[Leica] IMG: Totality

[Peter Klein]

As I mentioned earlier, I did not attempt to photograph the total solar 
eclipse seriously--I was more interested in seeing it than messing with 
a camera.  But I did devote a few seconds to taking a quick record shot 
with a pre-set camera. I used a 28mm-equivalent lens, which was needed 
to show both the eclipsed sun and the earth below.  For the best view, 
set your browser to full screen, then click on the photo to enlarge.

<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563@N04/36750483415/in/dateposted-public/>

This picture will give you some idea of the context, how the sky and 
surroundings looked relative to each other, as I saw it.  As it's a wide 
angle shot, the eclipsed sun is much smaller than it appeared to the 
naked eye.  What you can't see is the incredible, intricate detail of 
totality: red solar prominences, the inner corona, the faint, ghostly 
outer corona with three brighter lines streaming off into space for 
several solar diameters, and the moon faintly illuminated by earthshine, 
its features just barely visible.  Not to mention the planet Venus and 
the brighter stars clearly visible.

Each of these things would require a separate exposure, as the total 
dynamic range of the various features is greater than a camera can 
record simultaneously.  The typical eclipse photos that show a black 
moon with a thin corona are misleading.  The only photos that show 
anything like what I saw are digital composites of multiple exposures.  
And even they often miss one feature or another.  Google "solar eclipse 
composite" and you'll see what I mean.

I took this shot shortly after the beginning of totality.  Then I did a 
quick 360 degree turn to look at sunset-like colors around the horizon 
(you can see a little of that in the photo).  I glanced quickly at the 
stars when my wife exclaimed that she could see them. Then I watched the 
eclipsed sun through a pair of 7x35 binoculars.

None of the above conveys the emotions of what I saw. I've never seen 
anything like it before.  As to what I felt, it was like the first time 
I heard Mahler's Second Symphony.

--Peter