Journey to the center of Maine Part 2
Last edited Sun Apr 21, 2024, 04:23 PM - Edit history (3)
Part 2: During
Amazingly, as crowded as it was on the south shore of the lake, Skippa's dad and I were able to walk a little way up the west side and found a boat ramp and jetty where only a few people had gathered, there was plenty of space so we watched from there. A few younger folks joined us and we enjoyed anticipatory conversation. One knowledgeable guy told us the long version of the cause of the Snake Effect and a pair of students from a local college decided they would watch from there too. Everyone was amazed at how bright the sunlight was, even at 90% coverage. It only took seconds for the light to disappear completely once it was past 90%.
After watching the Snake Effect, it was okay to look directly at the sun/moon without protection so I turned the camera upward during the period of totality.
Aaaaaand, There it is!
And Venus!
You could see the edges of the shadow on either side
Looking southeast
Looking northwest
And you could see the trajectory of the shadow as it passed over and beyond
Looking northeast
Part 1 https://www.democraticunderground.com/1036130371
Part 3 https://www.democraticunderground.com/1036130380
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Last edited Sun Apr 21, 2024, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)
The Snake Effect is incomparable. My son and I were in Tennessee for the total eclipse in 2017. During the moments before totality I was removing my homemade filter and fiddling with the camera settings when the effect began. My son said, "You’re missing it!" I thank him for helping me to lose my mind and come to my senses. 
Once I saw what was happening with the light and shadows on the ground, I abandoned the camera and just let it all be. No regrets.
I also like your shot that gives the totality some context by including Venus and the treeline.
Thanks for sharing your adventure!
As to whether I should use the night landscape mode, aperture mode or just say "screw it" and go with video to avoid wasting time with other settings, knowing how brief the window was. Glad I went with video reasoning that I could grab stills from it. I might have lost some optical quality but I didn't have the high end glass to do justice to exactitude so I went with the tourist "brownie" version and came out with reasonable representation anyway.
I noticed another error too. Thanks.
