As excitement builds for the solar eclipse on April 8^th, I’ve compiled some tips for getting the best possible photos with a smartphone.

[UPDATE: Order Our 2024 Solar Eclipse Montage and Support 3 Cleveland Area Non-Profits!]

Safety First:

Never look directly at the sun with your naked eyes during the eclipse as it can cause permanent eye damage. Wear eclipse glasses with an ISO safety rating of 12312-2-2015. This rating should be found on the cardboard frame of the glasses.

Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous companies that advertise an ISO rating of 12312-2-2015, even though they aren’t using the correct filters to protect your eyes. You should not search for eclipse glasses on the internet or Amazon and buy whatever pops up in the ads or search results. Order from one of the sources listed on this page provided by the American Astronomical Society: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters

Choosing a Solar Filter for Your Smartphone:

If you’re planning to get closeup photos of the sun with your smartphone, you must protect your camera’s sensor with a solar filter. However, there is some confusion about the type of filter to use with smartphones.

My research found that you should only use a dedicated solar filter designed for smartphone photography. These filters fit securely to your phone’s camera lens and allow for safe solar imaging. I then searched for “smartphone solar filters” and found that many have an ISO rating of 12312-2-2015. That is the same ISO rating that solar eclipse glasses should have so will eclipse glasses work?…

Using Solar Eclipse Glasses on Your Smartphone:

From NASA’s website: “The best thing to do is to cover the camera lens with a solar filter during the moments before (and after) totality when the sunlight is still blinding. This will eliminate sun blooming and give you a clear image of the solar disk. You can use one of those ISO-Certified sun-viewing glasses that will be available for eclipse viewing to cover the smartphone lens.” Read more:
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/static/img/smartphone-photography-eclipse/Photographing_the_Eclipse_with_your_Smartphone.pdf)

From Highpoint Scientific’s website: “… take photographs of the partial eclipse with your eclipse glasses. This is as simple as it sounds and could yield some great photographs of the eclipse…” Read more:
https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/solar-and-lunar-eclipses/ultimate-guide-to-photographing-the-2024-solar-eclipse

If you decide to use your solar eclipse glasses with an ISO rating of 12312-2-2015, be sure the filter covers ALL the lenses of your smartphone to protect your camera’s sensor. Here are photos of my solar eclipse glasses showing how I cut the frame and mounted it securely with rubber bands to my phone to completely cover the lenses.

I did some test photos with my old Galaxy S10 phone with this method and it worked perfectly. Although my camera’s sensor was unharmed, I cannot guarantee your sensor won’t be damaged so use caution!

Photographing Techniques:

• Switch Off Flash: Disable the flash on your smartphone because you just don’t need it to photograph the sun!
• Don’t Use Your Phone’s Digital Zoom: Digital zoom lenses reduce image quality because all they do is magnify the pixels of your image to make it appear larger.
• Do Use Your Phone’s Optical Zoom: Optical zooms magnify the actual image using the glass elements of the camera’s lens giving the best photo quality possible.
• Lock Focus: Manually focus your camera on the sun to ensure sharp images.
• Use Burst Mode: Capture a series of rapid shots to increase your chances of getting a clear image.
• Shoot RAW: If your smartphone supports it, shoot in RAW mode for better post-processing flexibility.
• Use a Tripod: For stable shots, use a tripod because your exposures will become longer as the light fades. If you're hand-holding your phone, you will experience camera movement resulting in less-than-sharp images. Here is the tripod with smartphone holder I bought for under $20: https://amzn.to/3J3bSgJ. If you already own a tripod for a film or digital camera, you can use this smartphone holder that easily mounts to your tripod: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XMLK656 (NOTE: These are affiliate links so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through them.)

When to REMOVE the Solar Filter from Your Camera Lens:

During a total solar eclipse, you can safely photograph the totality phase (when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon) without a solar filter. This phase lasts only about four minutes in Northeast Ohio. However, outside the path of totality, where only partial phases are visible, always have a solar filter over the camera’s lens.

Practice With Your Smartphone BEFORE the Big Day:

I’ve spent two afternoons experimenting in my back yard with three different DSLRs and a smartphone to determine which cameras and settings to use. I also have the luxury of a college buddy, Max Muir, who is driving in from Omaha, Nebraska joining me on April 8^th. He photographed the full solar eclipse out west in 2017 so it'll be good having someone with prior experience alongside me as an advisor.

Additional Resources:

• What to Expect: A Solar Eclipse Guide – includes how to pick the perfect viewing spot, preparation for travel, snacks and things you may not think of until you realize you need them.
• How to photograph a solar eclipse with a smartphone 2024 — 8 tips from an expert
• Five Tips from NASA for Photographing a Total Solar Eclipse

Conclusion:

Although I’ve covered some techniques on photographing the eclipse with a smartphone, I will be using two DSLR cameras to capture the event in photos and video because the image quality will be superior to that of a smartphone.

Finally, eye safety comes first. Use proper filters, follow guidelines, and enjoy capturing this rare celestial event!

If we’re lucky here in Northeast Ohio, the “Star” of the show will make a cloud-free appearance and we’ll all have amazing photos to remember the day!

The post Smartphone Photography Tips for the April 8th, 2024 Solar Eclipse appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Scrapbooking takes a TON of time… if you want to do it right. And then only a few people can enjoy it. Well, not anymore!

It starts with a lot of research, gathering of photos, newspaper and magazine articles, and so much more. Then there's the design aspect… how to put it all together creatively with special adornments to make each page “pop”!

I've watched in amazement as my wife, Doreen, has taken on the responsibility of family historian – lovingly creating beautiful scrapbooks of our two daughters from birth to high school graduation. And now she's doing it for our three grandchildren – currently six, eight and ten years old.

After observing the number of hours (days, weeks, months, YEARS) that she invests in these scrapbooks; I decided to make a video of each one to be shared on our family's private YouTube channel. Now only those with the URL (web address) to that channel can enjoy those videos from anywhere in the world. What I really like about copying the scrapbooks to videos is they can not be lost in a fire, flood, earth quake, tornado or other disaster since they're hosted on YouTube's redundant servers.

Also, with our grandchildren being so young; it's impossible to monitor their handling of these large, heavy volumes. I'd hate to see Doreen's labor of love being dropped, torn, spilled on or lost. These videos are the perfect answer.

I wanted to demonstrate what a “video scrapbook” can look like but I also want to respect the privacy of my grandchildren. So I created a video of the scrapbook my wife created for the company she worked at as her final project before retiring – Christian Educators.

After she manually assembled the scrapbook, I copied each page with a digital camera attached to a copy stand with color-balanced LED lights and then added motion graphics and a music track to create the video. Watch it below.

Are you into scrapbooking? Have you ever lost a scrapbook to a man-made or natural disaster? Have you considered making and/or sharing your scrapbook in video format? Share your experiences, questions or comments here.

The post Video Scrapbooking – A Great Way to Save and Show-Off a Hard Cover Scrapbook appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Don't let your precious memories fade away! With every passing day, your old photographs continue to deteriorate due to exposure from sunlight, humidity in damp basements, storage in hot attics and pollutants in the air.

You can now repair your faded and damaged photos yourself with “PhotoGlory” – an affordable and easy-to-use photo retouching software! With it you can:

• Colorize B&W photos with 1-click
• Repair torn corners, cracks & tears
• Correct faded or washed-out colors
• Fix major defects & recreate missing parts
• Lifetime license
• FREE technical support and updates

Save over 30% on your purchase of PhotoGlory through this special link: www.photoglory.net/order-special-spectralight.php
Hurry… Offer expires soon

Now is the time to restore and share your priceless treasures with your children and grandchildren… and relive the sentimental memories that go with your photos.

If your photo is extremely faded or damaged to the point that PhotoGlory can’t provide a satisfactory result – it may still be recoverable! The photo restoration specialists at SpectraLight Photography combine today's digital technology with old-fashioned artistry to repair worn, stained, spotted, torn, cracked, bleached and faded photographs to their original luster.

See more samples of photos that SpectraLight Photography has completely restored AND get a FREE guide with tips for saving water or flood-damaged photos at www.SpectraLight.com/PhotoRestoration.

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NOTE: If you purchase anything through the links on this page – I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support allows me to research products and services to improve your life and mine… and I thank you!

For a no-cost, no-obligation appointment to examine your faded or damaged photographs and receive a free quote – contact us TODAY through this link or call 440.748.6300 (NOTE: This is a landline so text messages won't come through.)

The post Easy-to-Use and Affordable Photo Restoration Software – PhotoGlory appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

For years I've been bored with photographing fireworks. Fighting the crowds to get a good spot, dealing with hot and humid July weather, bugs, crying children… the list goes on. I'd rather stay home and chill-out with the Mrs. – UNTIL NOW!

A few years ago, I read an article by a photographer who captured some amazing fireworks photos. He gave the technical settings that he used for beautiful shots over a scenic lake. He inspired me to see if I could create images unlike any I've made before.

So I set out for the annual fireworks display in my town – North Ridgeville, Ohio. The weather was cool and comfortable for a July evening. I was able to stake out a spot by the lake where the fireworks would be launched. The bugs weren't annoying either (I think they preferred the taste of those around me.) And the crying children? It's amazing what ear plugs can mask out!

For 20+ minutes I shot photos with my Nikon camera mounted on a tripod with exposures ranging from one to four seconds at f/11 at ISO 100. If you don't have a clue about those settings – have no fear! It seems that anyone can get decent photos with just about any camera – even with smart phones. Even if you have firework photos from previous years that you wish to add some excitement to – read on!

Upon returning home, I loaded the photos onto my computer. Sadly, I was UNDERwhelmed by what I had captured. They looked similar to the old, boring fireworks photos I'd taken in the past.

Instead of using an expensive software program called Adobe Photoshop; I opened the photo, above, in an affordable program called “Studio“ by Topaz Labs. I've used this software to spice up photos from my previous travels with amazing results. The three variations of the original photo in this article were created with just a couple mouse clicks using Studio!

Pro tip: To achieve similar results in Topaz Studio, choose “Add Filter” > click the “STYLISTIC” tab > choose “Flare”. Then you can experiment with the various adjustments to make each star unique.

Topaz Labs is a company that has created several easy-to-use photo enhancement programs that can be used without even reading the instructions. It has a simple user interface that will have you creating photo masterpieces in minutes.

I found myself immersed in the software for hours as I created countless variations of each image.

See the rest of Topaz Labs photo enhancing software here: www.SpectraLight.com/TopazSoftware (NOTE: You won't see Topaz Studio on this page.)

Have fun!

NOTE: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, you'll help support this blog at no cost to you – allowing us to continue sharing information like this for your education and enjoyment. Win/Win! Thanks!

The post Fireworks photos with a unique twist… these aren’t your mamma’s snapshots! appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

This video shows before-and-after photos that were blurry and then fixed with Topaz Sharpen Ai. It does not show how to fix them with the software but only the final results. If you wish to see how Sharpen Ai works since the creation of this post and video – check out my latest review of Topaz Photo Ai here: www.SpectraLight.com/PhotoAiDemo

Create tack-sharp images with no artifacts or halos. Sharpen Ai is the only Ai-powered image sharpening software currently available, and it can create some truly magical results. Fix blurry images in just a few clicks and rescue previously impossible-to-correct shots.

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of taking the perfect photo, rushing home, opening it up on your computer… and realizing that it’s blurry. When this happens, it’s usually caused by one of three problems: camera shake, focus issues, or general softness. Sharpen Ai can handle each one!

Stabilize: Natural shake reduction…

Even the steadiest hands don’t compare to a tripod when it comes to image sharpness. Unlike a tripod, though, you always have your hands with you! Sharpen Ai’s Stabilize module has been trained to reverse motion blur and make handheld images look like they were taken from a tripod.

Focus: Better focus correction…

Focus correction is a notoriously difficult problem that’s easy to get wrong, but Sharpen Ai’s Focus module excels at correct up to ten pixels of focus blur. This is perfect for sharpening out-of-focus eyes or correct issues caused by incorrect in-camera focus. Tip: use selective adjustments for best results!

Sharpen: General input sharpening…

Even with no motion blur or focus issues, images generally come out of the camera soft. Sharpen Ai includes the Sharpen module that specializes in correcting small amounts of general softness without any artifacts or halos. It’s the most natural-looking sharpening tool that you will ever use.

Learn more about here: Topaz Labs “Sharpen Ai” software  (SAVE $40 until June 16, 2023 !!!)

See the rest of Topaz Labs photo enhancing software here: https://spectralight.com/TopazSoftware

If you purchase the software through the above links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This allows us to continue creating and sharing content like this for your education and enjoyment. Thank you!

Do you have blurry photos that you wish you had saved had you known about Topaz Sharpen Ai? Please share your comments here.

See more product reviews at www.SuperProductReview.info

The post How to Fix Out-of-Focus Pictures and Blurry Photos with Topaz Sharpen Ai – Easier Than Photoshop appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

In 2009, I was asked by the North Ridgeville Rotary Club to donate my photography services for their 2010 Calendar. They sold it as a club fundraiser.

After meeting with members of the club, I suggested doing some “unusual” shots featuring a different member each month. I wanted the calendar to become a collector's item because of the fun photos I had in my “mind's eye.”For example, January featured retired FBI agent, Paul Graupmann in 1920's attire holding a machine gun next to a “gangsta-style” car of the era.

February featured Dr. Casey O'Conor, Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, with a pair of pliers and over-sized toothbrush as seen from inside a patient's mouth!

March featured Glenn Zimbelman, Pastor Spirit of Joy Church North Ridgeville, dressed in ancient attire and standing on a mountain top with Noah's Ark in the background.

You can view the calendar here if you wish. Please note that the text on the calendar won't appear as clear as the original as I had to reduce the file size to load quickly in your web browser.

So which month do you like best? Who is your favorite North Ridgeville Rotarian – past or present? Click here to share your answer.

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See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

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See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: https://spectralight.com/Gear

The post We Created Fun Photos for the 2010 North Ridgeville Rotary Club Calendar appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

Every now-and-then, a rare opportunity comes along that you just gotta grab. For me, it was a flight on an “experimental” airplane that my neighbor, Bob Kelly, built in his garage a couple years ago.

Amateur-built aircraft are licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as “Experimental.” Per FAA regulations, if an individual builds at least 51 percent of an aircraft, it is eligible to be registered in the amateur-built category.Bob's plane was a kit that he purchased with all the parts already fabricated. He replaced some parts with others that he felt were more superior to make his plane safer.

Recently Bob offered to take me on a flight on his plane. The adventurer in me said, “Hell, yeah!” while the saner side said, “Are you nuts?” The adventurer won out and the next day we were airborne.

Of course, I had to take some photos and video of this exciting adventure. I figured if we crashed, the digital files on my camera would probably survive – offering a glimpse of my last moments on earth before meeting my Maker.

The camera I chose was a 360° panoramic camera to capture a complete wrap-around view from inside the cockpit AND outside the plane. Click the photo, above, (or tap it if you're on a mobile device) and slide all around it to see the crazy views that a 360° panoramic camera offers.

Above is a 360-degree AERIAL VIDEO I also created during the flight. You can actually look all-around while the video plays by clicking or tapping it (on a mobile device) and moving your mouse or finger in any direction!

See the gear and software we use to create our 360° panoramic videos and photos here.

I've been using this camera for the past year-and-a-half to create 360° virtual tours for nursing homes, the Cleveland Pregnancy Center, Case Western Reserve University, hotels, commercial construction companies, government agencies and more. You can see some of those tours here. (A new browser window will open.)

Have you ever flown on an “experimental” airplane or tried skydiving? How was your experience? Click here to share your comments.

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See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: http://HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: https://spectralight.com/Gear

The post Unique 360° Aerial View of Cedar Point Amusement Park From Experimental Plane appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.

This video highlights photos taken at Schoepfle Gardens – a park in Birmingham, Ohio in the Lorain County Metro Parks system.

Schoepfle Gardens is truly beautiful – 70 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered on one side by the Vermilion River. The gardens feature collections of rhododendrons, roses, cannas, hosta, shade plants, and a variety of shrubs, topiaries and trees.

My wife and I and a couple of friends enjoyed the natural beauty of the garden as we walked along the well-maintained walkways on a sunny spring morning in May. We're visiting different Lorain County Metro Parks as part of their “Hiking Stick” program.

You can earn a stick and a pin after completing 10 hikes at 6 different Lorain County Metro Parks locations by June 30th.

Have you visited Schoepfle Gardens or any other park in the Lorain County Metro Parks system? Which one did you like best and why? Please click here to share your thoughts.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: www.SpectraLight.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland and Northeast Ohio on our HOTonCLE website: www.HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: www.HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: www.SpectraLight.com/Gear

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Waaaay back in 1996, I photographed the late Fred Griffith and Connie Dieken of WEWS “The Morning Exchange” in Cleveland. Fred passed away at the age of 90 yesterday (July, 19, 2019).

In the summer of 1996, I photographed Fred and Connie in vintage costumes at various shops at Grand Pacific Junction in Olmsted Falls to promote the city's annual Heritage Days festivities.

I remember Fred as an easy-to-photograph celebrity who gave me as much time as I needed to create some fun images in his “old-time” attire. So many members of the media will give you two-minutes (if you're lucky) to get the shot and then they're gone. Not Fred. He was a kind, smart, witty and a true gentleman.

Later that year, I was asked to appear on “The Morning Exchange” at WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland – hosted by Fred and Connie. The main focus of the interview was exploring the type of photos that should be used on photo Christmas cards. (see video, below).

A funny thing happened during the live broadcast. Fred accidentally knocked a large print off the display easel I brought along (you'll hear it falling at the 4:06 mark). Fortunately, the camera was focused on a greeting card at that moment so you don't see me turning and catching the print before it hit the floor! And I did it without missing a beat in my narration.

Fred was an amazing man who will certainly be missed.

Did you watch Fred Griffith when he was at one of the Cleveland TV stations? Do you have a favorite memory from one of his shows? Please share it in the comments area.

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017: A Guide to Viewing and Photographing it — Hudson Henry Photography

Here's a great video with tips and tricks to view the August 21st, 2017 total solar eclipse. The sun will cross the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. This rare event is a great opportunity for photographers – both amateur and professional.

The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in the U.S. was in 1979 in the Pacific Northwest. Here is ABC News coverage from that day with an amazing view from Helena, Montana.

In the video at the top of this post, Hudson Henry explains why the August 21st, 2017 total solar eclipse is special, shares some online maps and electronic scouting tools to help you plan where and how to photograph it, covers what gear you will need to get the best eclipse photos possible and reviews camera settings and technical strategies to capture those images.

When the eclipse reaches totality, you can view it with your naked eyes and stars will be visible. However, during the partial phase leading up to and following totality, you need to protect your eyes and your camera’s sensor. Be sure to view the eclipse using “Live View” on your camera instead of looking directly through the lens using your viewfinder.

WARNING! There is a high risk of PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE when watching the solar eclipse. Learn more at 10:44 of this video: CBC Special: Solar Eclipse Over Winnipeg.

Have fun in your quest to capture some images of a lifetime!

Here are some links to the tools and products recommended in Hudson Henry's video.

The post How to Photograph the Total Solar Eclipse on 8/21/17 appeared first on SpectraLight Photography and Design.