Attaching my first attempt at a composite on Photoshop.

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I agree with you all on the second picture, but when I put it all together, the prominences didn't really pop. At the end of the day, I went with a third picture altogether which is somewhere between the two I posted. I still have a touch of tweaking to do with photoshop, but this is close to the final result.

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My real question is -- if Mercari doesn't release the money until the product is received, how do they get the $. I'm missing something. Since I'm not going to try to buy it -- I guess this will remain one of the mysteries of life.

Anyone ever deal with a company called Mercari?

It's supposed to be a consumer-to-consumer site. They claim that their policy is that they don't process your payment until three days after you receive a product, and that you can return it within the three-day period.

I've seen a few websites say they are legit.

Sounds Great.

They have a BBB rating of A

Sounds Great.

Their customer rating on the BBB site is 1.06 stars out of five (over 1000 reviews). WHAT? Given that some people misclick, I wouldn't have thought that was possible.

I see a listing for a Nikon Z 7 ii today for Under $400 -- with the 24-70 claiming that it has about 300 clicks. What????

My first, second and third reactions are this has got to be a scam. But if I'm not charged until I receive the item, I'm not sure I'm seeing what it is.

Anyway -- comfortable in the belief that if it looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is. I'm not going to bite.

But does anyone know what the play on the part of the seller is here.

I'm going to create a composite photo of the "phases" of the eclipse. I'll either have 9 or 11 shots total with the center picture being of totality.

I have two 'artistic' questions.

First -- for my picture of totality, I'm trying to decide between two shots. Would love feedback of which one you would use.

Second -- On the phases, I'm trying to decide whether to 'correct' the exposure, so each shot has the same brightness, or use shots with the same shutter speed, which will mean that those shots will dim as we get closer to totality and brighten after totality.

Would love thoughts from the group.

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I have a Z-5.

I always travel with my 24-200, which is on the body 90% of the time. I usually take one other lens with me depending on what I want to shoot. For example, if I plan on doing Astro, I'll either take a 14mm f/2.8 or a 17-35 f/2.8. For the Eclipse (or for birding) I'll take a 100-400mm + a 1.4 tele.

Am considering the new Nikon 28-400 -- but honestly, I think my current gear will carry me through pretty much whatever I need.

Probably just the filter -- I was shooting the partial with a 9-stop bracket, so some shots are overexposed and others are underexposed -- all have a white sun.

... blue sky -- me either. That's why I wonder whether it's an optical illusion.

... blue sky -- me either. That's why I wonder whether it's an optical illusion.

Thanks for the compliment -- On the exposure -- I was bracketing over a 9-stop range -- my experience was the same as yours -- background is black in all shots.

As to this pic -- my intent was to keep the exposure on the corona low so as to highlight the solar prominences.

I posted one of my pics from the Total Eclipse question. (about 20 miles north of Waco TX)

Here's the question -- when viewing totality through my eyes, the moon/sun appears black (as in the pic). The Sky, however was a Dark Blue (not black).

All of my shots, however were black on black (as above) -- is this an optical illusion or a limitation on the dynamic range of my sensor?

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Poor Penguin indeed!!

Thanks for the assist on the pic

I recently got this shot of a Leopard Seal with it's kill in Antarctica.

I've played with it a a little, but what I'm trying to do is to bring out the seal a little more (using lightroom). Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

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Thanks!! Might be a bit -- we're heading out to see the eclipse later this week!!!

Just back yesterday -- may need a bit more work on this one, but wanted to share it!!