Capturing Great Images of the Total Solar Eclipse: Tips and Tricks

Mexico
The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2019 will be visible in certain areas of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada for a brief period of totality.
To capture worthwhile images of the total solar eclipse, use your smartphone's telephoto camera or a telephoto lens attachment with the highest magnification possible.
Capturing Great Images of the Total Solar Eclipse: Tips and Tricks

The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2019 will be visible in certain areas of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada for a brief period of totality. If you plan to view this natural phenomenon safely is paramount as viewing the sun directly without protection can cause serious and long-term damage to your eyes.

To capture worthwhile images of the total solar eclipse, use your smartphone's telephoto camera or a telephoto lens attachment with the highest magnification possible. A tripod will help keep your phone framed just right, reduce the possibility of a sneeze or gust of wind messing up your photo and protect you from looking directly into the sun before totality.

If wearing counterfeit solar glasses indoors, they should appear faint as if there is nothing more than very bright lights. If your glasses fail this indoor test, discard them. It's important to use equipment that meets ISO 12312-2 standards for safe solar viewing.

When it comes to photography during the total eclipse, weather permitting and using appropriate camera settings are crucial for capturing great images. Photographer Stan Honda has three experiences under his belt in Svalbard, Norway in 2015 where he saw a singular spectacle and chance for anyone wielding a camera.

To take photos of the total solar eclipse, it's important to use appropriate filters such as neutral density or polarizing filters. It is also recommended to shoot at least two exposures per minute with an ISO setting between 1600-3200 and shutter speed ranging from 1/5th of a second to 2 seconds.

In addition, it's important to use appropriate camera settings such as shooting in RAW format for better post-processing options. It is also recommended to shoot at least two exposures per minute with an ISO setting between 1600-3200 and shutter speed ranging from 1/5th of a second to 2 seconds.

Overall, the key to capturing great images during the total solar eclipse is preparation. Make sure you have all necessary equipment such as appropriate filters, tripods, and camera settings ready beforehand.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if there are any specific areas in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada where the total solar eclipse will be visible.

Sources

66%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Whether you’re using a fancy camera or a smartphone, here’s how to take great eclipse photos

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jacopo Prisco Thursday, 28 March 2024 04:28
  • Unique Points
    • The upcoming April 8 total eclipse will likely be the one of the most photographed events of the year
    • Almost 32 million people in the United States alone living in the path of totality
    • Weather permitting, it is an incredible opportunity for photographers to capture images during this event
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains several examples of deception. The author claims that the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse will likely be one of the most photographed events of the year, with almost 32 million people in the United States alone living in its path. However, this is not accurate as it only accounts for those who live within a certain distance from where totality occurs and does not take into account other countries that may also experience totality.
    • The author claims that almost 32 million people will be able to witness the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse. However, this is only accurate for those living in the United States alone and does not include other countries where totality may occur.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that he has seen three total solar eclipses and that his first experience took place in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. This is not evidence for or against any claim made in the article, but rather an attempt to establish credibility based on personal experience. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the eclipse as
    • The upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse will likely be one of the most photographed events of the year.
    • Honda said he usually plans two kinds of pictures: One is taken with a wide-angle lens to capture the eclipse and also the landscape around it. The other kind involves using a telephoto lens and prioritizing celestial event.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of total solar eclipse photography as they are an expert in this field and have published articles related to it. The article also mentions Stan Honda who is a CNN correspondent covering the event.
    • [11 degrees above the horizon]
      • [2 degrees Fahrenheit]

      63%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      A way-too-early look at the cloud cover forecast for the solar eclipse

      The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Dan Stillman Wednesday, 27 March 2024 17:43
      • Unique Points
        • The upcoming quarterly refunding update from the US Treasury will provide information on how much bond supply there will be
        • Clouds are one of the most difficult weather parameters to forecast, even just a few days ahead of time, let alone more than 10 days out.
        • There are two main flavors of forecast models: deterministic and ensemble. A deterministic model is the forecast you're used to seeing. It's a single-solution forecast.
      • Accuracy
        • You are not going to get anything here resembling a confident cloud forecast for a few-minute window 12 days from now.
        • Clouds are one of the most difficult weather parameters to forecast, even just a few days ahead of time, let alone more than 10 days out.
        • The image above shows an ensemble forecast of atmospheric pressure, using the average of the pressure predicted from 30 simulations from the American modeling system.
        • Quite a few of the individual simulations suggest lower pressure and thus cloudier skies across a significant portion of the path of totality. There are some that hint at higher pressure and sunnier skies for eastern or northeastern parts of the path, but still show lower pressure moving into western parts of the path.
        • Excarta, an artificial intelligence weather forecasting start-up has launched a solar eclipse tracker providing cloud forecasts along the path of the eclipse. The company is one of several that have developed AI weather models.
      • Deception (50%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it claims that the author has a way-too-early look at the cloud cover forecast for the solar eclipse when they do not have any reliable information to make such a claim. Secondly, it uses technical jargon like ensemble and deterministic models without explaining what they are or why they matter. Thirdly, it presents an image of a deterministic model forecast that is misleading as it shows clouds across the entire path of totality when in reality there will be clear skies in some areas. Fourthly, the article uses AI to provide cloud cover forecasts but does not disclose which company's AI was used or how accurate their predictions are.
        • The article uses technical jargon like ensemble and deterministic models without explaining what they are or why they matter. This is deceptive as it assumes the reader has prior knowledge of these terms and may not understand their significance.
        • The author claims they have a way-too-early look at the cloud cover forecast for the solar eclipse when in reality they do not have any reliable information to make such a claim. This is deceptive as it gives readers false hope that there will be accurate predictions available.
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (85%)
        The article contains a statement that the author is not going to provide a confident cloud forecast for the solar eclipse. This implies bias towards providing an inaccurate or unreliable forecast.
        • ]First things first: You’re not going to get anything here resembling a confident cloud forecast for a few-minute window 12 days from now.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        72%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Fake solar eclipse glasses are everywhere ahead of the total solar eclipse. Here's how to check yours are safe

        Space.com Alexander Cox Monday, 25 March 2024 17:14
        • Unique Points
          • The total solar eclipse will be visible in certain areas of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada on April 8 for a brief period of totality.
          • If you wear counterfeit or knock-off solar glasses indoors, you shouldn't be able to see anything except very bright lights but they should appear faint. If your glasses fail this indoor test, discard them.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (30%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the American Astronomical Society (AAS) warns people about fake solar glasses but does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the article suggests that all counterfeit solar glasses are unsafe for direct solar viewing which is incorrect as some counterfeits may still be safe if they meet ISO 12312-2 standards. Thirdly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that millions of people will gaze up at the sun for hours during the total eclipse without providing any context or evidence to support this claim.
          • The article suggests that all counterfeit solar glasses are unsafe for direct solar viewing. However, this is incorrect as some counterfeits may still be safe if they meet ISO 12312-2 standards.
          • The article states that 'millions of people along the path of totality will be viewing the total eclipse, meaning millions of pairs of eyes will gazing up at the sun for hours as the eclipse unfolds.' This statement is sensational and does not provide any context or evidence to support it.
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (85%)
          The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who believe in the conspiracy theory surrounding the solar eclipse, which is a form of extremist far-right ideology.
          • If your glasses fail any of these home tests, you should either try and get a refund or discard them.
            • > Millions of people along the path of totality will be viewing the total eclipse
              • The AAS says there is a way in which you can test your solar glasses before using them for the event. If you wear them inside, you shouldn’t be able to see anything except for very bright lights, but they will appear faint.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              75%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              How to use your smartphone to photograph the solar eclipse

              The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Chris Velazco, Sunday, 24 March 2024 13:07
              • Unique Points
                • The total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2019
                • It is expected to last for about 4 minutes and 37 seconds
                • To capture worthwhile images of the total solar eclipse, use your smartphone's telephoto camera or a telephoto lens attachment with the highest magnification possible.
                • A tripod will help keep your phone framed just right, reduce the possibility of a sneeze or gust of wind messing up your photo and protect you from looking directly into the sun before totality.
                • Use automatic macro switching on iPhones to avoid focusing on the solar filter instead of the eclipse. On Samsung phones, swipe down on the shutter button for burst mode.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (50%)
                The article provides information on how to take pictures of the solar eclipse using a smartphone. The author uses sensationalism by stating that it is easy to capture worthwhile images of basically anything in space with a phone can be tricky, especially when your subject is a massive incandescent ball of gas. They also use selective reporting by only providing information on how to take pictures and not discussing the dangers or risks associated with looking directly at the sun without proper protection.
                • The author uses sensationalism by stating that it is easy to capture worthwhile images of basically anything in space with a phone can be tricky, especially when your subject is a massive incandescent ball of gas. They also use selective reporting by only providing information on how to take pictures and not discussing the dangers or risks associated with looking directly at the sun without proper protection.
                • The article states that it is easy to capture worthwhile images of basically anything in space with a phone can be tricky, especially when your subject is a massive incandescent ball of gas. This statement implies that taking pictures of the solar eclipse will be difficult and may not produce high-quality results.
              • Fallacies (85%)
                The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Washington Post as a source of information. This is not a fallacy in itself, but it does raise questions about the reliability and objectivity of the information presented. Additionally, there are examples throughout the article where inflammatory rhetoric is used to encourage readers to take action or make decisions based on fear rather than reason. For example, when discussing solar filters for protecting a phone's camera sensor during partial eclipse photography, the author uses phrases like
                • The iPhone 15 Pro has a telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom and up to 15x digital zoom. This will provide the best visual quality but may result in less crisp results.
                • Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra phones offer between 3x and 10x optical zoom, but also have a built-in Space Zoom feature that allows for even greater magnification.
              • Bias (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication