Photography tips for the solar eclipse on 10 June

Tuesday 8 June 2021, 12:36 by Nando Harmsen | 3,857 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

On Thursday 10 June, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from the Netherlands and Belgium. This means the Moon will move in front of the Sun, making it look as though a bite has been taken out of it. In this article, I give you a few very important tips if you want to photograph it.

During this partial eclipse, an average of 29 per cent of the Sun's diameter will be covered by the Moon. This is equal to 17 per cent of its surface.

The Moon is passing north of the Sun. As a result, the eclipse will be larger the further north you are.

This is what the maximum eclipse will look like (source: hemel.waarnemen.com)
In Russia, Greenland and Canada, this solar eclipse will be visible as an annular eclipse because the Moon is too far away from the Earth to have the same apparent diameter as the Sun.

In Liège, 12.9 per cent of the solar disc will be covered. In Den Helder, it will be 19.3 per cent. In total, the eclipse will last an average of 2 hours and 7 minutes, between 11:19 and 13:31, with the maximum at 12:23 (on average).

Don't underestimate the danger to your eyes

This eclipse is not enough to make it darker, but it will be noticeable and certainly visible to the naked eye. Do bear in mind that you must NEVER look at the Sun without proper protection. So make sure you have special eclipse glasses.

You absolutely MUST NOT use the following methods, to prevent serious and permanent damage to your eyes. You may become partially or completely blind.

• DO NOT look at the Sun without protection
  
• DO NOT look through two pairs of sunglasses, soot-covered glass, welding goggles or a CD
  
• DO NOT look through binoculars or a telescope, or through a telephoto lens
  

With sufficient shielding, it is possible to photograph the Sun and a solar eclipse. Make sure you have at least 16 stops of shielding.

The right way to view or photograph the Sun

You can buy a pair of eclipse glasses for a few euros. They are specially designed for safely looking at the Sun. Always check that the film on the glasses is not damaged.

You can project the Sun onto a sheet of paper using binoculars. Cover one lens for this. You must place the binoculars on a tripod and DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THEM. Not even by accident.

The range of Haida ND6 filters. Something for everyone.
Special filters are available for your lens. They block enough light to let you look through them safely via your camera, even with a telephoto lens. Some time ago, I tested the Haida One Million X Edition, which is a good example of a suitable filter.

Make sure your ND filter is at least 16 stops if you want to use it for photographing the Sun. For example, by combining a 10-stop and a 6-stop filter. However, don't keep your camera pointed at the Sun continuously, just as a precaution.

Photographing the Sun with a little cloud cover can produce unusual results, especially when there is a bite taken out of the Sun. (463mm, ISO100, f/9, 1/80 sec)
This filter has very limited use for landscapes. Extremely long shutter speeds are needed, with the associated increase in noise. But for landscapes with a long shutter speed, combined with a very shallow depth of field, it can be used very effectively.

The best result is achieved when using a long focal length. A 400mm lens is certainly recommended, provided you put a suitable ND filter on it, of course. If you don't have a 400mm lens, a 200mm lens will also work. Again, with a suitable filter in front of it.

Viewing or photographing the Sun is always at your own responsibility and risk. If you don't dare, don't do it. Prevention is better than cure.

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