The most anticipated total solar eclipse of all time will take place next Monday, August 21 and will cross the United States from West to East; In Europe, it will be partially visible, so for those of us who cannot see it live, we will always have the internet so as not to miss this great event that will not be repeated until July 2, 2019.
For those who do have the opportunity to see it live, you may not have the appropriate professional devices to photograph such a great eclipse.
How can we take photos of the eclipse with our smartphone?
There will be thousands and thousands of spectators trying to capture the best image, the most impressive photo of what is already known as the ‘great American eclipse’. Obtaining a spectacular photo of a solar eclipse is something that expert photographers take years to master, using very powerful cameras installed in the telescopes and attaching all sorts of solar filters to the camera (and to your own eyes) before preparing the shot. But what if we only have our smartphone?
Tips for photographing the solar eclipse with your mobile
The importance of the camera
Not all mobiles will give the same result. The mobile camera is vital, as we can imagine . Some phone models are especially suitable for getting a good picture of the eclipse. For example, the iPhone 7, the Google Pixel, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the OnePlus 5 have the best smartphone cameras, ideal for taking a snapshot of the solar eclipse.
Find a good location to see the eclipse
Even in areas where the eclipse will be partial, it will continue to be a sight to be immortalized. Of course, it is very important to use special glasses to see solar eclipses, since the sunlight will not be completely covered by the Moon at any time. Find a place where there are no clouds and that is away from the bright lights of the city.
Set up your phone properly
It is important not to forget to deactivate the flash and autofocus , since the mobile will try to focus automatically just when we point towards the eclipse, which will ruin our long-awaited image.
Reduce exposure . In most phones today there are ways to reduce exposure to control the amount of light reaching the lens.
Connect a filter to avoid damaging the camera. The simplest thing is to cover the lens of the camera with a solar filter before, during and after the total solar eclipse. “This will eliminate the blooming of the sun and give you a clear image of the solar disk,” clarifies NASA.
Place an extra lens: The default zoom of the mobile is relative. Adding an extra lens will make the total solar eclipse look much better and you will even be able to see some details in the shape of the corona.
Use a tripod: It doesn’t matter how small it is; the important thing is that it is robust and that we place it on a stable surface.
Enjoy the show
Thousands of people will surely never see a total solar eclipse in their life. Taking into account that it is such a unique event, we encourage you not to miss it and enjoy watching it before trying to capture the perfect snapshot and share it on social networks.
NOTE : In A Coruña (Spain), for example, the maximum of the eclipse will occur at 21:19 and part of the eclipse will take place below the horizon.
The only areas of Spain in which the eclipse cannot be seen, not even partially, will be Alicante, Almería, Barcelona, Castellón, Girona, the Balearic Islands, Lérida, Melilla, Murcia, Tarragona or Valencia.
And it will be from the Canary Islands where the eclipse can be observed with greater intensity.
