In August of 2017, many parts of the US will experience the pleasure and excitement of viewing a total eclipse. In fact, this event is so special you may want to capture a few moments frozen in time, so you can share them with others in the future. However, it’s never a good idea to simply point your camera directly at the eclipse because you need the right solar filters. Here are some helpful tips for taking pictures of this spectacular event safely.
Why Can’t I Just Use My Camera Without Special Precautions?
Looking at an eclipse is proven to create temporary and even permanent damage to the retinas. It’s actually more dangerous than looking directly at the sun in broad daylight, because there is no pain felt while the sun is shadowed by the moon. Yet, dangerous ultraviolet light is still emitted when the eclipse is not completely total (most phases of the event).
When you look through the viewfinder of a camera it’s like putting a magnifying glass up to the eye. Because the effects are magnified, damage can be much quicker and more devastating. This is why solar filters are absolutely necessary.
Pinhole Projector
You can create a homemade eclipse filter and it is very inexpensive. Just use a box or sheets of very dense paper (or thin white cardboard). Create a hole in one section so it can be projected onto the other section. Yet, this method is not a direct view. There is much better solution and it only costs a few dollars.
Eclipse Glasses
Some people prefer to use the LCD viewer on their digital cameras but this can cause damage to the camera and your eyes if not done properly. Yet, there is no reason to take chances. You can find some very good eclipse viewing glasses and they can be purchased for less than one dollar per pair. They are the perfect solution for viewing the event and if you want to take pictures, simply place the lens of a pair of your eclipse glasses or hand held viewer in front of the camera lens. Next (while wearing a second pair of protective glasses) look through the view finder and take your still photographs or video. It really is that simple.
Two pairs of eclipse glasses make excellent solar filters because they are designed to filter out 100 percent of harmful ultraviolet and 99.99 percent of infrared rays from the sun. However, make sure to buy your glasses from a reputable source. This ensures you have the most protection for your eyes.
