Totally Awesome
The total solar eclipse on Monday August 21st, 2017 was an incredible thing to witness. From the slow and steady progression of the partial phases, to seeing the moon totally obscure the sun and the land going dark, to seeing the corona and the diamond just as totality ended, to the throngs of viewers who came out to watch, it was in all aspects totally awesome!
I have finally finished processing my photos of the eclipse and I am sharing them below. I will further write a more contemplative reflection in the days to come so stay tuned. For the meantime enjoy…
A time lapse composite showing several partial phases and the famed diamond ring phenomenon.
Prominence – Time Lapse Composite with the famed Diamond Ring Effect
A more accurate orientation of how the sun and moon moved in relation to one another. The sun in this composite photo is moving from the bottom left corner to the upper right as it climbed in the morning sky, while the moon was moving from the upper right to the lower left corners as it was passing through its descending node of its orbit (more on that later), and the two met in the middle. Just before they parted ways the Diamond Ring effect happens as shown in the middle. All that glitters is not just gold.
All That Glitters. (time progression from bottom left to upper right)
The crowning photo (pun intended) is of the Corona during totality. It was the processing of this photo that caused my delay in presenting these to you. I made dozens of exposures of the totality in an attempt to capture detail in all parts of the corona itself. Eight separate exposures were combined through a variety of digital imaging techniques to bring out the detail throughout the corona and produce an image that to my eyes looks as close to what I recall seeing at the time when totality took place. The moon wearing the crown of the sun, completely overshadows the now lowly star Regulus, “The Little King” as it is known, hanging out just below and to the left of the union in total awe like the rest of us.
Wearing The Crown
You may click on the images above to see larger versions. If you would like to see these photographs in person, I will be showing them at the Campbell’s Farmers Market on Sundays in downtown Campbell. Please come by if you are a local!
Till later, please enjoy the photos and let me know what you think.
Peace to all!
