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Solar Eclipse: Top 5 tips for photographing an eclipse

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January 1, 2026

Solar eclipse: Image of people watching a solar eclipse. — People watch a partial solar eclipse in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on March 20, 2015. Image via NASA/ Robin Cordiner.

Via Mara Johnson-Groh, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

In 2026, there are two solar eclipses. There’s an annular solar eclipse on February 17 over a remote part of Antarctica. And there’s a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, visible from parts of the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. And it’ll be visible as a partial eclipse from much of western Europe and North America.

And here’s a unique photo tip: During totality of the August 12 solar eclipse, you might catch a Perseid meteor that peaks around then.

Solar eclipses offer a unique opportunity for scientists studying the shadow of the moon, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to capture unforgettable images. Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a selfie master, try out these tips for photographing the eclipse.

1. Safety first

To take images as the sun is being eclipsed, you’ll need to use a special solar filter to protect your camera, just as you’ll need a pair of eclipse glasses to protect your own eyes. However, at totality, when the moon completely blocks the sun, make sure to remove the filter so you can see the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.

How to watch a solar eclipse safely

Having a few other pieces of equipment can also come in handy during the eclipse. Using a tripod can help you stabilize the camera and avoid taking blurry images during the low lighting. Additionally, using a delayed shutter release timer will allow you to snap shots without jiggling the camera.

Total eclipsed sun with corona and four boxes around it comparing different focal lengths. — View larger. | Shaun Tarpley from Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, wrote: “I created this using a 9-image bracket series I took during the 2017 total solar eclipse and overlaid frames indicating the relative field-of-view of common focal lengths to help photographers planning to photograph the 2024 eclipse to visualize what focal length is optimum for their imaging goals. It is a quick way to visualize the differences.” Thank you, Shaun!

2. Any camera is a good camera

Taking a stunning photo has more to do with the photographer than the camera. Whether you have a high-end DLSR, or a camera phone, you can take great photos during the eclipse; after all, the best piece of equipment you can have is a good eye and a vision for the image you want to create.

If you don’t have a telephoto zoom lens, focus on taking landscape shots, which capture the changing environment.

During totality, when the moon completely covers the sun, if you do have a telephoto lens with a solar filter, you’ll be able to see and photograph the structures in the sun’s corona.

Many scattered rings of light on a deep-red brick pavement. — Robert Asher in Artesia, New Mexico, captured these images of the sun in a ring around the moon – at mid-eclipse – on October 14, 2023. When you see crescents dancing under the trees during an eclipse of the sun, it’s because tree leaves are creating natural pinhole cameras that project the image of the sun and moon. Image used with permission. Thank you, Robert!

3. Look up, down, all around

While the sun is the most commanding element of an eclipse, remember to look around you. As the moon slips in front of the sun, the landscape will be bathed in long shadows, creating eerie lighting across the landscape. Light filtering through the overlapping leaves of trees, creating natural pinholes, which will also create mini eclipse replicas on the ground. Everywhere you can point your camera can yield exceptional imagery, so be sure to compose some wide-angle photos that can capture your eclipse experience.

NASA photographer Bill Ingalls recommends focusing on the human experience of watching the eclipse. He said:

The real pictures are going to be of the people around you pointing, gawking and watching it. Those are going to be some great moments to capture to show the emotion of the whole thing.

4. Practice and plan

Be sure you know the capabilities of your camera before eclipse day. Most cameras, and even many camera phones, have adjustable exposures, which can help you darken or lighten your image during the tricky eclipse lighting. Make sure you know how to manually focus the camera for crisp shots.

For DSLR cameras, the best way to determine the correct exposure is to test settings on the uneclipsed sun beforehand using a solar filter. Using a fixed aperture of f/8 to f/16, try shutter speeds between 1/1000 to 1/4 second to find the optimal setting, which you can then use to take images during the partial stages of the eclipse. During totality, the corona has a wide range of brightness so it’s best to use a fixed aperture and a range of exposures from approximately 1/1000 to 1 second without the solar filter. Then, put your solar filter back once totality has ended.

5. Share!

Share your eclipse experience with friends and family afterwards. Use the hashtag #Eclipse2026 on your favorite social media sites.

Share your pics with us at EarthSky here.

While you’re out perfecting your perfect eclipse shot, don’t forget to stop and look at the eclipse with your own eyes. Just remember to wear your eclipse glasses for all stages of the eclipse before and after totality!

Bottom line: Five tips for photographing the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse.

Posted

January 1, 2026

Human World

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