We were setting up our parking site in what happened to be the closest we could get to the temporary restroom, about 100’, that the land owner built, just for this event. I had the car turned so the back of the Prius, the hatchback, was pointed due East to follow the Sun. I sat on the rear deck, and was toying with my camera and tripod. I had several lenses with me laid out on a blanket and was attaching a long 5’ cable trigger. I also had a set of filters laid out, debating which one to use. As were close to the restroom, several people wondered past, many commenting that we had the best parking place in the 20-acre field, just small talk as they headed to the restroom. On gentleman slowed down to comment on my camera and said, that’s a nice camera base, you don’t see those too often. Knowing he was right and that he must know photographic equipment, I just nodded and said thanks. He then said, I’ll stop on my way back, if you don’t mind and we can talk cameras for a second. I said sure. In about 5 minutes, he returned and came up to the car. He introduced himself and said again, that I had a nice camera base. It was not brand most people used or hear of, it was a professional grade camera with a great computer inside. Really, all digital cameras are just specialized computers in a metal box with a hole in front where you could attach a lens costing $150 to $1,500 or more. We discussed the best lens for this type of photography and I handed him the one I intended using. It was a Nikon-Nikkor 200-500mm AF-S f/5.6E. He said that’s a fine instrument, I have that exact lens in my bag. We discussed how I’d set this one up, when he asked what solar filter I intended to use. I gave him a quizzical look and said, what solar filter. He explained that shotting the Sun requires a very unique set of conditions and that the intensity of the raw sunlight will burn many or all of the sensors in the camera, rendering it ruined withing seconds. He explained, much like our eyes, a very dense Mylar film is needed to protect the camera’s eyes or sensors. He said the same mylar filter in your Eclipse glasses. I said thanks for the info, but I don’t have that kind of filter. I did bring several sets of extra solar glasses, and maybe I could MacGyver the filter material to make something that would protect the lens. He then said, good idea, but the size is wrong and you’ll have overlaps. That will leave dark lines on your photos. He said he may have a better Idea and asked me to come down to his van. He then handed me his business card, that displayed more prominently than his name, the name and logo of whom he worked for the National Geographic and the iconic yellow square logo. I said, sure, give me about 10 minutes, so he pointed across the field to his van. I put my gear away and headed off to his Van. When I got there, he had already dug out a cardboard tube about 4” in diameter and 3’ long. He then pulled out a roll of what looked like black plastic that was about a thick as a paper plate. With some basic scissors, he cut off a piece that was about 6” wide and the full 3’ long. When I handed it to me, he said try to handle it by the edges and don’t put a finger print on it, or it will end up on every photograph. Good point I said. He said, hold it up to the Sun. I did and the Sun looked exactly as it does through my glasses. He said, I don’t know what you can do with this piece, I spend a couple of weeks to make this filter mount out of balsam wood, as he showed me his mounting piece. Well, I don’t have that kind of time, in fact less than an hour as I looked at my watch, but I’m good at figuring things out, so I’ll come up with something. I then glanced at this camera set up, in fact all three. He had three tripods, each with its one camera and lens. One was even attached to a motor drive, like my 8” telescope. It is used to maintain an exact position on a moving object, by adjusting to the right arch and speed of the object. Wow, you have some great equipment. He said Nat Geo helps with the cost and demands the absolute best photographs in the world. I asked if this shoot was for them, and he said unfortunately no. I am here a private person-contractor, hoping to sell some of my shots. Well, best of luck today, I really need to get back and figure out how to use this film. Thank you so much, or actually, my camera thanks you, as it may have not survived the day, without your advice and this film. No problem he said, just one photographer helping another photographer. You’d do the same. He then invited us to join him and a few other in a solar circle, when the event is over. I’ll explain later. Besides, I’ll be making several more trips to the restroom… have a nice day. I headed back to figure out how to fabricate the mount for the film I noticed I was bouncing along the uneven ground as I was just helped and called a fellow photographer by an actual Nat Geo photographer.
