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I suffer from a severe case of solar eclipse anxiety; Maybe you can relate. The promise of this historic celestial spectacle, an event I had been looking forward to for years, began to fill me with fear. Let me explain.
I started feeling eclipse fatigue a few weeks ago, when I had a very strange dream. In this dream, at the moment of totality when the moon completely obscured the sun, I found myself more focused on scrolling through my social media than managing my photography equipment. The realization came too late, leaving me with immediate regret. Such a stupid dream, as if I was prioritizing my Instagram feed over a total solar eclipse, but clearly my subconscious was trying to tell me something.
This “thing” is just that something It may get worse. Several years ago, for example, a good friend of mine, an experienced astrophotographer, drove hundreds of miles to take the photo. Solar eclipse 2017. When the big moment came, he was horrified to discover that he had forgotten to insert the memory card into his camera. What’s that old saying about the best laid plans?
dangerous
I’ve been looking forward to this eclipse for years, and with good reason. We won’t see anything like this in North America Until 2045And in Canada where I live, Not until 2079. The April 8 solar eclipse follows an incredibly coincidental path, starting in Mexico and sweeping across much of North America. Its path will extend from Texas, pass through states to the northeast, and reach several Canadian provinces.
Related: Your ultimate guide to the great North American solar eclipse of 2024
The path of the total eclipse is just a short drive from where I live, and I have big plans to photograph the event. I’m troubled by the fear that the stress of managing traffic, coordinating with friends, and the pressure of getting the perfect shot will wear me down, spoiling my enjoyment of this rare spectacle. I’m sure many of you feel the same way, whether for these or other reasons.
Navigate traffic, territory and team
More than 31 million people live along the path of the total eclipse, allowing them to witness this astronomical phenomenon firsthand. Millions more are expected to flock from surrounding areas to the viewing areas, clogging roads and undoubtedly causing traffic problems across much of the continent.
I’ll be one of those people, when I drive from my home near Toronto to the Niagara region, with the goal of positioning myself as close to the center of the total path as possible (the closer to the center of the path, the longer the total period will last). The Connecting Expressway, known as the QEW, is bumped at the best of times, and I can only imagine what it will look like on April 8. The return trip will be particularly gruesome, as everyone will be heading home at the same time – and during rush hour – once the scene is over. It’s a very long day, especially considering my plan to leave early to get a good spot and avoid some incoming traffic.
I’m still not sure where we will prepare for the eclipse, as each member of my group has their own idea of what the “sweet spot” entails. We’ve tossed around a bunch of ideas, including a Walmart parking lot (with bathrooms and food nearby), one of the many beaches along the north shore of Lake Erie (ah, a parking lot), and a random field in the middle of nowhere (Bleach), among others. . Each option has its pros and cons, but based on our initial discussions, it is clear that not everyone will be happy with the location we chose.
Money shot
Logistics aside, the looming technological challenges of capturing the eclipse are a major concern of mine and my biggest point of stress. My equipment is ready to go: a pair of robotic telescopes, each equipped with its own solar filters. But recently it occurred to me that during the moment of totality, the view will be plunged into darkness due to solar filters. To capture the stunning view of the sun’s corona and any prominences that may be visible, I will need to remove the solar filters, turn off the auto tracking mode, and manually adjust the gain and exposure.
I’ll have about three minutes to do this on my site. To experienced astrophotographers, this may seem trivial, but I’m still a pretty newbie when it comes to these things, so I’m understandably nervous. I’ll practice this in advance, but there’s not much I can do to fully replicate the unique circumstances of an actual eclipse.
Existential dread
Which brings me to my final concern: being able to enjoy the eclipse amidst all the distractions. I may choose to use just one telescope, but part of me wants to leave that equipment behind and bring my eclipse glasses. I mean, it’s not like eclipse images won’t be readily available after that. At the same time, I have to remind myself that I got all this equipment for exactly this purpose: documenting extraordinary celestial events. I’m legitimately torn.
What I need to do between now and April 8 is take a step back and decide exactly what I hope to gain from this experience. Without a doubt, I want to be in awe and humbled by this rare spectacle that has fascinated humanity for our entire existence. But I also want to take some great photos. Hopefully, when the time comes, I can put any distractions aside and achieve the best of both worlds: successfully capturing the action while fully immersing myself in the experience. However, one thing is certain, today will never be boring, and that I will have stories to tell for years to come.
more: Here’s exactly what will happen to your eyes if you stare at the eclipse without protection
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