On August 12, a thin band of Spain, Portugal, Russia, Iceland, and Greenland will be in the path of totality for the 2026 Solar Eclipse. To capture this rare astronomical event, safety is paramount. You must use ISO 12312-2-certified solar viewing glasses to avoid permanent vision loss or solar retinopathy.

For traditional photography, avoid pointing a digital camera directly at the sun without a solar filter, as the sun can destroy delicate sensors. NASA suggests DSLR photographers start with a fixed aperture of f/8 to f/16 and shutter speeds between 1/1000 and 1/4 seconds. Once totality hits, you can remove the filter briefly to capture the event.

If using an iPhone, avoid digital zoom and consider a 12x to 18x telephoto lens attachment, a solar filter, and a tripod to prevent camera shake. Alternatively, you can capture the event via time-lapse or by photographing interesting shadows and onlookers.