How to photograph the Great American Eclipse with your iPhone

Sometimes all you need to capture the attention of astronomy fanatics everywhere is the iPhone that's tucked away in your pocket.  

With the Great American Eclipse less than a month away, the estimated 12 million people living in the path of totality might be thinking that expensive camera gear is needed to capture the special moment. But Andrew Symes and Mike Weasner are proof of otherwise. 

The two are astrophotographers who have developed an online following for the photos they've been able to capture of the moon, sun and planets using their iPhone. 

Both have honed their skills in iPhone astrophotography over the years, and have provided some of their tips and tricks on how you can use your smartphone to photograph the eclipse. 

It all started with a Christmas present

Symes and Weasner may not be professional astronomers, but they’ve managed to master the art of what’s known as astrophotography, the process of taking pictures of astronomical objects like the moon, sun and planets. 

Equipped with an iPhone, a telescope and an adapter, Weasner and Symes have made magic happen. But it wasn't always easy for them. It took them several attempts to learn the ins and outs of working the iPhone for astrophotography. 

“It was tricky at first. The moon was too bright and it looked like a glowing blob,” Symes said. “I’ve been able to figure out ways and tricks for getting good photos just using the same phone I keep in my pocket.”

On Flickr, Symes has an album titled "iPhone astrophotography" with over 200 photos that's he's taken of the moon, sun and planets over the last five years.

Though the two have never met – Symes is from Canada and Weasner lives in Arizona – they have similar stories when it comes to how their love of astronomy began. 

For both, it started when they were gifted telescopes for Christmas at a young age. They both spent hours studying the pages of astronomy magazines, but neither one of their paths ever led them to become professional astronomers. 

Despite the years that went by, their love of astronomy remained, and both eventually began experimenting with astrophotography. Although they both still use DSLRs for astrophotography, they have blogs with photos and tips on how to they've been able to capture photos using an iPhone. 

“I started a blog because I would get questions on Twitter and Instagram, and the common question was ‘How did you do this?’” Symes said. “People just didn’t think it was possible.”

Related:  What you need to know about the 'Great American Eclipse' in Kentucky

TIPS

Safety first, so protect your eyes. Make sure you have proper solar filters over your telescope or camera lens, and avoid looking directly into the sun. 

If possible, use or buy an adapter that attaches your phone to the telescope, and holds your camera steady. A telescope helps your phone get a closer look, and an adapter prevents blurry photos. Taking photos by handholding your phone against a telescope is possible, but you won't always get a clear shot. You can find adapters for $20 to around $100. 

Make the most out of your phone's settings and accessories. To avoid shaking your phone and getting a blurry shot of the eclipse, Symes suggested setting a timer on your phone and having it take a burst of photos. Weasner suggested using the phone’s earbuds as a remote shutter release. 

Weasner said the best shots can be taken by attaching your phone to a telescope, but a clip-on telephoto lens for iPhones or even a pair of binoculars with a proper solar filter can work, though a tripod will be needed. Prices for these can range between $10 to $100. 

Use what you have. If you don’t have a solar filter to put over your telescope or camera, Symes suggested grabbing an extra pair eclipse glasses and putting them over the lens of your iPhone camera to dim the brightness of the sun. 

Avoid zooming into pictures, and try cropping photos after they’ve been taken. 

Consider using apps. Weasner recommended using the NightCap Camera app during the brief phase totality to capture the sun’s corona. The app lets you set the shutter speed and ISO to get the best exposure in low-light situations. Symes said apps like Snapseed allow you to enhance the photo and make objects in the sky pop. 

Consider shooting a video. Symes and Weasner said free software like Registrax does what's called "stacking" by combining the best frames from your video and compiling it into one clear photo. 

Practice. Practice. Practice. They suggested practicing on the moon and the regular sun (with proper protection) before trying to snap photos the day of the total eclipse. 

Don’t get hung up on taking a good photo, and enjoy the eclipse. 

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