Solar Eclipse – The Experience

On August 21, 2017, millions of people got to experience a total solar eclipse which worked its way across the country in the late morning hours.  Like millions, I hoped to catch a few shots of this rare event.  For weeks, I studied everything I could find on total eclipses and how to photograph them.  I found a website that would show exactly how the event would play out for any location on the map.  I knew that at 10:16 MST, the moon would begin to cross in front of the sun where we planned to go.  Totality would begin at 11:35 and 16 seconds, peak at 11:35 and 46 seconds and transition back to a partial eclipse at 11:36 and 16 seconds.  Totality would be bearing 132° and 50° up from the horizon.  The moon would make its last contact at 1:00.  I studied light settings, focal lengths and practiced focusing on the sun to find the best place on the lens to set the focus in hopes of a clear image.  If they would have had a 12-day weather forecast, I would have started watching the weather sooner than 10 days out.  All this in hopes of a clear view of the sun for this amazing event.

We have some great friends, Deb and Sumo (his other name is Craig) that live south of Jackson Hole, WY that we have wanted to visit for a while and this timing worked out perfectly.  Being adventurous, Craig picked a location on the top of a mountain that would give us a great view.  It also seemed far enough off the beaten path to avoid the several hundred thousand folks expected to come to the area for the eclipse.  We made a practice hike up the 3.5-mile trail with packs loaded down to make sure the destination would work and the 2500’+ climb would be reasonable with 30+ pounds of camera gear…and just making sure we wouldn’t get lost the day of.  Since we have lived at 7,200’ elevation for the last year, I knew Gayla wouldn’t have any trouble with the altitude for the hike.  We analyzed the contour of the mountain to see what type of pictures we would focus on.

All of this preparation in hopes that in the 1-minute window, I could capture a cool picture or two of a total solar eclipse in action.  There was no time for experimentation, it was all or nothing!  But, in all the prep, the best piece of advice was to remember to take in the moment.  The experience of that moment was far more important than any picture that could be captured.  That is what this story is about…the experience!

The night before, the picnic was packed and the wine was ready to go.  Backpacks were loaded up for the sunrise departure to the trailhead.  It was still chilly but we opted to leave jackets behind because it would warm up quickly as the sun crested the mountain top for the 3-hour hike up the trail to the summit.  The mountain top was a long ridge with a spectacular view 360-degree mountain view including a magnificent view of Grand Teton to the north.  The trail was lined with wildflowers in their last summer bloom, and a curious ermine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We repeatedly remarked how amazing this trail would be when the summer flowers peaked.  A couple dozen folks were on the mountain but the ridge was long enough that everyone naturally spread out and we had a great section of the ridge all to ourselves.  Within minutes the eclipse began to develop.  The cool glasses came out and we watched the moon slowly move across the sun and the picnic commenced. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheeto selfies and silly sun pictures slowly gave way to the observation that the temperature was dropping.  The lighting was changing in a way that we could recognize but not explain.  The air was still and it grew oddly silent. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As totality approached, I started the automatic timer for the camera focused on the sun and stood back simply hoping for the best…all or nothing!  I had two other cameras but became so overwhelmed watching all the amazing things going on that they just sat idle.  Watching the 360-degree sunset under a dusk sky highlighted by the Tetons silhouetted against a sky of yellows, oranges and purples.  The temperature dropped 20 degrees and it was noticeably chilly.  Gayla heard a coyote howl and the only other noise was our small group expressing our amazement in the experience.  We looked up to see the sun’s corona around the moon and the brief marvels as the eclipse transitioned in and out of totality.  Finally, the most special moment of the entire event was giving the most special person in my life the one and only kiss we will ever have under the shadow of a total eclipse of the sun.  What an amazing day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Deb and Craig for the wonderful time and great hospitality!  Great time!!

Thank you timeanddate.com for all the help in planning!