How to Photograph the Eclipse: 10 Tips From Nikon for Taking Great Pics of 2017 Eclipse! by 30Seconds Mom

The Great American Eclipse arrives August 21, and Nikon wants to help everyone capture the best image of what's likely to be the most photographed event of the year. Nikon has prepared a list of tips and videos which apply to all of America, not just those in the line of totality. Nikon has also worked with photographer Lucas Gilman to curate a list of the top 10 tips that will help photographers capture a stunning photo of this rare phenomenon.

1. If you want a great photo, use a real camera, your cell phone won't cut it. The sun is too far away, and you won't be able to see any details. Gilman recommends a DSLR camera and a long telephoto lens.
2. Safety is essential. Always make sure to use an approved solar filter on your camera, as the sun can damage both your eyes and the camera.
3. When planning your shoot, check to see if you are along the "line of the totality," which is where you will see the total eclipse. See the eclipse map.
4. If you are not in the path of totality, you can still make an excellent photo of the partial eclipse, using faster shutter speeds to capture the crescent.
5. During the partial phase, solar filters will black out almost everything but the sun in your photos, so if you want a shot of the eclipse and an interesting foreground, take multiple exposures, and then overlay them in camera, or put them together later using software.
6. For camera settings, shoot in manual mode (M) and use manual focus. You can also try Shutter priority mode (S) and adjust your shutter speeds
7. The total eclipse will only last about 2 minutes, so practice beforehand! Find your best camera settings and mark off your focus on your lens with a piece of painter's tape so there is no fumbling during the eclipse.
8. Different shutter speeds will reveal different details of the sun's corona; take the time to learn how to "bracket" your photographs before the eclipse.
9. Get creative with your camera! You can do time-lapse movies of the event, or use your camera's image overlay function to put in a nice scenic foreground or trace the path of the sun through the sky.
10. Stabilize your camera using a tripod to get sharp photos, which also takes the load off of your hands from holding a long lens.

Additionally, Nikon has a variety of eclipse related articles on the Learn and Explore website, a resource for all types of photographers from those picking up their first camera to the seasoned professional creator.

This video is longer than 30 seconds, but we think it's worth it.