Opportunities to photograph a solar eclipse don’t come along very often. 

On Saturday, Oct. 14, North America will see its first solar eclipse since 2021. For most people, this event will be no different, with the sun being partially eclipsed during the morning. Like 2021’s event, this will be an annular solar eclipse — better known as a ‘ring of fire’ — but while that one was visible only in Canada, this one will be best seen from a path through the U.S. 

From being in the right place at the right time to planning specific compositions including the eclipsed sun, here’s everything you need to know about how to photograph October 14’s ‘ring of fire’ annular solar eclipse with a manual camera or a smartphone. If you want even more eclipse photography content we also have a more in-depth overview guide for how to photograph a solar eclipse. 

Related: Annular solar eclipse 2023: Everything you need to know about North America’s ‘ring of fire’ eclipse

Safety and solar filters

Whether you are going to be in the 125-mile wide path stretching from Oregon through Texas — where the ring of fire will be visible — or whether you are somewhere else in North America, the safety aspect remains the same. This solar eclipse can only safely be viewed through solar eclipse glasses and photographed using solar filters. Put simply, you’re going to need to purchase or make a solar filter for your camera or smartphone. Here’s what to know:  

• Do not use neutral density filters or polarizing filters. 
• Choose between aluminized Mylar filters (affordable) or metal-coated optically flat screw-in glass filters (expensive).  
• Consider making your own solar filter using A4 sheets of Baader AstroSolar film (Mylar), which comes in A4 size from companies including Kendrick Astro Systems). 

Alan Dyer, Canadian astrophotographer and author of How to Photograph the Solar Eclipses: A Guide to Capturing the 2023 and 2024 Eclipses of the Sun told Space.com that he uses now-discontinued glass filters from Thousand Oaks Optical but finds its new SolarLite polymer material too dark and soft. 

Other options include Seymour, Kenko and Orion filters. “The safest bet are filters of Baader Solar Film,” says Dyer. One example is MrStarGuy. “It’s better than other films and definitely better than glass, but it should not be stretched smooth — wrinkles do not affect its performance.” He also recommends using gaffer or blue painter’s tape to secure the filter housing to the lens as a safety precaution. The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved solar filters.

Choosing a location

Your location will make a huge difference to what you see. If you want a perfectly symmetrical ring effect at the peak of the event then you should be close to the centerline of the eclipse. An asymmetrical ‘broken ring’ shot — which is more unusual — is obtained most easily from the edges of the path, where the ‘ring of fire’ will last mere seconds. This interactive map will help you pick a spot while these simulations for any location will show you exactly what it will be possible to see. 

“The best advice for ‘ring of fire’ photos is to go to Oregon and hope for thin cloud for landscape images including the ring and to go anywhere else for clear skies and close-ups of the ring,” says Dyer. That’s because in Oregon the eclipse begins at 8:05 a.m. PDT with the eclipse at just 5 degrees above the southeastern horizon, with the ‘ring of fire’ at 17 degrees about 70 minutes later and the eclipse ending at 29 degrees. It will get higher as it moves through the U.S. with the eclipse exiting Texas at a height of between 36 degrees and 54 degrees.

Apps like The Photographer’s Ephemeris, PhotoPills and can help you plan your shot in detail. “The key thing about PlanIt Pro is it turns your phone into a virtual camera,” astrophotographer Mike Shaw, author of The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography, who also presents a series of video tutorials about how to use PlanIt Pro, told Space.com. “Its eclipse sequence tool shows you exactly what your image is going to look like from a specific location if you do an eclipse sequence.”

Choosing a composition and focusing

The first thing you need to do is decide which kind of shot you want to take. For an annular solar eclipse or a partial solar eclipse, there are essentially two different types of shots you could go for — a close-up of the eclipsed sun and a wide-angle composite. 

Capturing a close-up

For a close-up you’ll need a tripod and a telephoto lens — the longer the better. Use your camera’s LCD screen on ‘live view’ to find the eclipsed sun and then auto-focus on the edge of the moon. “Keep checking that focus,” says Shaw, who also recommends using a star tracker. “With a 400mm lens it’s tricky to find the sun with the filter in place, and even when you find it, it’s going to quickly move right out of the frame,” he says. “The tracker just takes get rid of all of that.” 

Image settings will vary according to the light at your location and the filter you use, but ISO 100, f/5.6 and exposures between 1/30 and 1/250 are a good place to start, according to Dyer. 

Once you’ve collected lots of images of the eclipsed sun — paying particular attention to the ring of fire, if relevant to your location — consider making a collage of your favorite images. 

Related: Best star trackers for astrophotography 2023 

Capturing a sequence

If you want to capture a wide-angle image showing the progression of the eclipse across a landscape then the basic technique, at least, is surprisingly simple. You’ll need a tripod and wide-angle lens of about 24-28mm, with a solar filter across it, to capture the sequence and a foreground image. The technique goes something like this: with your camera positioned so the eclipse begins on the left side of the frame, you take a wide-angle image of the landscape every four minutes (during which the obscuration of the sun will increase by about 5%, according to Dyer) for the entire two or three hours of the eclipse. At no time can you move the camera or tripod, so use a shutter release cable (and do not kick the tripod!). 

After the eclipse, you’ll be left with a few dozen images that are completely dark save for the tiny image of the eclipsed sun moving across the frame. All you then need to do then is take one image of the foreground and drag all the images into the free StarStaX software, which will create the finished composite image. “Practice it once or twice ahead of time — it’ll lower your blood pressure,” says Shaw, who will lead a workshop in New Mexico to shoot the ‘ring of fire’. “During the eclipse, the adrenaline starts to go up and people do dumb things.” 

That foreground image is important. “The safest thing to do is to wait until after sunset,” says Shaw. “Or you could try taking the shot during the annular phase because it’s going to get pretty dark, but that would involve some extensive bracketing — and you’ll only have a few minutes to get the shot.” To prevent lens flare from the ‘ring of fire’ just put your finger over the eclipse, says Shaw. 

Photographing the eclipse with a smartphone

Although you can perch a smartphone on a tripod and cover its lens with a filter made from cutting up a pair of eclipse glasses, the results are rudimentary. 

A timer delay and a clip-on lens can help slightly in reducing judder and gaining magnification, respectively, but even then we’re talking about a souvenir shot at best. Given that any photographer with a manual camera and a zoom lens is going to do much better — and flood social media with their photos — it’s probably not worth the bother. That doesn’t mean you can’t take great images during the eclipse, but they should concentrate on capturing the emotion of people watching — and wearing eclipse glasses — as well as some of the odd optical events that occur, such as ‘crescent suns’ projected onto the ground beneath trees. 

If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the annular solar eclipse, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you make sure you have all the gear to get that perfect shot.

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In a world where smartphone photography is dominating the visual spectrum, Moonside, a cutting-edge lighting technology company, has announced its newest innovation – Moonside MagLight. The MagLight is the world’s first 6-in-1 MagSafe smart camera light designed for phone cameras, bridging the gap between professional photography lighting and mobile photography creators.

Full disclosure: This sponsored article is brought to you by Moonside.

This game-changing device is a Swiss army knife for any photography enthusiasts, integrating the best features of smart RGB LED camera light, MagSafe compatibility, a 4000mAh power bank, wireless charger, phone stand, and even smart home lighting into a single, compact device. With strong N52 magnets built-in, you can effortlessly snap the MagLight to the back of your phone and position it precisely where you need it for the best lighting. Android phone users can also take full advantage of MagLight with an included removable MagSafe ring sticker.

Say goodbye to blurry or overexposed images! MagLight will significantly enhance the quality of your photos and videos taken in low-light conditions. Unlike the standard dazzling flashlight on your phone, MagLight offers soft and luminous lighting that provides ample details in your shots. Moreover, MagLight has a vast selection of 16 million adjustable colors that enable you to explore your creativity and capture stunning visuals.

The MagLight boasts 67 individually addressable RGB LEDs that output a max brightness of 680 lumens. Its two-sided lighting zones can be used for both back and front camera shots. MagLight is the perfect companion for anyone from professional photographers to vloggers, to social media influencers, offering an unprecedented level of control and customization over different lighting conditions.

Another standout feature of the MagLight is its ability to customize colored and animated lighting effects via the Moonside iOS & Android app. Users can adjust the lighting to their liking, creating the perfect ambiance for every shot and every scene. Whether you’re shooting a dramatic sunset, a vibrant cityscape, or a cozy indoor scene, MagLight has got you covered.

MagLight is also a 4000mAh power bank with a built-in 15W wireless charger, it can give your phone a much-needed boost when you are shooting awesome works on the go. Whether you’re on a day-long photography expedition or simply capturing life’s spontaneous moments, the MagLight ensures that your phone’s battery won’t call it quits before you do. Forget the hassle of tangled cables; simply attach the MagLight to your phone, and it begins charging.

Moonside is taking the versatility of its groundbreaking MagLight one step further with the introduction of two new add-on accessories: the MagFlip and the MagPod. These two accessories are designed to extend the functionality of the MagLight and enhance its compatibility with MagSafe technology, providing users with even more creative and practical options.

MagPod is a sleek aluminum MagSafe-compatible adapter that comes with an adjustable tripod specifically designed for your MagLight and MagSafe phone. This accessory is a game-changer for productivity and professional camera work, offering a stable and versatile platform for your phone and MagLight. The MagPod features a versatile 1/4-inch screw mount that allows easy attachment to any tripod or other compatible camera accessory. Additionally, it comes with a cold shoe adaptor, which enables you to mount your MagPod with MagLight onto your professional camera, opening up a world of creative photography options.

MagFlip is an ultra-thin accessory compatible with MagSafe technology. It serves multiple purposes, acting as both a phone stand and a transformer for your MagLight, turning it into a smart lamp. This dual functionality makes the MagFlip a valuable addition to your MagLight setup. MagFlip can easily snap onto the back of your phone. This allows you to adjust the direction of your MagLight freely, providing the perfect lighting for any scenario. Whether you’re capturing a photo, reading a book in bed, or making a video call, the MagFlip ensures your MagLight provides optimal illumination.

The possibilities become even more exciting when you combine the MagFlip and MagPod together. This setup provides an unprecedented level of versatility, allowing you to utilize your MagLight in a multitude of ways, from a well-lit video call setup to a professional mobile photography lighting rig.

The MagLight’s combination of awesome lighting features and user-friendly design makes it a must-have for anyone looking to step up their smartphone photography game or add a touch of convenience to their daily creative life. Whether you’re a professional photographer, an influencer, or just someone who loves to capture the beauty of life through your smartphone, the MagLight is your key to unlocking a world of visual possibilities.

MagLight starts at $75 USD for a limited number of early-bird buyers. You can order it now with up to 50% off discounts from its retail price.

Full disclosure: This sponsored article was brought to you by Moonside.

In the pre-dawn hours of a mid-September morning, biologist, photographer and environmental advocate Nigella Hillgarth woke up in a tent surrounded by acacia trees in the African Savanna.

Hillgarth, a La Jolla resident, is as at-home in Kenya as by the ocean. She retired to La Jolla in 2018, after having living there from 2002 to 2014, when she was executive director of Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She also holds a remote post as an affiliate professor and research scientist at the University of Washington.

Hillgarth spends a great deal of time traveling, with her international trips encompassing both business and pleasure.

Her recent African adventure was a photographic safari with a small group. “First light appears as I drink a cup of coffee and pack my cameras for the day,” Hillgarth said. “Early morning is my favorite part of the day, before it gets too hot and many animals are out and light for photography is good.”

They camped in the Southern Masai Mara, and were off by 6 a.m. most mornings, looking for lions, leopards and other animals.

“For a biologist like myself, African animals are fascinating. There are still so many large wild animals living free in their natural habitat, and living and interacting in the same way they have for thousands, if not millions of years,” Hillgarth said. “As a photographer, it is a great place to go to get wonderful shots and the light can be amazing.”

An image captured by Nigella Hillgarth while in the Masai Mara of Africa.

(Provided by Nigella Hillgarth)

She said that the groups take photos until the heat of the day, when they retire back to camp, venturing out again in the evenings for a few more hours.

Despite being retired, Hillgarth still strives to connect people to the natural world, and lets others know what can be done to protect it in the face of habitat loss, pollution and the shifting climate. She combines her photography and science background to develop shows, which help teach the public about environmental issues.

Although she had been to East Africa before, Hillgarth’s current venture is her first visit to Kenya. In January, she will travel to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, departing from the southern tip of Argentina.

“This will be my fifth trip to Antarctica and I can’t wait to go back,” she said. “Antarctica is full of color and sound and life.” She described the sunsets as “the best I have ever seen,” the penguins as “delightful” and the icebergs and glaciers as “incredible.”

In late July, Hillgarth will travel to the Arctic, to Svalbard, the Greenland Sea and Iceland. The following October she will visit the Seychelles in East Africa.

Before returning to La Jolla from Kenya, she plans to take a trip to Ireland for a few days. There, she will visit friends and stay at a small cottage she has there, in Tipperary on Lough Derg, near Nenagh, next to where she was born and grew up.

Hillgarth’s hometown nurtured her love of animals and nature during her upbringing.

So much so that when Hillgarth was 5, she went around her house saying “I am an animal lover, I am an animal lover” over and over again, and “I really haven’t changed,” she said.

An Oxford University graduate, she received her master’s degree in zoology and doctoral degree in animal behavior. She specialized in the behavior and physiology of pheasants, and conducted research in Britain, India and Thailand.

She later became the executive director of the Tracy Aviary, the nation’s largest bird park, in Salt Lake, Utah, then the president and CIO of the New England Aquarium in Boston, before landing at Birch Aquarium.

Of all the places Hillgarth has traveled, she is always happy to come back home.

“What is not to like about La Jolla? It has so much history for the area, and great institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, the Salk Institute and several others,” she said, and praised the friendly people, great atmosphere, restaurants and stores, and the fantastic weather.

“And of course, the ocean is simply wonderful,” Hillgarth said. “What better place is there to retire?”

Hillgarth’s work can be seen at nhillgarthphotography.com.

People in Your Neighborhood shines a spotlight on notable locals we all wish we knew more about. If you know someone you’d like us to profile, send an email to robert.vardon@lajollalight.com. ◆

PhotoVogue Festival 2023: The Talks

Synopsis | A.I., Photography, and our Futures

Using artificial intelligence, photorealistic images can be generated in seconds, depicting people and places that never existed and events that never happened. These synthetic images threaten the livelihood and credibility of photographers, as well as potentially transforming what is thought of as real. But it also allows a more imaginative and at times playful way of depicting much that is outside the realm of photography, including the future and the distant past, thoughts and dreams, and the perspectives of people whose stories are not always fully told. Where is this revolution in imaging taking us, and where do we want to go? “A.I., Photography, and our Futures” will try to find an answer to this urging question. 

About the speaker 

This talk is curated by Fred Ritchin, Dean Emeritus of the International Center of Photography. Ritchin was previously professor of Photography and Imaging at New York University for more than twenty years. Ritchin was also picture editor of Horizon and the New York Times Magazine, executive editor of Camera Arts magazine, created the first multimedia version of the New York Times newspaper, and then conceived and edited the Times’s first non-linear online documentary project, “Bosnia: Uncertain Paths to Peace,” nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in public service. He also conceptualized the Four Corners Project, a software that now allows photographers to contextualize their imagery, and is working with major organizations on ways to support the credibility of the photograph as a witness in the age of artificial intelligence. He also teaches and lectures widely on photography, human rights, artificial intelligence, and alternative media.

His books on the future of imaging include In Our Own Image: The Coming Revolution in Photography (1990), After Photography (2008), and Bending the Frame: Photojournalism, Documentary, and the Citizen (2013); his next book will be The Synthetic Eye, to be published by Thames & Hudson in 2024, on the challenges of artificial intelligence. He has also written essays in dozens of other books, curated numerous exhibitions throughout the world including ones on alternative documentary and art practices, Latin American photography, and most recently on Ukraine after the Russian invasion. He has also worked on human rights campaigns for the United Nations and other organizations including ones to end polio globally, to support the Millennium Development Goals, and to advance the understanding of war crimes. He lives in New York and Paris.

Photo © Sanna Sander. Winner, International Pet Photographer of the Year and Winner, Portraits.

Pet photographers from 32 different countries entered their best images of dogs, cats, horses, and more to the 2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year contest. Hosted by dog photography platform Unleashed Education, the winners were revealed during Shutterhound, the world’s first specialist dog photography conference.

Swedish photographer Sanna Sander took home the title of International Pet Photographer of the Year for her strong portfolio of images. Sander’s stunning dog photography went through a rigorous blind judging process by top professionals in the field, including Belinda Richards, who teaches My Modern Met Academy’s introductory pet photography course.

In addition to Sander winning the overall competition, top photographers were named in five different categories—Portrait, Action, Pets and People, Documentary, and Creative. Collectively, the nearly 2,300 photographs submitted show the wide range of ways that photographs capture the personality of our pets. And while most of the entries where photographs of dogs, cats, and horses, a myriad of other pets were also on display. This includes pigs, chickens, lizards, rabbits, cows, hamsters, and snakes.

Check out all of the winning images, as well as some of our favorite finalists. They’re sure to get your creative juices flowing when it comes to capturing the personality of your pet.

Here are the winners of the 2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year awards.

Photo © Sanna Sander. Winner, International Pet Photographer of the Year.

Photo © Sara Glawe. Winner, Action.

Photo © Padraig Maguire. Winner, Creative.

Photo © An Di Prima. Winner, Documentary.

Photo © Alicja Zmyslowska. Winner, Pets and People.

Photo © Belinda Richards. Creative, Finalist.

Photo © Adam Coish. Finalist, Portrait.

Photo © Renate Zuidema. Finalist, Pets and People.

Photo © David Macias. Finalist, Action.

Photo © Merlin Viir. Finalist, Portrait.

Photo © Jaydene Chapman. Finalist, Creative.

Photo © Karin Bruhin. Finalist, Action.

Photo © Saskia Rosebrock. Finalist, Creative.

Photo © Yannik Nagel. Finalist, Documentary

Photo © Judy Reinford. Finalist, Creative.

Photo © Sabrina Theden. Finalist, Action.

International Pet Photographer of the Year: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the International Pet Photographer of the Year.

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12 Photographers Who Have Elevated Pet Photography Into an Art Form

Learn To Take Professional Photos of Your Pup in This Introductory Pet Photography Class

Winners of the 2023 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Embrace Our World’s Biodiversity

Photographers in a small town in Long Island, New York have been thrilled by the growing presence of bald eagles in their community.

Centerport has seen a recent surge in the population of bald eagles and photographers are flocking to train their camera on the USA’s national bird.

Raptor enthusiast Rob Schwartz and his wife Elizabeth first noticed a pair of bald eagles in 2017 and they decided to make the Facebook page Bald Eagles of Centerport which now has over 32,000 members.

“The nest was right here in my backyard,” Rob tells CBS New York. “Essentially, all these people [on Facebook] are living daily with them, they know every day what fish they caught.”

“People are very infatuated with the pictures, the close-up shots we get of these birds,” adds photographer Christine Carron.

According to wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath, bald eagles have made a comeback in the area because the government banned certain pesticides. He says that Long Island is the perfect spot for the birds.

“The right amount of water and food that didn’t have eagles, so I guess it was inevitable,” says Horvarth.

However, Horvarth says that because of the eagles’ territorial nature that sees them fighting one another, Long Island won’t become a haven for the apex predators.

But that hasn’t stopped Bald Eagles of Centerport from getting more and more excited about the birds, hosting “Rapor Day” on November 11 and even proclaiming September 25 to be “Bald Eagles of Centerport Day.”

Where is the Best Place to Photograph Bald Eagles?

Bald eagles are typically found near water and nest in large trees, they tend to nest in the same place all year but some migrate and return to breed.

According to the Birda.org, a birdwatching app, Acadia National Park in Maine is the best place to see the eagles. In addition, Acadia also offers the opportunity to photograph Atlantic puffins, peregrine falcons, and woodpeckers.

Birda ranks Olympic National Park in Washington as the second best spot and Pinnacle National Park in California as third. Yellowstone and Fort McHenry in Maryland round out the list in fourth and fifth

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

Oak Heritage Conservancy recently announced its eighth annual photography contest to help amateur photographers in Indiana find new nature preserves, parks and agritourism sites.

This year’s theme is “Explore the Great Outdoors.”

“We’re encouraging Hoosiers to explore the great outdoors in search of unique experiences where nature feels inspirational,” Oak Heritage Conservancy Executive Director Jack Sutton said.

“Visiting natural areas (state parks, nature preserves, etc.) and agritourism sites (like pumpkin patches, vineyards and other outdoor farm destinations) offers endless opportunities to capture unique outdoor experiences,” he said. “We hope you will seek out new nature destinations and share your adventures with others.”

Oak Heritage is offering kid-friendly age categories. Kids 18 and under can enter the youth contest. Those 19 and older must enter the adult contest.

Entries in each age group will be judged separately with each age group receiving its own best in show and grand prize. Each grand prize winner will receive a $50 cash prize and a one-year membership to Oak Heritage Conservancy. Photos will be included in the online and traveling exhibit.

Amateur photographers of all ages can submit photos in one of each of these categories:

-Barns, crops and livestock

-Forests, creeks and wetlands

-Wildlife and wildflowers (or other flora)

-People in nature

-Architecture in nature (how architecture and nature have been combined)

Entries may be submitted between Oct. 1 and 31. Contestants must submit their photos online at oakheritageconservancy.org/get-involved/photoexhibit.

The contest is made possible by a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Oak Heritage Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust based in southeast Indiana and protects nearly 1,200 acres of greenspace. Its mission is to preserve, protect and conserve land and water resources that have special natural, agricultural, scenic or cultural significance.

For information, visit oakheritageconservancy.org.