Solar Photography

by Todd Vorenkamp ·Posted 09/22/2023
Solar eclipses are awesome spectacles of nature that are irresistible to photographers. Besides eclipses, the star at the center of our solar system is an amazing photographic subject—even when it is not being partially or totally blocked by the moon. If you want to photograph a solar eclipse, or just photograph the source of our fragile planet’s warmth and light, you need a
by Todd Vorenkamp ·Posted 05/09/2023
Save the date! On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the Americas will be treated to a spectacular annular solar eclipse. Many of you might remember the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse that crossed the United States from the Northwest to the Southeast. That was a grandiose total solar eclipse during which the sun was completely obscured by the moon. The October 2023 event is an annular eclipse, producing a “ring of fire” that will cross from the West Coast and head Southeast through Texas. SAFTEY FIRST! Do NOT view a solar eclipse with unprotected
by Todd Vorenkamp ·Posted 05/09/2023
Save the date! On Monday, April 8, 2024, North America will be treated to a spectacular total solar eclipse. Many of you remember the 2017 Great American Solar eclipse that crossed the United States from the northwest to the southeast. This solar eclipse will cross the country from the south and head to the northeast. Eclipse photographs © Todd Vorenkamp Safety First Do NOT view a solar eclipse with unprotected eyes. Permanent damage to your vision may occur. Special eclipse viewing glasses are needed to protect your vision. The protection
0 Views ·Posted 06/12/2021
Trevor Jones, aka @astrobackyard, shows you how to photograph deep space subjects, such as nebulae, the Milky Way, and stars right outside your own home. Are you a backyard astrophotographer? Tell us about your experiences in the Comments section, below.
by Todd Vorenkamp ·Posted 12/24/2017
The neutral density (ND) filter is one of those tools that should be in almost every photographer’s camera bag. However, ND filters are mysterious to some, and many folks just don’t understand how, where, and when to use them. Beyond that, manufacturers seem to vary in their preferences as far as how they name ND filters—adding to the confusion. In this article, let us navigate the world of the ND filter together and see if we can make sense of the
by Christopher Witt ·Posted 08/30/2017
My car companion for the last two hours, and B&H Social Media Manager, Michael Hollender handles our SUV deftly around a bend in the dry dirt road. As we clear the hill, we see the recently vacated cow pasture below us. Nestled in the desert valley is a colony of dedicated workers frantically erecting stages, scaffolds, and tents of all sizes. The gentle whir of a generator can be heard across the field. Above photograph © Michael Hollender
by Todd Vorenkamp ·Posted 05/03/2023
The closest you will ever get to an out-of-this-world experience while standing on terra firma is during a total solar eclipse. I have experienced two partial eclipses in my life before August 21, 2017, and both were memorable, but they were nothing like what happened on the 21st. Here is what I experienced, as well as some photographic lessons learned. The Setup My girlfriend, Jaime, and I end up in Nashville, TN, standing off to the side of the EN Peeler Park’s model airplane runway. We arrive an hour before the start of the eclipse to set