Eclipse seen at Holt, Missouri
Aug 23, 2017 11:42:48 #
Canon 5DS R with 600 mm lens and 2X tele-extender. f/10 Tripod Wireless release tethered via USB Exposure times 1/8 to 1/2 seconds.
The rain stopped just minutes prior to totality to allow just enough time to set up the tripod, connect the tether and test connections/alignment. Tense moments with no time to mess up.
Some Bailey's beads are visible.
Last images are practice shots--the sun with the proper filter.
Looking back, I didn't need the filter unless the pre- and post-totality portions were desired. Between the "diamond ring" phases, there is no need for a filter.
The rain stopped just minutes prior to totality to allow just enough time to set up the tripod, connect the tether and test connections/alignment. Tense moments with no time to mess up.
Some Bailey's beads are visible.
Last images are practice shots--the sun with the proper filter.
Looking back, I didn't need the filter unless the pre- and post-totality portions were desired. Between the "diamond ring" phases, there is no need for a filter.
Chemtrail haze, clouds opening up, "diamond ring"
Solar flares at 1, 2 and 4 o'clock
Clouds return as totality ends
Aug 23, 2017 12:03:51 #
Aug 24, 2017 10:13:15 #
bmp
Loc: Atlanta
Wow! Those are some fantastic shots! Great job.
That first one, with the beads on one end, the solar flares 180 degrees opposite, a true piece of art, my friend.
I can imagine the stress with rain and clouds.
Question - I used an effective 400mm lens, so my moon/sun was much smaller than yours, giving more headroom for movement before having to adjust my tripod head. I created a 4 minute routine of several bracketing series, changing the EV to the plus side three times, then to the minus three times on the way out.
Did you do bracketing, and if so, was keeping the subject on camera a significant challenge?
I'm thinking next eclipse (yeah, this hooked me!) having a star tracker set up, and investing in a lens like yours.
Seriously, though. Your shots are amazing.
That first one, with the beads on one end, the solar flares 180 degrees opposite, a true piece of art, my friend.
I can imagine the stress with rain and clouds.
Question - I used an effective 400mm lens, so my moon/sun was much smaller than yours, giving more headroom for movement before having to adjust my tripod head. I created a 4 minute routine of several bracketing series, changing the EV to the plus side three times, then to the minus three times on the way out.
Did you do bracketing, and if so, was keeping the subject on camera a significant challenge?
I'm thinking next eclipse (yeah, this hooked me!) having a star tracker set up, and investing in a lens like yours.
Seriously, though. Your shots are amazing.
Aug 24, 2017 10:34:54 #
No bracketing. I used Canon Digital Professional 4 on a MacBook to LIVE VIEW and counted on the auto-exposure.
The camera adjusted itself to 3200 ISO (auto ISO). I used f/10 to compensate in depth of focus for difficulties my old eyes have and the challenges of using manual focus on the 600 mm lens.
What I would have done different:
6400 ISO to cut exposure times in half
Custom settings (C1 and C2) for the filtered and unfiltered shooting.
I was shooting video while using a wireless remote to take stills. The stills interrupted the flow of the video--no big deal as the sound of the shutter also 'flavors' the live video. People around reacting to the totality made for nice audio.
The tenths of a second just prior and after totality are the 'money shots' IMO. Filtered shots aren't that interesting to me--and I have a bunch of those to look through. Might change my mind and post a filtered image or two once I take time to review them.
Many here have better Photoshop abilities than mine. My friends at H&H Color Lab will help with the image adjustments for prints.
Gitzo carbon tripod is fairly solid. Some further stabilization of the tripod might make the images more crisp--along with reduced shutter speed.
Since I was also taking video, I thought that the "mirror up" (reduced camera vibration) was being accomplished. Am I misunderstanding this? If so, mirror movement may have contributed to the blur. The 5DS R has mirror up adjustments for 1/8 second (and longer) from shutter release to allow camera to stop vibrating. That might have helped also.
The camera adjusted itself to 3200 ISO (auto ISO). I used f/10 to compensate in depth of focus for difficulties my old eyes have and the challenges of using manual focus on the 600 mm lens.
What I would have done different:
6400 ISO to cut exposure times in half
Custom settings (C1 and C2) for the filtered and unfiltered shooting.
I was shooting video while using a wireless remote to take stills. The stills interrupted the flow of the video--no big deal as the sound of the shutter also 'flavors' the live video. People around reacting to the totality made for nice audio.
The tenths of a second just prior and after totality are the 'money shots' IMO. Filtered shots aren't that interesting to me--and I have a bunch of those to look through. Might change my mind and post a filtered image or two once I take time to review them.
Many here have better Photoshop abilities than mine. My friends at H&H Color Lab will help with the image adjustments for prints.
Gitzo carbon tripod is fairly solid. Some further stabilization of the tripod might make the images more crisp--along with reduced shutter speed.
Since I was also taking video, I thought that the "mirror up" (reduced camera vibration) was being accomplished. Am I misunderstanding this? If so, mirror movement may have contributed to the blur. The 5DS R has mirror up adjustments for 1/8 second (and longer) from shutter release to allow camera to stop vibrating. That might have helped also.
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