The upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, scheduled to be the next-to-last in this century and the first visible in the continental United States since 1979, promises to be a majestic event and has drawn millions of spectators across North America.

Whether you are an old hand in photography or just taking images through your phone, you will find that getting this rare event is an adrenaline rush. This guide will show the art of photographing the eclipse using your smartphone to make sure you capture great images and, at the same, keep safe.

1. Gear up and Stay Safe

Before you get into the photography business, ensure you have the right equipment for your security. Above all, always use the ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses when viewing the Sun. These glasses are necessary to block your eyes during the partial eclipse phases. Also, consider buying a solar filter that could be pushed onto your smartphone camera to safely get the partial phase shots.

2. Keep it Simple

Photographer Stan Honda observes that it is best to keep the setup simple, especially in case you start taking pictures of the sun eclipse. It can be cameras or phones with tripods, which makes them more stable and, as a result, camera shake is reduced. According to Honda, in-camera smartphone users should keep the settings to the basics and refrain from zooming a lot. Instead of going for the close-ups, the eclipse should be captured by wide-angle shots of the whole environment.

3. Practice Makes Perfect

In the days before the eclipse, try out the smartphone's camera as much as possible. Be ready to play around with various settings, such as exposure time, focus, and brightness, to determine how much your device can give bright pictures. However, please make no mistake: nailing the eclipse is about timing, framing, and the technical side. Take test shots during different times of the day to simulate the changing lighting conditions during the eclipse.

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4. Plan for Weather Conditions

Bear in mind the weather and look for the forecast of your location, and you should expect any changes in your program. The cloud cover can affect the view of the eclipse; therefore, one should look for an open space and find a place in the sky with clear weather. Consider scouting out alternative shooting locations to ensure you have options if weather conditions change.

5. Get Creative and Enjoy the Moment

No need to be scared, as there is plenty of scope to try out and nail those unfamiliar techniques in positions and shots to make your exclusive eclipse photographs. Apply a smartphone grid tool to divide the land into nine equal segments and position the objects according to the rule of thirds to give extra elements of the surrounding landscape to make a picture understandable.

Finally, pause, take those glasses off, and enjoy the awesome show, i.e., the solar eclipse of nature at its best. But setting the miracle aside, clicking the shutter button is more than how to get the ideal capture because it is a reminder that you will never forget this once-in-a-lifetime event.

6. Enhance with AI Assistance

Modern smartphones have powerful AI features that can enhance your eclipse photos. Take advantage of features like scene optimization and multi-frame composition to capture crisp, detailed eclipse images. Experiment with different AI settings to find the perfect balance between automatic enhancements and manual adjustments.

7. Share and Preserve Your Memories

If you've taken stunning eclipse pictures, one of the best things to do is to share them with your friends and family. Share your images on social networks such as Instagram or Facebook. You can also keep them organized in a digital photo album for a long time. It would be best to frame the pictures you fancy the most and then put them in your house or your office, where you will feel the eclipse's splendor every time you look at them.

These suggestions and tips will enable you to take photos of the solar eclipse of April 8 using your smartphone. Whether you are an amateur photographer passionate about capturing this celestial phenomenon or just want to experience the event in a different dimension to seize the unique chance of witnessing an incredible experience, don't hesitate to grab the camera and start capturing it.

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