality

Totality begins and ends with the 'diamond ring' effect. Once the diamond ring has gone, the magical moment of totality has arrived. The world around you has been plunged into darkness, but this also means some quick changes are required to continue shooting.

  • Remove your solar filter. It is not needed during totality. You can remove your solar glasses too. 
  • Adjust your ISO. You should now be able to return to a lower ISO while the filter is off. 
  • Bracket your shots if you weren't already. There is a vast dynamic range in the sun's corona, meaning that by taking rapid-fire shots with different exposures, later you can choose the one that looks best. This isn't the time to experiment, so use technology to make things easier for you. 

Nothing else needs to be changed at this point. Do not adjust your focus or aperture. 

Practice makes perfect

The techniques mentioned above can be difficult to master, and you don't want to waste precious time during the eclipse on trial and error. However, there are other ways you can hone your telephoto methods to perfection long before the big day. 

An image of the moon against a dark sky

Practice for the solar eclipse ahead of time by using the moon as a target. (Image credit: Getty)

Shoot the moon 

You won't need a solar filter for this because the moon is many orders of magnitude dimmer than the sun. However, the principles are the same. You can use this exercise to determine the focal length that works for you, and you will get valuable experience of how quickly the moon moves through the frame when shooting at a long focal length.

If you need some guidance, we have a guide that goes into detail on how to photograph the moon. Once you're confidently capturing a full moon on its own, why not try some other shots such as:

  • Other moon phases — a crescent moon is comparable in brightness to the Sun's corona during totality 
  • Juxtaposing the moon with a foreground element 
  • Capturing the moon at moonrise/moonset 

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Mathew Browne is a photographer from south Wales with a particular interest in photographing the night sky. He is a product developer for Skylum Software and the founder of the photo location discovery app PhotoHound.  

With contributions from