On April 8th a total solar eclipse will take place across North America and Pymatuning State Park falls within the path.
This is the last total solar eclipse we’ll see in the US until 2024!
Grab your camera and your eclipse filters and join me and lots of other photographers in Pymatuning State Park to photograph this once-in-more-than-a-decade event.
Bring a tripod and a friend! Do NOT forget a solar filter. You can buy them on Amazon for only a few dollars. Here are two inexpensive options:
https://amzn.to/3wsd0HN
https://amzn.to/42Tzj5c
I’d also recommend bringing some strong graduated neutral density filters and a polarizing filter as well. The area is fairly flat, on a large lake, and very scenic. It will make for some really cool photos with the eclipse as a focalpoint. Having graduated ND filters will allow you to capture the eclipse in the landscape. Too, I’m always happy to help you get them set up as long as you’re there before the eclipse begins.
Total Eclipse Times
The eclipse itself with begin around 2:00 pm. The moon will totally cover the sun from around 3:15 to 3:20 pm. The moon will finish partially covering the sun by around 4:30 pm.
Please note: The PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources is warning that some state parks may reach capacity and need to close. Therefore I recommend joining me as early as possible! My plan is to arrive in the morning by around 10 am.
Expect the location to be packed. Please bring lots of water and food and be prepared to not leave the site until after the eclipse has ended. Also note that there may not be cell service. There is a bathroom on site.
Carpool Opportunities
Since the location will be so busy I’m recommending that people consider carpooling. If you’re interested in doing so please contact me. I would love to have a few carloads of folks to both save space at the location and to spread the costs for those who are driving. Too, with cell service being so poor please let me know which carrier you use, I’ll try to place people so that there are multiple carriers in the same car in the event some services is available to at least one of the cell companies. Also please let me know if you’re willing to drive how many you can take (remember everyone should bring their gear + food and water) as well as if you’d prefer only women or you smoke or any other things that would be helpful.
Also, as I am trying to make this fun, exiciting, safe, etc. please consider tossing me a few dollars for doing so. Your donations are truly appreciated. I love having other photographers at stuff like this but it does take some work to pull everything together.