Why I choose not to shoot the Solar Eclipse

Note: I started writing this before the Eclipse started today, and will finish it after it is over.

Today is the big day, the full Solar Eclipse.  An event that hasn’t occurred here since, . . . a long time and won’t occur again,  . . . for a long time.  It’s  going to be  the biggest event to occur since, . . .  the last biggest event.  I live in St. Louis, MO in the path of totality.  I can view it from my front yard.  People are traveling great distances to photograph it, EVERYBODY is going to photograph it, right?  No, not everybody, I decided not to.  About two months ago I realized that I made the decision Not to photograph the Eclipse.  I stopped telling people I wasn’t going to shoot it because I got tired of the shocked looks and the gasps of “But you,….. you’re a photographer”  As though I was braking some big rule.   

So, Why am I not shooting it?   

 My reasons for not photographing the Eclipse are:

#1.  Why bother?  There will be no shortage of Eclipse images.   Since everyone is going to be capturing this, tomorrow the interwebs will be full of millions of Eclipse photos.  For a very short time the Eclipse will be bigger than “Despacito”, or whatever became the latest craze while I was sleeping last night.

There’s one good reason.  But honestly,  #2 is closer to the real reason.

#2.  It’s just against my nature.   Whenever there is something that “everybody” is doing, I automatically don’t want to do it.  If I am walking out a door with a group, and everyone goes to left, I want, need to go to the right.  I feel like the Eclipse was marketed and over sold like every other event we have nowadays.

So what am I going to do? 

I thought I’d try this old little used trick called “experience it”.  I have my heavy duty, Super safe, Eclipse glasses. 

My wife got them for me.  They are very cool, and make me look like one of the X-Men.  I also have one very important, necessary item, a large glass of iced tea.  It’s hot outside. 

Here I go:

11:55am There is a tiny piece out of the sun.  My glasses are working fine as long as I don’t try and walk. 

 12:07pm There is a bit more of the sun covered now.  I put the glasses on  too soon when walking back outside and bumped into a column on the front porch.  Note to self: don’t do that again. 

12:17pm  Avoided the column this time.  Still more of the Sun covered.  I’m glad I’m watching this, but in truth it’s not real exciting.  Think I’ll grab a sandwich and then look again.   

12:30pm   Umm, …yeah.  More of the Sun is covered.  The sandwich was good BTW, tuna salad on an Asiago bagel.  I find that the trick to making a good tuna salad is . . .  uh, yeah we’re talking about the Eclipse.   So, anyway…..

12:40pm  Now about half of the Sun is covered.  I’m trying to be opened minded about this (okay, not really) but this isn’t really all that exciting.  AND, a bug just decided to suicide dive into my iced tea.  Great! 

12:50pm About ¾ of the Sun is covered.  I have a new glass of iced tea. 

1:18pm  Okay, this is kinda cool.  The Sun is almost completely covered.  It’s dark and  looks like right after sunset and there is an eerie feeling.  It feels a little cooler. 

01:30pm Now there is less Sun Covered.  Had I been shooting this, I could have stopped and flipped the first images over in Photoshop.

Note: I went back out a few more times, but my observations were not worth mentioning

02:45pm  It is over.   

 

Now that is is over, now that the “Solar Event of the Century” has happened, do I regret not shooting it?  

NOPE,  I’m good.   

I’m glad I saw it, glad I experienced it, but really don’t feel bad I choose not to shoot it.

NOW,  (inhaling, then speaking quickly)

Please understand that if you are someone who thought this was an amazing event and spent a great deal of time and money to capture this Eclipse, I am not running down your choices.  Life is about choices and for me not shooting it was my right choice.  AND, I look forward to seeing the images you captured.   (exhaling)

I am so glad this piece is done, and so very glad I have spell check as I cannot seem to spell Eclipse correctly today.

 

Oh, one more thing.  Taking bids.

Let me know.