Today’s post begins what will be a multiple-post series, from the “Great American Total Solar Eclipse of 2024” adventure I experienced on Monday, April 08.
I can honestly say that this was one of the most dramatic … uplifting … emotional … natural events I have ever experienced! I began preparing for this event well over a year ago. Knowing that this eclipse would likely be my last one to experience, I put a lot of time and effort into preparing for it (when the next total solar eclipse happens in the U.S., I will be 94!).
My initial plan was to travel to Texas to photograph this eclipse, followed up with some bluebonnet photography along some of Texas’ Bluebonnet trails. But recent, severe weather issues in Texas caused me to change locations … moving to the bootheel area of Missouri at the last minute; my decision to move was made on Friday, April 05.
Not having ever traveled to the bootheel area, I was starting at ground-level, spending many hours on the internet to determine where I should go. After much deliberation, I focused on the Riverfront Park in Van Buren, Missouri, as my preferred location … followed up with 3 other, backup locations nearby, in case my priority spot filled before I could get there.
Getting no sleep the night before eclipse (I was too excited to sleep!), I left my motel in Springfield, Missouri, at 4:00am. I was afraid the expected throngs of people would be elbowing each other for my spot at the park! But when I arrived at the park at 6:00am, there were only 2 RV’s, 1 pickup truck, and 1 car there! I found “My Spot” and settled back for a short nap … I got 15 minutes in, before other arriving spectators woke me.
The conditions were good … just a few, thin clouds around, but mostly sunny. Temperature forecast for a high of 80F. And gently winds. After getting my equipment set up, I spent a lot of time reviewing my game plan: “shoot this aspect of the eclipse by …..”. “Change my shutter speed to xxx, in preparation for yyy”. All the while, making notes and taping them to my tripods … I was determined I would get some elusive totality shots. And being an Eagle Scout taught me “to be prepared”!
Just over an hour before the eclipse was to begin, I made sure everything was ready and captured a photo of the Riverfront Park where I set up (note the clouds were still hanging around at that time):
About 20 minutes prior to the moon taking it’s “first bite” out of the sun, I captured this image of the sun, with some visible sunspots (and the clouds were dissipating!):
I’m currently reviewing and editing the rest of the images I captured during the eclipse … all 388 of them! It will take me a while to get them edited, but hope to be able to post a few new images, next week. Stay tuned!
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 5D Mark 3 camera bodies (2 ea.)
- Canon 500mm, f/4 IS lens, equipped with approved solar filter
- Canon 28-135mm, f/3.5-f/5.6 IS lens
- Bogen 3021 tripod and StudioBall ballhead