PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

No matter how many pictures you’ve taken with any type of camera, photographing a solar eclipse safely comes with its own set of challenges. 

When the solar eclipse occurs on Monday, April 8, you want to be ready. According to the Carnegie Science Center, from Pittsburgh’s vantage point, you’ll be able to see the moon cover 97% of the sun. It will reach its peak at 3:17 p.m., but phases of the eclipse will begin at 1:59 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Places such as Cleveland and in the Meadville, Edinboro and Erie areas of Pennsylvania will see a total solar eclipse.

Here’s what the pros suggest to get a great shot without damaging your eyesight or your camera.

Related: How to View the Eclipse Safely, According to Local Eye Specialists

Smartphones

Buy a Filter

The filter will dramatically reduce the light entering your phone’s camera and help protect the light sensor inside. Amazon has plenty of options, including this one for just under $11.

Focus Ahead of Time

When the big moment of totality arrives, don’t count on your smartphone’s autofocus feature to get the right exposure. Instead, most smartphones let you adjust with your finger where the focus and metering spots will be in the field of view.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Try taking pictures of the moon at night to get the shot you want.

Don’t Just Focus on the Sun

Pittsburgh photographer Dave DiCello suggests capturing the scenes around you during the moments leading up to totality. “It will appear like twilight, and it’s so incredible to experience. Look at the ground too; you’ll see half-moon shapes in the shadows on the ground,” he says.

Use a Tripod

It’s the best way to guarantee a steady shot and allows you the option of setting a timer for hands-free — and eye-free? — photography. After all, you’re going to want to have the time to experience the eclipse with your own eyes, protected by eclipse glasses of course. 

Read more smartphone photography tips from NASA.

Digital SLR

DiCello says many of the same rules apply when using a Digital SLR camera. “A filter, either one that fits over the entire lens or one that screws into the end must be used,” says DiCello. “If not, the direct exposure of the sun’s rays will fry the [camera’s] sensor AND your eyes.”

As with a smartphone, you will need to set the focus ahead of time. “Just make sure you have something far away to focus on, dial it in manually, and then put the filter on.” 

During 100% totality — which won’t happen in Pittsburgh but will in the Cleveland and Meadville, Edinboro and Erie areas — you can remove the filter and safely view and photograph the eclipse. Keep in mind, depending on where you are, that may be a very short period. 

A seasoned photographer, DiCello will have three cameras set up for the eclipse. “one will be a closeup of the sun that I’ll be triggering manually. One will be slightly at a wider angle to capture the phases in a timelapse. And the last will be a super wide angle to capture the scenes around me.”

As for where he will be shooting from, DiCello says he will wait on the weather forecast to see which area within the zone of totality is best.