Photographing A Solar Eclipse

A beginner-friendly guide to photographing a solar eclipse safely, including equipment, camera setup, exposure planning and totality tips.

Start With the Right Goal

Your first eclipse is not the occasion to attempt a complicated multi-camera production. Choose one simple result: a wide landscape showing the changing light, a telephoto image of the partial phases, or a few totality images. Prepare that one approach carefully and leave time to look up.

A memorable eclipse experience is more valuable than a technically perfect frame. Set up early, rehearse your sequence and avoid changing equipment in the final minutes before totality.

Solar Filter

What the Filter Does

The bright photosphere remains dangerous to eyes and camera equipment whenever any part of it is visible. A solar filter reduces the light enough for safe, controlled partial-phase photography. It must cover the front of the lens, telescope or binocular objective.

During the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the bright solar surface. This is the moment to remove the camera’s solar filter and photograph the corona. Replace the filter before the first bright edge of sunlight reappears.

Simple Camera Setup

Put the camera in manual mode and turn off flash. Use RAW capture if available, because it gives more recovery latitude when editing.

Practice Before Eclipse Day

Set up your tripod, camera and remote release at home.
Practise attaching and removing the solar filter without looking away from what you are doing.
Photograph the filtered Sun only when using a correct solar filter and safe technique.
Label the filter case and place it where you can reach it immediately.
Write a short, printed sequence for partial phases, totality and the return to partial phases.
Charge batteries, format cards and pack spares the day before.

Totality Sequence

Before totality, keep the solar filter on and watch the timing.
When the Sun is completely covered, remove the camera filter and safely view totality directly.
Take only the photographs you rehearsed; avoid changing lenses or menus.
Look up and experience the corona, horizon colours and sudden darkness.
At the first return of bright sunlight, immediately refit the solar filter before photographing or looking toward the Sun again.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Using ordinary sunglasses instead of a proper solar filter.
Looking through an optical viewfinder at the Sun without a front-mounted solar filter.
Attempting a new lens, new camera mode or complicated time-lapse on eclipse day.
Forgetting to remove the solar filter during totality, producing black frames.
Removing the filter before totality or failing to replace it as the bright Sun returns.
Spending all of totality looking at the camera screen.

Expedition-grade kit

If you are travelling with professional telephoto or telescope setups, airline rules, theft risks, and team protocols matter as much as exposure settings. See Photo Expedition Kit for a deeper guide to transport, security, and redundancy on the road.