photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

I am hoping to be able to photograph a total solar eclipse from a cruise liner near the Faroe Islands on March 20th. I mentioned this in an earlier thread, only I got myself muddled and called it a lunar eclipse instead. A very kind “hogger” from a far distant country has been corresponding with me about this and offering good advice, but I wondered whether any other UHH people have actually seen and photographed a total solar eclipse from a ship rather than on land and, if so, what tips and practical advice in order to counteract wave/engine/people movement? I have bought a solar filter to attach to the hood of my Canon 100-400mm lens plus 1.4 extender and I have been practicing (whenever the sun comes out here in the UK!) and attach a photo. And I have been bracketing photos -/+ 0.7. But I feel it will be a whole new ball game on how keep things sharp on a ship tossing around in the North Sea in March!

1.500th @ f/6.3 ISO400 Cloudy WB 0 compensation

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

I think ALOT would depend on how calm the sea is.
Swede

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Do not know Canon, but on Nikon telephoto lenses there is an addition position on the VR switch, called 'active'. Main purpose I am told is for photographing from an unsteady or moving vehicle. Mine (active) worked well from a door off helicopter flight.
Duane

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Thanks Bear2. Don't see anything like that on my lens, just the Image Stabilizer, which they recommend you switch off when using a tripod.

melismus Loc: Chesapeake Bay Country

,,,but maybe keep it on if tripod is on a pitching/rolling deck.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Congratulations on catching that fleeting glimpse of UK sunshine! You probably needed that fast shutter speed :lol: .

My understanding id that the "Active" VR setting is for shooting from a moving vehicle and as such it provides stabilisation in the horizontal plane only - not what you'd be looking for shooting up at the sun.

I would say that if 1/500 sec is typical, the movement of the cruise liner will be too slow to have any significant effect on the exposure. In fact I'd say that would apply to bracketed shots as well. A cruise liner will be not just big but stabilised as well. And even if your camera's a bit slow with the bracketed exposures, you should be able to align them during the merging process (not that I'm anticipating that you'll need to). At 1/500 sec. the individual exposures should be perfectly sharp.

As far as ship vibration is concerned, I'd say that's more of a possibility, but you would be able to feel it if it was strong enough to have any sort of effect on the exposures. You'll probably be on an upper deck well away from the engines and generators, so the chances are there won't be any vibration to speak of - but as I said, you'll be able to check just by feeling for it.

The only problem I can foresee is that you'll be using a tripod on a hard deck, and there probably won't be anything that spiked feet could penetrate. Rubber feet will be better but still not as secure as you would want, so you'll have to watch out for yourself or other people bumping the tripod.

Best of luck with your trip. It sounds like real fun :thumbup: .

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Thanks, I think a tripod would be an essential! I have been using one for the practice photos.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

It will be fun anyway, lots of good places to go ashore, but am really, really hoping for a clear start to the day without clouds. But the whole point of the trip is to get at least one decent photo of the eclipse, which might be very unlikely at 9.30 am in the northern hemisphere. My tripod has rubber feet, but is very stable and strong enough for camera plus long lens, so hopefully will cope with vibrations. Other people may be a problem, as I am sure the top deck will be jam-packed with people with far more sophisticated equipment than mine, like huge telescopes and so on, and with much more knowledge than I have too.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

I suggest you do some experimental shots with the tripod on the ship deck before the actual event. Adjust your ISO and aperture to get about what shutter speed you anticipate.

I would have two concerns with the tripod: First is that a steel hulled ship will transmit engine and propeller vibrations to your camera. Second, there will be tons of other people on deck watching the eclipse and a tripod can be a tripping hazard to them and they can be a hazard to your camera.

In my "pre-eclipse" experiments, I would also try folding the legs in and using it as a monopod. But don't put it directly on the deck- put it on top of a sturdy shoe or some other padding.

I would also try leaving VR on. I seriously doubt you will be able to lock your ball head down. Even large ships have movement. I'm guessing you will likely instead use the tripod/monopod to hold the weight and still move the camera about to keep on the target.

Good luck. Certainly looking forward to your shots. Not many people on the planet will see what you will see.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

I would also try leaving VR on. I seriously doubt you will be able to lock your ball head down. Even large ships have movement. I'm guessing you will likely instead use the tripod/monopod to hold the weight and still move the camera about to keep on the target.

That's something I had not thought about, that I probably will not be able to set tripod and head to lock onto the sun and that the camera would stay focused on target. Of course there will be movement, how silly of me not to have figured that. Thanks for the reminder. Yet another thing to think about!

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

I admire the approach you are taking. Thinking it through, doing you research. I bet you end up with some winners. And don't forget to have fun!

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Absolutely!

That is the biggest problem with all photos on board--slow shutter speeds just don't work. My minimum speed, even here on the Bay, is 1/700, that makes evening shots difficult, and you will most likely be in open water. A high ISO can only help so much.

Have a good trip.

j-p Loc: CT

At totality the shutter speed might be quite low.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

"Ship tossing around in the North Sea"? How small of a boat will this be? If this is one of those huge cruse ships then I would not be concerned with ship movement.

Dare I say it, I would not use a tripod. Set your av. and iso. so your tv. is 1/1000 of a sec.

I would be more concerned with your focus. The photo that you posted show no sun spots, it is not in focus.

Here is a photo taken with the same lens that you used but no tc. 1/000 of a sec., hand held, see the spots? Have fun on your cruise, don't go blind:)

(Download)

twowindsbear

Why would you use 'cloudy' WB? Why not 'sunshine' WB?

Really curious

Have a great trip!