The much anticipated and publicised 2017 Total Solar Eclipse occurred on 21 August.  What made this particular Solar Eclipse event unique is that this was the first Total Solar Eclipse in 99 years to be visible across the entire United States, from Oregon on the Pacific coast to South Carolina on the Atlantic coast.  Solar Eclipse totality started at 10:16 local time at Lincoln Beach, Oregon and occurred through to McClellanville, South Carolina where totality started at 14:46 local time.

 

I was located in central Illinois for the duration of the Solar Eclipse event and experienced a maximum Partial Solar Eclipse of 93% obscuration.  The Solar Eclipse event began at 11:51:50 local time and ended at 14:43:06 local time with the maximum 93% obscuration occurring at 13:18:41 local time.  The forecasted weather showed mostly cloudy all morning with a 49% chance of storms from 12:00 to 14:00 local time.  Throughout the morning, the sky was overcast by moderate to thick hazy clouds.  As the maximum Partial Solar Eclipse event neared, I questioned whether I even wanted to set up my photography gear as the weather did not appear as though it would permit worthwhile viewing.  However, I vividly remember the Annular Solar Eclipse that took place on 10 May 1994 when I was living in Chicago and in-part because of this, I was motivated to try and photograph this Solar Eclipse and remained hopeful that I might be able to capture an image of some phase of the event.

 

With 30 minutes till Partial Solar Eclipse maximum, I looked west and saw that the sky appeared lighter than it was overhead.  While I remained doubtful, I decided to set up my photography gear in any case.  And then I waited.  At approximately 20 to 15 minutes prior to maximum Partial Solar Eclipse, there was a light sprinkle of rain.  As the clouds continued to move from west to east, the overhead sky lightened further and I began to see blue sky emerging in the distance.  The minutes dragged on.  During the time frame of 15 to 10 minutes prior to maximum Partial Solar Eclipse, the thick and hazy cloud coverage overhead began to dissipate to a near transparent sky with light wispy, hazy cirrocumulus and cirrostratus clouds.

 

With my certified ISO 12312-2 filter in place, looking through the viewfinder, the sun was at first intermittently visible, though when it was, sharpness was obscured by haze.  I made what adjustments I could and took my first few photographs.  During the following 10 minutes, the overhead sky continued to clear and as the eclipse phase progressed, the sharpness of the sun and moon become more clearly defined.  I utilised the bracketing feature and began taking a series of photographs leading up to, during and after the maximum Partial Solar Eclipse event.

 

During the couple of minutes surrounding the actual maximum eclipse phase, there was a noticeable lowering of the light level which was similar to twilight, but not quite dusk.  I remained on location for almost 30 minutes after.  About 40 minutes after the event, the overhead sky returned to being overcast with moderate to thick cloud coverage which lasted the remainder of the day.

 

Although I was not able to experience a Total Solar Eclipse, I feel fortunate that the weather finally cooperated and the sky cleared so that I could photograph the event.  The next Total Solar Eclipse event occurs on 8 April 2024 and I fully intend to travel to a location in order to experience and photograph the entire Total Solar Eclipse event.

 

About This Photograph

The above photograph was taken exactly 13 seconds after maximum Partial Solar Eclipse occurred.  With a 35mm full frame sensor, the lens focal length was 480mm.  At five stops underexposed, the exposure for this photograph was ISO 640 at 1/250 sec, f/8.