Eclipse Flare
I was just outside Grand Island, Ne. in a quiet area of Bader Park and Campground. This experience was AMAZING!
I was just outside Grand Island, Ne. in a quiet area of Bader Park and Campground. This experience was AMAZING!
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Sep, 2017Views
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Awards
Peer Choice Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this image from the Earth... Near Chapman, Nebraska in Bader Park in the path of totality. The park is a wonderful community park with swimming, camping and recreation. They were expecting an enormous crowd and were ready for it. Coffee and donuts and other treats as came from the ovens of local residents.Time
Because the Eclipse was a midday event we arose with a lazy day breakfast and conversation with family we camped with. My nephew and I scouted out a great place to set up our tripods and staked that area out as "ours". The rest of our families found a shady spot to chat... We were camped in a new area of camping that was separated by a berm so we had little idea of how number of people that were arriving. I recall totality being around 1PM.Lighting
Well... The Sun is pretty bright and I didn't have a solar filter, but the campground folks gave us glasses. So... Until this image I was shooting with those glasses taped to the outer ring of my 10 stop ND filter. I had two 10 stop filters so I tried that and discovered that when taped together I could shoot, but not get the feel I wanted. When totality hit I pulled everything off and reset my focus which wasn't the best as I hadn't gone out to focus on the moon itself and tape that focus off for this shoot. Note to self: don't let that happen again.Equipment
Nikon D7100 with a Tamron 70-300 sense and a 2X multiplier. The second 2X I had didn't leave enough sky to count (or catch the whole corona). Mounted on my cheap tripod with my Bag hanging underneath for extra weight.Inspiration
I have family in Nebraska in the totality zone who offered us the get together easy enough to get camping spots to guarantee a spot. In 65 years the best I had ever done with an Eclipse was as a 10 year old kid with a poke hole in cardboard. So this opportunity truly would be a once in a lifetime one. When the totality came and darkness fell over the area a cheer went up on the other side of the berm. It turned out that over a thousand people were on the beach to view it and we had NO idea on our side of the berm.Editing
Very little. A gentle sharpening and contrast bump.In my camera bag
Camera, lenses, filters and stuff... I live on a rather tight budget. Nikon D7100 body, Nikkor 18-135, Tamron 70-300, A 10 stop ND filter, and polarizer, for each.Feedback
I would have liked a bit sharper image, but that was my fault for not setting up better for this and focusing on the Moon a night or two before (I sort of just slept through that). Having a solar filter purchased far enough in advance would also have been good as the shooting could have continued more smoothly and I could have gotten a better shot of the "diamond". Plan ahead!
