Total Solar Eclipse April 8 2024 As Seen From Dayton Ohio

Photographing A Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, I was fortunate enough to be at home during the total solar eclipse. I live in Dayton, Ohio, which was right in the path of totality. We experienced nearly the entire duration of the eclipse, making it an unforgettable event. The next total solar eclipse will pass through this area in 99 years, so this one felt even more special.

Friends and family came from as far as Baltimore to join us in our front yard for this rare event. The weather was perfect—warm, sunny, and with clear skies. We all gathered together to celebrate the eclipse’s arrival.

Preparing For Months For The Eclipse

My daughter and I had been preparing for months, attending planetarium shows where we learned about the science and myths behind eclipses. We knew what glasses to wear, how to photograph the event properly, and were excited to witness it firsthand.

That afternoon, we settled in the yard, sitting in a circle with snacks, drinks, and our dogs. As the eclipse began, we marveled at how the daylight gradually dimmed, how the temperature dropped, and how silent everything became. It was a surreal experience to witness the sun disappearing little by little until totality. We were all in awe.

I was lucky enough to capture some great photographs. I took three key shots: one as the eclipse was approaching, one during totality, and another during totality with adjusted settings to capture the moon’s corona, creating a glowing halo around the sun. While my photos turned out well, they’re similar to many others taken by people with good cameras. The best part, though, was that I took only about 20 seconds to snap the pictures because I wanted to be present and truly experience the eclipse with my loved ones, rather than just viewing it through the lens of my camera.

It was a day I’ll never forget, and I’ll likely never experience another eclipse like it unless I travel somewhere to see one. It was truly magical. It would have been cool to experience this from an airplane, as I am an aviation photographer.