⚙ Annular Solar Eclipse May 20, 2012 Navajo National Monument, AZ  Annular eclipses occur when the apparent size of the Moon as seen from Earth is smaller than that of the Sun. The Sun appears as a very bright ring surrounding the dark disk of the Moon.

⚙ Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017 Castle Gardens Petroglyph Site, WY A total eclipse occurs when the Moon fully blocks the Sun; the apparent size of the Moon as seen from Earth is about the same as that of the Sun. This view shows the moment just before totality where the moon almost covers the sun.

☿ Transit of Mercury May 9, 2016 Private Residence, Moab, UT  Transits of Mercury are more frequent than transits of Venus: about thirteen occur each century. Mercury is visible as a tiny black dot at the bottom left of the picture, appearing smaller than many sunspots. 

About the Photographs:  I created the original images of eclipses and transits using a small refracting or medium-sized reflecting telescope to project an image of the sun onto white paper. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN THOUGH A TELESCOPE! I captured the projected image with an iPhone, and created digital negatives using Pictorico OHP Film and an ink-jet printer.  I printed the final image on hand-coated watercolor or cotton rag paper using the classic cyanotype process which involves exposing the sandwiched coated paper and negative to direct sunlight then washing with water to remove light-sensitive chemicals and fix the print.

This process was invented by the astronomer, mathematician and chemist William Herschel, so it seemed like an appropriate technique to use for eclipse and transit photography. The intense blue color is natural to the subject matter and for me, producing pictures of solar events using sunlight itself was a satisfying additional dimension to the work.

Other pictures in the same series include:

♀ Transit of Venus June 5, 2012 Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM Transits of Venus occur rarely, in pairs 8 years apart, at intervals of 121.5 and 105.5 years. The next Venus transit visible on Earth will be in 2117.

⚙ Partial Solar Eclipse October 23, 2014 Hovenweep National Monument, UT A partial eclipse occurs when the Moon only partially obscures the Sun as seen from the Earth.

☿ Transit of Mercury November 11, 2019 Private Residence, Moab, UT 

Future eclipses visible from the USA:

⚙ Annular Solar Eclipse Oct 14, 2023 

⚙ Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024