The Story Behind the Image
"Total Eclipse of the Sun"
Capture Date: April 8, 2024 - 15:10:19 (Local Time)
My son is the one who approached me and said, “Hey Dad, there’s a total solar eclipse happening in 2024 and it looks like it will go very close to Aunt Gwen & Uncle Marc’s place. Maybe we should plan a trip around it!” So I made a couple of calls, booked some airline tickets, packed up the gear, and headed to Ohio…
My sister said there was a little park close by that would be perfect. We set up with lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, all the trimmings for a “day at the park”, along with a massive tripod and 600mm lens with a solar filter.
It was a totally normal day until about 1:53pm (EDT). As the moon slowly began it’s march across the sun, the color of the sky slowly shifted to a deeper orange. People around us became quieter as they put on their solar viewing glasses and stared skyward. The sounds of the animals in the surrounding woods became more evident.
The sky grew darker.
The animals fell quiet.
The world fell silent.
The temperature dropped.
The bright of the daytime sky fell to a twilight and the shadows became eerily crisp.
We gasped, then cheered and applauded as Luna passed in front of Sol.
For a brief moment it felt like time paused and we were merely tiny specks, united on this big blue marble spinning through space as we realized that two unimaginably large galactic bodies passed through our physical and mental space…
Then the moment was gone as Luna continued her walk across the sky.
The daylight started to return.
The temperature rose.
The animals resumed their chattering
The humans did too…
"Total Eclipse of the Sun" (Signed • Numbered • Limited Edition)
Sweet Arrow Reserve - Sugarcreek Township - Ohio, USA