Millions of people will get to experience \u2014 and film or photograph \u2014 a rare total solar eclipse set to sweep over parts of Europe next week. <\/p>\n
The event is expected to boost tourism to Spain as eclipse enthusiasts flock to a swath of the country\u2019s north that will be in the path of total darkness<\/a> on Aug. 12. Parts of Greenland, western Iceland and a corner of Portugal are also in the shadow\u2019s path. <\/p>\n Eclipse chasers may also join eclipse cruises in the north Atlantic. Much of the rest of the northern hemisphere will see a partial eclipse. <\/p>\n Interest<\/a> surged for 2024<\/a> \u2018s total eclipse over North America, with many people using their smartphones to document<\/a> it. This year\u2019s event is expected to be no different.<\/p>\n But an eclipse poses unique challenges for photos, such as drastic changes in lighting. Here are pointers on how smartphone shooters can get the best shot.<\/p>\n This article is part of AP\u2019s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Find the best place to view and capture the eclipse<\/p>\n Location is key. If you\u2019re travelling to view the eclipse, you\u2019ll want to be as close as possible to the path of totality. <\/p>\n The European Space Agency has posted a map<\/a> of Spain on its website showing how many minutes of totality there will be for different parts of the country. <\/p>\n For more detail, eclipse expert Xavier Jubier\u2019s website<\/a> overlays the eclipse\u2019s path on Google Maps, which allows zooming down to the street level.<\/p>\n Be aware that for most places in Europe the eclipse won\u2019t happen until close to sunset, and the sun and moon will get closer to the horizon as it continues. So try to find a high point with clear views of the western horizon. <\/p>\n Use apps to help with advance planning <\/p>\n Weather conditions can change so consult forecast and cloud coverage apps like Astrospheric ahead of time to find locations with clearer skies.<\/p>\n The American Astronomical Society has a list<\/a> of recommended iOS and Android apps, which can do helpful things like play an audio countdown to the moment of totality, and simulate how the eclipse will look from your position so you can set up a shot in advance.<\/p>\n You can take a good photo even if you don\u2019t have a manual camera<\/p>\n A digital SLR<\/a> camera is your best bet for dramatic close-up<\/a> photos of the moon passing in front of the sun. <\/p>\n But you can still take a good photo with a smartphone. <\/p>\n Be aware that iPhones and Android devices aren\u2019t really designed for photographing objects in the sky. Their lenses are great for wide-angle shots but not so good for capturing close-up detail from faraway.<\/p>\n But newer phones have sophisticated sensors, multiple lenses and image stabilization software that give you a better chance. Many also have exposure controls, so you can darken or lighten the image amid tricky eclipse lighting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main challenge with using smartphone cameras for astronomical photography is that they tend to overexpose bright objects\u201d such as the moon or the inner solar corona, the American Astronomical Society says in its online guide to photographing eclipses. At the same time, smartphones have trouble focusing on dim objects, which is \u201calmost everything else in the sky,\u201d the group says. <\/p>\n \u201cZooming in to make the subject bigger often helps.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n Sign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong> Just don\u2019t use flash. It won\u2019t be effective and can spoil the moment for anyone around you whose eyes have adapted to darkness.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t just focus on the sky. Look at the scene around you. As the moon passes in front of the sun, the landscape will be \u201cbathed in eerie lighting and shadows,\u201d NASA says in photo tips it posted for the 2024 eclipse.<\/p>\n \u201cAs light filters through the overlapping leaves of trees, it creates natural pinholes that project miniature eclipse replicas on the ground,\u201d NASA says. \u201cAnywhere you can point your camera can yield exceptional imagery, so be sure to compose some wide-angle photos that can capture your eclipse experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Protect your eyes and your lens<\/p>\n If you\u2019re photographing the sun during the partial phases of the eclipse, the lens must be protected by a special-purpose solar filter, said Antonio Garcia Fernandez of Volunteer Astronomy Observers of Spain, a group of astronomers and professors that set up a website, Eclipse Seguro<\/a>, to share safety information ahead of this year\u2019s eclipse. <\/p>\n The group recommends the Solar Snap filter, the only one designed for smartphones that\u2019s certified to the international ISO 12312-2 standard for solar filters. <\/p>\n Or just use a pair of eclipse glasses, which are more widely available, over the lens. <\/p>\n \u201cThis makeshift method is a great low-cost DIY alternative and was widely and successfully practiced by millions of observers during the recent 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses in the Americas,\u201d Garcia Fernandez said. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to also wear a pair of eclipse glasses if you\u2019re looking at the sun while lining up a shot.<\/p>\n Watch out for fake glasses. Eclipse Seguro and the American Astronomical Society list models that they\u2019ve vetted for compliance with the ISO standard. <\/p>\n \u201cOnline marketplaces are currently flooded with uncertified or counterfeit glasses\u201d with fake ISO labels, which can cause permanent blind spots in seconds, Garcia Fernandez said. <\/p>\n Steady your shot<\/p>\n Use a tripod for steady shots or if you plan to shoot for an extended time. To keep your gear from overheating as you wait for the big moment, grab a white towel to cover it up.<\/p>\n To prevent jostling your device when hitting the shutter, use a smartwatch shutter button app or set a timer to take the photo. <\/p>\n Can I take a selfie with the eclipse?<\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to make a TikTok or Instagram-friendly eclipse video. Perhaps you want a selfie video, narrating into the camera while the cosmic ballet between sun and moon plays out over your shoulder.<\/p>\n While you might think your vision isn\u2019t at risk because you\u2019re not looking at the sun, your phone\u2019s screen could reflect harmful ultraviolet light, eye experts have warned<\/a>.<\/p>\n ____<\/p>\n
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