Redusers in the U.S. Southwest–Annular Eclipse

[Mike Yonts]

On May 20, a solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Asia to the western United States. Evidently, it will be seen as an annular eclipse (a bright ring around the silhouette of the moon) in the southwest, including around the Grand Canyon:


http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/annular201205.htm

This could be an awesome opportunity for some 5K shots, with proper steps taken to protect the camera and your eyes, of course. (Unfortunately, I'm located nowhere near there.)

 

[Steven Wren]

Heading up to Eureka, CA to shoot this. Oh yeah!

 

[Conrad Hunziker]

Ill be taking pics over a massive lake

 

[Eli Jarra]

I've been thinking about this shot possibility as well. You guys have any filter preferences for this?
I was thinking of an ND & possibly a pola on the longest lens I can find.

 

[Conrad Hunziker]

Id advise researching your filter requirements. You'll need a LOT more than the highest ND and pola you can find on a long lens. Look into solar filters. Some places are sold out of solar photography filters in advance of this event. Theres more radiation to block than just the visible wavelengths, and a lot more of it when you start using lenses long enough to photograph the sun.

 

[Eli Jarra]

You're right about the Solar filter...I guess I was thinking most of my shooting would happen in transit when the sun is mostly occluded. I'll start looking thanks!

 

[Andrew Walker]

I'll be up by Redding to get shots of this. Since it is happening around sunset you guys should really think about not using a solar filters. Usually when the sun is low in the horizon you can shoot right at it stopped down with no ND.

 

[Michael Mayda]

Sun will be about 20 degrees above horizon during eclipse. Plenty bright to sear your eyeballs. Be careful out there...