Random Excellence: Keith Barkley

One of the stranger sunset pictures you'll see—the sun doing its best moon impression. Keith Barkley says, "I lucked out that the eclipse was ending just at sunset." Also one of the few eclipse photos you'll see that was not shot through a filter.

Some pictures just make you think, "I wish I'd seen that."

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Kevin Schoenmakers]

Boston Big picture has - as always - a great set on the Eclipse: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/05/ring_of_fire_eclipse_2012.html

[Peter Morgan]

Shot through an atmospheric filter, I think you mean.

[alek]

That's a great shot by Keith ... and I too was going for a similar shot trying to capture the eclipsed sun setting over the Colorado Rockies - here's my writeup with pictures and the resulting time-lapse:
http://www.komar.org/faq/lunar-eclipse/2012_05_20_solar_eclipse/

and yea, in hindsight, I could have shot this without an ND filter ... especially since mine was a makeshift one cut out from my son's eclipse glasses.

[Edwin]

Here's another one:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/techniques/eclipse_2012.shtml

[Jed]

Beautiful photo. Personally, I stayed inside during the eclipse due to severe "performance anxiety". I remember an article a while back wherein Mike described feelings of guilt for not photographing his town after a snow storm.

I couldn't watch an eclipse without badly wanting to do it photographic justice, but I don't trust my skills or knowledge; it's just not my forte. I am far more comfortable photographing things I discover spontaneously. Scouting, planning, and researching photographic subjects fills me with dread.

[Paul Glover]

This is the sort of photograph I think of when the phrase "once in a lifetime opportunity" springs to mind.

[KeithB]

Well, luck at the photo on Luminous Landscape. Great minds think alike.

[Herb Martin]

Check this one out. I saw it on flickr- astounding!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unripegreenbanana/7239242168/in/photostream/

[steve]

"Some pictures just make you think, "I wish I'd seen that.""

The transit of Venus coming up in just over a week is one such event I urge everyone to try to witness and photograph. It won't occur again for another 105 years so make an effort, this is a true once in a lifetime opportunity so make the most of it. James Cook took months to sail to the south pacific to witness it over 200 years ago, on the way back he discovered Australia. I'm all set up, go the day planned, camera settings tested and noted, solar filter made and tested. Fingers cross the weather behaves!

Don't be afraid (or anxious) about getting out and shooting the sun/moon or doing them justice. Eclipses (even partials) are not too common so you don't get much chance to practice technique. Shots like Keith's are often more about luck than planning, once you are out there witnessing the event and taking shots and the light changes you'll find yourself moving around to start lining up features on the horizon to create interesting shots.

Above all, get out there and shoot. Witness some of the rarer marvels of the universe, get some shots (good and bad) as momentos and don't try to feel like you have to compete with anyone else for a great shot.

[KeithB]

steve:
I resemble that remark!

As they say, "Fortune favors the prepared".

I knew that here in Albuquerque the eclipse would still be going at sunset, so I scoped out my spot to get a clear view to the horizon.

The only improvement would have been to take the tram to the crest to get a few extra minutes.

Other than that, I agree with your post.

[KeithB]

alek:
Nice shots, but I do NOT recommend putting the filter in the rear of the lens.

You are going to have a lot of heat dissipated in your lens, not a good thing.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/astrophotography2.html

[alek]

That's a GREAT point Bob - a big D'OH on my part. Have updated my webpage to reflect that point with link over to your excellent writeup.

Have read a number of your articles over the years - thanks for chiming in.
alek

[Ed Bacher]

There were a number of people who took a more minimalist approach to viewing the eclipse. I happened to be at a Greek food festival when the eclipse happened and strange images started showing up on the wall of the church. More here:
http://beanroad.blogspot.com/2012/05/camera-obscura.html