Chuck,
I well remember that total eclipse in '68. I was a freshman in high
school and my friend and I shot hoops in the backyard during the run-up and,
like you, stood slack-jawed during the moments of totality. The only thing that
came close was an annular eclipse I witnessed in either 93 or 94 when I was
living in Western NY. Very different than the total eclipse but best remembered
for the weird bi-refingent shadows. Hope I live to see another of both types.
Charlie
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Chuck Norcutt
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 3:37 PM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Solar eclipse photo advice
I have seen one total solar eclipse in my life. I believe it was March
of 1968 but my memory is frail. I journeyed about 700 miles from my
then home in Endicott, New York to Greenville, North Carolina. I
remember being amazed by the large numbers of people just outside the
path of totality just going about their everyday business not realizing
that the sight of a lifetime was but a short distance away.
I had prepared for the event by taking my Miranda GT with a lens
consisting of a cobbled together off-axis telescope made from a 2-1/2"
f/10 mirror. All was on a mounting made of bolts, 2x4's, plaster lath
and other odds and ends.
If you've ever watched a partial solar eclipse the run-up to the main
event is rather pedestrian... that is, until you get close to totality
and the tepmerature starts to drop, birds stop chattering, dogs stop
barking, shadow bands go skittering over the ground and Bailey's beads
appear on the periphery of the moon.
Then, BANG!! Suddenly the lights go out, the stars get switched on,
near the horizon it's sunrise/sunset for 360 degrees around you and the
sun suddenly is a moon sized black hole surrounded by streaming flares
of red and blue several times its diameter.
Well, I'll tell you I never got another shot off during all of totality.
You could have knocked me over with a feather. I stood there with my
mouth hanging open suddenly understanding the awe with which the
ancients must have viewed this apparition. If I were to do it again I
wouldn't even take a camera except maybe to shoot the crowd. The view
is overwhelming and too much of a spectacle to bother taking photos.
Buy them from someone else afterwards.
But don't miss it. I think it's the most spectacular thing I've ever
seen in my entire life. Too bad it was only 3-1/2 minutes.
Chuck Norcutt
Piers Hemy wrote:
> An eclipse is coming up in four weeks time. Those rsident in northern S.
> America, North Africa, Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia have a treat in
> store. As have those planning to make a trip...
>
> I have got hold of a couple of books by esteemed list member Michael
> Covington, as well as the NASA GFSC data book on this eclipse. All are very
> strongly recommended (and are an interesting read even in isolation).
>
> I plan on using a 500mm mirror lens with 2x converter, and two bodies loaded
> with 100ASA slide film - Provia or Astia - swapping the bodies when the film
> ends. I will use motor drives, and possibly the Quartz Remote Control. I
> have already run a couple of test films to check the exposure for the
> full-disk sun (we had some over the weekend!) and a few questions arise. I
> know there is astrophoto experience (and expertise!) here, and am hoping
> there is solar experience too. Aside from the extreme time constraits, here
> is what is bugging me:
>
> There will be 3.5 minutes of totality - is it going to be practical to
> handle two bodies and a digital camcorder piggy backed on the same tripod -
> will vibration from the still camera rule out the digicam - or will I simply
> not have time to do both?
>
> I am using Baader Astrosolar solar filter material (it looks like Mylar
> space blankets) which seems to give a very cool image. Any thoughts on using
> either a yellow or orange filter?!
>
> Any other hints from practical (bitter?) experience very welcome. And yes,
> I have thought of the possibility of cloud cover. Don't know what to do
> about it, though!
>
> --
> Piers
>
>
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