Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: madlantern on August 15, 2017, 08:55:04 am

Title: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: madlantern on August 15, 2017, 08:55:04 am
I'm coming down from around Seattle to shoot the eclipse. Is there anywhere in particular I should go, or is just any area in Oregon/Wyoming just as good as any other? I'm flexible on where I can go.

I know it'll be challenging to find a landscape to fit into the eclipse since the sun will be so high. If there are no good locations, it's best just find some random parking lot within the path of totality and shoot there?
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: NancyP on August 15, 2017, 10:28:57 pm
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html

Choose Google map and your state.

For more details, consider locating your area precisely on USGS National Map (for terrain info and for exact latitude longitude of site)

Plug Lat/long, date and time and timezone of totality into the solar azimuth and elevation calculator:

Calculates solar elevation angle and azimuth angle:
https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/azel.html

Note that everybody else may be on their way to a site.
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: pcgpcg on August 15, 2017, 11:34:52 pm
And contact the USFS re. what areas are open. For example, some areas in central OR are now closed due to fires.
Fill up with fuel when you can and take plenty of water. Be prepared to wait a day or two before you start back or else sit for many hours in traffic.
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: pcgpcg on August 15, 2017, 11:35:40 pm
find some random parking lot within the path of totality and shoot there?
Good luck with that unless you are there a couple days early and have permission from the parking lot owner.
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: john beardsworth on August 16, 2017, 05:10:36 am
It's not so much fun being under cloud cover when the eclipse passes by (still interesting though). Would an area's average weather conditions assist your choice of location? 
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: NancyP on August 16, 2017, 11:03:32 am
Walmart parking lot, if all you are doing is a long telephoto series.
State parks, national forests, etc.
You pick your destination and get there early.
Title: Re: location in western US for eclipse?
Post by: hogloff on August 18, 2017, 08:45:58 am
Walmart parking lot, if all you are doing is a long telephoto series.
State parks, national forests, etc.
You pick your destination and get there early.

Early meaning days in advance...in fact you should be on the road today. Got friends who are in the Bend Oregon area right now. Camping fees up to $150 / night...and all are full.