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Jon Carmichael took one of the most remarkable photos of a solar eclipse.
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But there was no sign of getting his dream.
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Here, he retells his story and what he’s doing differently during this year’s total solar eclipse.
This essay as stated is based on a conversation with the astrophotographer Jon Carmichael. It is edited for length and clarity.
I’ve been dreaming of a particular eclipse photo since I was 12 years old: I wondered if I could get high enough in the sky to see the moon’s shadow move over Earth.
I finally got my chance during the 2017 Great American Eclipse, but capturing that perfect shot of my dreams was not easy.
About a year before the eclipse Alaska Airlines announced that an entire plane was flying into the eclipse with only one seat left and they were running a competition for that seat. It felt like fate.
I poured my heart and soul into a 30 second video explaining why I should get the seat. All my eggs were in that basket. But when he announced the winner less than a week before the eclipse, I was lost.
I can’t describe how devastated I was.
At that point, it was a race against time. At first, I gave in to my disappointment and laid in my bed. Then I started looking at commercial flight paths, which involved a full of mathematics.
While looking at flight paths, I realized that a Southwest flight from Portland, Oregon to St. Louis, Missouri is essentially traveling along the eclipse path. I had to be on that plane. But, I’m based in New York, so I had to buy a last minute cross-country flight to Portland.
When I got there, the Alaska Airlines flight I had imagined was departing from the next gate. It felt like the universe was torturing me.
Still, I was determined. When I arrived, I had three cameras and extra cash in case I had to bribe someone for a window seat.
Then Southwest announced that it was delaying the flight. My heart sank. I was going to miss the brief window to witness the eclipse, I thought. But then the flight crew clarified that they were deliberately delaying the flight so that it would be inside the shadow of the moon.
I almost died with relief, then decided to push my luck. I took out all my cameras and made sure the NASA shirt I was wearing was clear. I told my whole saga to the team. Lucky for me, the flight crew and pilot recalled my mission.
I was the first one on the plane, and the ground crew even cleaned my window. The pilot circled at 39,000 feet and adjusted the angle of the plane so I could get the best shot.
To be clear, this was not a private jet. This was a Southwest commercial airliner rerouting its flight for my shot – I can’t believe how lucky I was.
After we landed, the real work began. I spent hundreds of hours over the course of a year editing the more than 1,200 photos I took.
The result has been hailed as one of the most remarkable eclipse photos in history, showing not only the eclipsed sun, but also the moon’s shadow sweeping over the Snake River, the border between Idaho and Oregon.
It really was a childhood dream to get that shot. If I try to reproduce a similar image, one more time, I worry that lightning will not strike twice.
So instead of trying to push it, I’m going to savor the experience this year.
After all, total solar eclipses are a miracle. They only happen because Earth is just the right distance from the sun and moon, so I want to understand that magic during the 2024 total eclipse.
What am I doing differently this year?
At first, I considered just enjoying this eclipse in nature with my family. I’m based in New York, fairly close to the path of totality, so it would be easy.
But then, Southwest Airlines approached me about a partnership, and I couldn’t say no.
So now, I will be on another flight, high above clouds and unpredictable weather, hoping to capture another great image.
The difference is, this time instead of being alone I will be with the people I love: my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces, Alayna and Madelyn.
We will be traveling on a flight from Dallas to Pittsburgh, which will give us plenty of opportunities to photograph the eclipse with different landscapes.
I’m keeping my specific thoughts to myself, but I will say that the Mississippi River is an iconic feature of the USA that I’d love to highlight.
I’m planning ahead, and so should you
Even though I’ll be flying, getting a great eclipse photo requires a lot of planning even if you’re an amateur shooting with your smartphone.
The angle of this eclipse means it will be higher in the sky than the 2017 event, making it harder to get the sun and the landscape in the same shot.
I’ve been spending a lot of time using tools like this Navy calculator that lets you see the height of the eclipse at different longitudes and latitudes.
Knowing what the eclipse will be like in different locations will help me get the best shot – hopefully.
It doesn’t matter if I get a great photo this time, or not, being with my family is what’s really important to me this time.
Flying through an eclipse with Alayna and Madelyn, who are the same age I was when I first became interested in the skies, will really be a full-circle moment.
Read the original article on Business Insider
