Photographer Recounts Challenges of Shooting Solar Eclipses

Antarctic Stations Capture the Rare Ring of Fire

When an annular solar eclipse swept across the Southern Hemisphere on February 17, 2026, scientists initially believed the celestial event had passed entirely unwitnessed by human eyes on the ground. The dazzling alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth was visible as a partial eclipse from South Africa, Mauritius, and parts of the Indian Ocean. However, the elusive ring of fire moment could be seen from only two inhabited locations on Earth.

Researchers stationed at Concordia Research Station, a French-Italian base deep in the Antarctic interior, caught a lucky break with clear skies. At the same time, Russia’s coastal Mirny Station in Queen Mary Land also had a front-row seat. At Concordia, annularity lasted for 2 minutes and 1 second, while Mirny observers enjoyed 1 minute and 52 seconds of the dramatic phenomenon.

Explaining the mechanics behind the event, astronomer Graham Jones noted that the moon appeared slightly smaller than the sun from our perspective. Because the moon was farther away from Earth during its elliptical orbit, it could not cover the solar disk entirely, leaving a bright halo of sunlight to surround the lunar silhouette.

Spacecraft and Historical Precedent for Eclipse Photography

Ground stations in Antarctica were not the only observers to capture the spectacle. The European Space Agency’s Proba-2 satellite monitored the eclipse from orbit, utilizing its SWAP extreme ultraviolet imager to record four distinct phases, including a perfect ring of fire at 11:31 Universal Time. These orbital images combined with the Concordia photographs to serve as the sole concrete proof that the annular eclipse occurred.

Capturing solar eclipses visually has a rich history marked by technical challenges. The very first photograph of a total solar eclipse was recorded on July 28, 1851, by Prussian daguerreotypist Johann Julius Friedrich Berkowski. Using a small 6-centimeter telescope and an 84-second exposure, Berkowski managed to capture the contrast between the dark lunar disk and the sun’s super-hot outer atmosphere, the corona.

For over a century, photographing these events required bulky equipment, careful film choices, and extensive travel. Photographers frequently faced formidable obstacles, such as the blistering heat of desert expeditions or the logistical hurdles of setting up equipment on unstable platforms. Decades later, modern eclipse chasers still encounter the same unpredictable elements that plagued early pioneers.

Logistical Hurdles of Chasing Eclipses Across Land and Sea

The unpredictable nature of eclipse viewing has driven astronomers and photography enthusiasts to great lengths. Travel itineraries often depend heavily on mobility, as cloud cover remains the ultimate enemy of astronomical observation. While land-based expeditions through remote deserts offer stability, they also bring road closures and extreme weather. Conversely, maritime alternatives present unique complications.

During historical eclipse expeditions, photographers attempting to shoot from cruise ships discovered that maintaining stability on the water proved significantly more difficult than expected. Even with ship stabilizers deployed and calm seas, constant vessel movement combined with slow film speeds often resulted in blurry images. Yet, maritime travel offered the distinct advantage of mobility, allowing ships to sail overnight to evade stubborn cloud cover.

Upcoming Astronomical Highlights and Lunar Alignments

Eclipses consistently arrive in pairs separated by two weeks. Following the mid-February annular solar event, the current eclipse season culminates in a total lunar eclipse. In the early hours of March 3, the full moon will cross through Earth’s central shadow, turning a striking reddish-pinkish-copper hue for 58 minutes.

This impending total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America before dawn, with western regions enjoying the most favorable viewing conditions. It marks the final total lunar eclipse viewable from the continent until mid-2029. Meanwhile, skywatchers looking further ahead can anticipate a cluster of central solar eclipses, including upcoming paths across Spain and surrounding regions in the coming years.