My mind is still reeling from the incredible adventure that my husband and I took to witness the eclipse. It was such a beautiful phenomenon, and much too brief. I'm so happy with the photos I was able to capture. All the hard work and preparation we put into this trip was more than paid off in the end.
Through the use of special filters, practice and more than a little prayer to the storm gods to hold off their impeding cloud cover, I was able to capture what I think is some of the most fascinating photos of my life. Not only was I able to clearly see sun spots on the surface of the sun, but during the stunning totality I captured large magenta-hued flares and see the corona reaching out in all directions. I wish I had more words for it, but this is a time when the photos really do speak for themselves.
Before we were ready to say goodbye, the moon had begun to move on. The "diamond ring" shined bright and the light around us warmed again. While the next eclipse to cross the U.S. won't be for another seven years, we may have caught the eclipse-chasing bug and have entertained the thought of going on a journey somewhere else in the world to watch the next one. It's too early to make that official yet, but we'll be sure to let everyone know what plans we come up with.
Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible, and I hope you enjoyed what photos I've shared so far. These are but a few of the many I took, and I plan on sharing more in the future.
For anyone who is interested in donating their glasses to those who may not have access to them during their own local eclipse, I am now an official drop-off center for Astronomers Without Borders. Donations can be placed through the mail slot in the Penn St door at my studio, or you can call 717-329-6445 to arrange a local pickup for larger donations. Thanks!
