On April 8th, North America will witness a total solar eclipse. Within the 115-mile wide path of totality, observers will experience a brief period when darkness envelops the surroundings, momentarily dimming what would typically be a sunny afternoon as the moon completely obscures the sun. This occurrence is rare and won’t be replicated under similar circumstances for another two decades.
Jasper, Indiana, lies within the path of totality, and for the last two years, my friends and I have been organising a trip there to witness the eclipse.Being the designated photographer among my friends, the responsibility to document the event falls on my shoulders. Fortunately, working at Google grants me access to some remarkable photography professionals. Meet Michael Specht, a Pixel Camera product manager who discovered his passion for photography in high school while developing film for the first time. Today, he’s an expert in image quality, focusing on the development of Pixel cameras.
Following my conversation with Michael, here’s a comprehensive list of his recommendations for photographing the eclipse using your Pixel phone. (And don’t fret—even if you won’t be within the path of totality next week, you can still apply Michael’s tips for capturing the partial eclipse.)
Also read | Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024: What are the best techniques of viewing solar eclipse
Prepare your packing list
When embarking on a journey to witness the path of totality, Michael suggests bringing along a few essential items. Firstly, ensure you have a camera, such as my reliable Pixel 8 Pro, renowned for its outstanding camera capabilities and robust telephoto lens. Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of packing a charger and perhaps even an extra battery pack. “It’s beneficial not to find yourself in a state of panic when deciding whether to keep your camera active or conserve phone battery,” Michael advises. Lastly, remember to include solar filters in your gear to safely observe and photograph the sun before totality. (And a gentle reminder: Avoid direct sunlight, especially crucial during the prolonged phases of partial eclipse surrounding the brief period of totality.)
Practice, practice, practice
“The first time you use your phone’s camera shouldn’t coincide with the day you intend to capture your image,” advises Michael. “We live in the digital era, so experimenting with various settings doesn’t come at a cost! Use your tools, experiment with them, and get acquainted with them.” Michael recommends practising photography at different times of the day to simulate the transition into darkness that occurs during a total eclipse. He suggests exploring the Pro Controls of my Pixel 8 Pro camera—adjusting settings such as ISO, exposure time, focus, brightness, and shutter speed.
Regarding focus settings, capturing the sun can pose a challenge for any camera. Try tapping where different elements intersect within the frame, such as the meeting point of the sky and the sun’s edge, to achieve optimal focus. Once achieved, you can tap and hold the screen to lock the focus. If tapping proves ineffective, you have the option to manually adjust the slider in Pro Controls.
Remember, there’s no single magic setting to guarantee the perfect image every time. Much of it involves trial and error, as well as adapting in real-time to changing conditions.
Click wisely — or use a tripod
To minimise the chance of unintended shakes, consider bringing a tripod (and don’t overlook a Pixel mount for securing your phone to it!). However, if your luggage is already packed to the brim, there are a couple of methods to stabilise your phone while holding it. For Pixel Watch users, for instance, you can remotely operate your phone using the Google Camera app on your watch. Alternatively, within the Camera app, tap the photo settings button located at the bottom left corner of your phone screen and activate a timer, allowing the shutter to release automatically after 3 or 10 seconds. Another technique is to practise applying a gentle, light thumb press beforehand—the on-screen Shutter button doesn’t require much pressure to capture an image.
Let the camera do the work
The Pixel 8 camera boasts remarkable automatic features, so it’s perfectly fine to begin with all settings on auto and make adjustments as necessary. As the eclipse progresses and the sky gradually darkens due to the moon’s passage in front of the sun, the Pixel phone’s automatic settings can adapt accordingly. The screen brightness adjusts automatically based on ambient lighting conditions, and Night Sight activates automatically if the lighting reaches a certain threshold.
If you prefer to experiment with the settings yourself, this is the opportune moment to utilize your familiarity with Pro Controls and other camera settings on the Pixel 8 Pro. However, while Pixel phones are capable of astrophotography, Michael advises against using it for capturing the total eclipse, as exposure times can sometimes extend up to 4 minutes—totality is expected to last around or less than 4 minutes in total, depending on the location, and you wouldn’t want to spend the entire duration on just one photo!
Get creative
Experiment with various photo compositions. Instead of positioning the eclipse directly in the centre of your photo, consider using the grid tool available in the camera app to adhere to the “rule of thirds” in photography. To do this, activate the grid feature in the Pixel camera app by accessing the Settings button located in the bottom left corner. Then, try positioning the eclipse at a point where the grid lines intersect.
Photographing the eclipse isn’t limited to capturing images of the sky alone; it can also involve documenting the experience with those you’re sharing it with. Last year, Google introduced Best Take, a feature on Google Photos that enables users to curate the perfect group photo. Michael suggested an amusing twist by selecting everyone’s least flattering takes. To use this feature, simply access Google Photos after capturing several shots in quick succession, choose Best Take from the editing tools, and then select each individual’s face to view their best (or worst) moments.
Enjoy the moment
Lastly, don’t forget to gaze upward (while wearing eye protection) and cherish the moment! “We often spend our time viewing life through a camera lens — so while it’s important to capture images, take a moment to appreciate the experience firsthand!” Michael emphasises. Solar eclipses are rare occurrences, and it’s not just the photographs that can be perfectly captured during these events; it’s also the memories.
