I debated on making a video like this for quite some time but finally decided to go for it.

A couple of disclaimers.

I own all pictures and video clips except for the GOES East Full Disk Loop which is owned by NOAA.

Pictures are for sale

I do not own the music in this video.

This is a montage of the photos and videos of April 8th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. All of this was taken/recorded in Carbondale, Illinois in the United States.

Part 1 is sped up version of the 13 minutes of mid eclipse as seen from my Go pro hero ten.
The video begins at 1:54pm and ends at 2:07pm. Totality is from 1:59 to 2:03pm. Following behind this is a 48 minute long time lapse of the eclipse from 1:27pm until 2:15pm taken on an ipad. It was my intention of doing a time lapse of the full eclipse but I was more focused on doing photography so I forgot until about 30 minutes prior to totality. I saw no point in extending it to the end.

Synced to Lights by Journey

Part 2 is a compilation of the photos I took during the course of the eclipse. Most of the photos are from a Nikon D5300 with a 70300mm lens. There are also screen grabs from the Go pro, photos taken from iPhone 13, telescope photos through an Orion 90mm EQ refractor taken on an iPhone 11. Various photos include phases of the partial eclipse, crescent shadows, the sky at various times, totality, and many photo composites that I made myself to show some details.

Synced to Black Hole Sun by Sound Garden.

Part 3 is the Go Pro 10 video and the iPhone 11 telescope video synced and overlayed in picture in picture style so that there is an up close and landscape view together. This is 10 minutes long and videos are synced to with in one second of each other. Truth be told the telescope video was not my priority so its quality is not as good but does show the general details.

Synced to Silent Lucidity by Queensrÿche and Beyond the Sun by Shinedown.


My take away from this whole experience.

If you are able to go see a total solar eclipse make it a priority. While my pictures and videos were certainly fun to make and interesting to look at they will do zero justice to the spectacle your eyes will see and what your body will feel. There is no sight that Earth has to offer that will top this one.

My best description as what you will see: Imagine the best sunset possible with an orange and yellow flood of light low on the horizon all around you. Above is dark purpleblue twighlight. In the center of that is a black hole with goldsilver pillow feather like extensions in every direction with long silky streamers beyond that. What you see will seem fake.

What you will feel: Complete shock and awe. Stunning beauty that will take your breath away. A religious/spiritual moment. You feel the universe, simultaneously feeling small but yet that the universe is with in reach. A high chance of crying.

Please enjoy.