Solar Eclipse: April 8, 2024
Having witnessed a solar eclipse in Nebraska in 2017 and knowing this would be the last eclipse in the U.S. for about 20 years, I planned to head east for the one of a kind opportunity.
The cloud forecast was worrisome, as many clouds were predicted along the developed path, from Texas, up into the Midwest. After reviewing data, I booked a night in Little Rock, keeping options open in all directions. On the morning of the eclipse, skies were trending toward mostly sunny across western Arkansas, so I found a spot on Lake Ouachita, near the center of the path of totality, and got ready.
When I documented the 2017 eclipse, I didn’t have great equipment and, to be honest, I didn’t completely know what I was doing. Sure, it was still a breathtaking experience, but I did not come out with photos that I was proud of.
This go around, I was working with a proper filter, I practiced beforehand and was ready to go. Perhaps the only limiting factor was a focal distance of 200mm. You’d typically want to work with 300-400mm (full frame) to get a closer shot of an eclipse, but I made it work.
Standing on the lake as the eclipse took place was otherworldly. Many other spectators gazed, but most were respectful. Someone on a boat or perhaps an island played Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album during the event. It was both fitting and quaint, as that it’s one of my favorite records of all time, nicely setting the mood.
As the moon passed in front of the sun, the sky went black, animals started howling, fish flopped around and insects buzzed and chirped around. Totality lasted about four minutes and I took several pictures. Some came out better than others, but I was most impressed that my equipment was able to pick out several bright prominences (in purple) emanating from the sun.
As quickly as the eclipse started, it suddenly wound down. I stayed in my spot until the moon fully passed by the sun. This gave me the ability to avoid the rush of traffic out of the area, but also some time to processed what had happened.
I put together a quick collage of sorts to remember the event:
