Have just landed in Papeete after travelling back from the Tuamotu Archipelago where we observed the TSE from first to fourth contact. My first total, and I'm still grappling with the emotion of it. Words can't describe the experience.
Here's a teaser of my shots - I'm on a slow, expensive connection here and will post more when I get home. Haven't been able to do any real processing yet as I only have a netbook with me.
Congratulations on seeing the total solar eclipse and thanks for the 3 teasers – all are absolute corkers and convey some of the awe of such an event. I cannot imagine what is yet to come, after you have finished processing the remainder!
fantastic results - please fill in the blanks with exposure settings and such for each shot - i am very interested.
No probs Houghy! First two were shot from tripod at 200mm, 1/2000 sec @ ISO 400, F/9 (Canon 400D, Sigma 55-200mm zoom lens). Last was 1/40 sec @ ISO 400, F/9. Because It was my first total, I wanted to absorb it all visually - when the first diamond ring was imminent, I just whipped the filter off & kept clicking with the same settings I'd used for the partial (1/2000 sec etc), so it was completely hit or miss as to what I got. Wasn't about to fiddle about with settings with all that going on!! Later I did just adjust the exposure time to get more of the solar corona, but not the other settings.
Couldn't go very long before the ship movement interfered (not more than 1/40 sec at 200mm or 1/8 sec at 55mm).
While I got masses of shots of totality, I missed hardly any of it visually - consider myself lucky to get these results considering I didn't have a clue what I was doing!!
Congratulations on your first TSE. It is an incredible experience. Anne-Louise, myself and our 10 month-old son drove from Brisbane to Ceduna for 32 seconds of totality and I tell everyone that those 32 seconds were worth every millimetre of the journey.
Thanks for posting these early unprocessed images which look fabulous as is.
Great to hear you had luck on the day and can now relate to what many of us
consider the most spectacular of natural of phenomena that can be seen on Earth.
The TSE has brought me back to IIS in search of piccies such as yours. Spooky & amazing phenomenon. I've been checking for your return daily. I'm getting jittery. When are you getting home? Your teasers have had me salivating since your first post.
No probs Houghy! First two were shot from tripod at 200mm, 1/2000 sec @ ISO 400, F/9 (Canon 400D, Sigma 55-200mm zoom lens). Last was 1/40 sec @ ISO 400, F/9. Because It was my first total, I wanted to absorb it all visually - when the first diamond ring was imminent, I just whipped the filter off & kept clicking with the same settings I'd used for the partial (1/2000 sec etc), so it was completely hit or miss as to what I got. Wasn't about to fiddle about with settings with all that going on!! Later I did just adjust the exposure time to get more of the solar corona, but not the other settings.
Couldn't go very long before the ship movement interfered (not more than 1/40 sec at 200mm or 1/8 sec at 55mm).
While I got masses of shots of totality, I missed hardly any of it visually - consider myself lucky to get these results considering I didn't have a clue what I was doing!!
Cheers -
thanks for the details - i didnt realise you were on a ship
What an experience and observed from sea as well, certainly sounds like an amazing adventure. I can relate to the deep and quite emotional experience this must have been for you. Ceduna for 32 sec's has been my only total eclipse and just left me mesmerized.
Look forward to more of your images but especially look forward to your story of pre and post events, how you got there, really a blow by blow of the recollections and your feelings of the whole event.
Beautiful set of images there Rob. Especially since it was your first attempt at shooting this kind of event. You would have to be happy with that. Congrats also in not being tempted to start playing with settings hehe, great self control there.
Look forward to more of your images.
Look forward to more of your images but especially look forward to your story of pre and post events, how you got there, really a blow by blow of the recollections and your feelings of the whole event.
Thanks Trevor - will post a blow-by-blow account soon! The trip itself was a wonderful experience, two weeks travelling on a cargo ship as it dropped off and picked up from the outer islands of French Polynesia. There were about 180 other passengers, mostly Americans on an eclipse tour organised by MWT (Melitas World Travel). Lots of stories there, LOL - Lorraine & I were the only Australians on board!
