Shooting the Sun

[James G]

Recently I posted some shots of the sun during and after apartial solar eclipse. I'd set myself a little project to build a solar filter with Baader Solar film, earlier in the new year and had been 'practising' with it.

I've been working with it intermittently over the last 3 months, but this last few days a complex group of sunspots have developed.

The technique I used is identical to that used for my moon shots.. Canon 7DMk2 with Sigma 50-500mm telephoto lens tripod mounted, and multiple captures (10) taken with remote triggering and mirror lock.

Focus established using AF and the lens then set to manual.
ISO set to 100, with a shutter speed between 1/500s and 1/200s... (I adjusted to get a 'dim' image of the solar disk on the back panel LCD..in general I found that metered aperture needs to be raised by 2 or 3 stops)

For post processing, I cropped and stacked the images in PS6 using opacity blending to remove noise. Then applied sharpening to 'enhance' the surface granulation and detail.

#1 Sun 14th Apr 2015



#2 Sun 16th Apr 2015




I would warn anyone who wants to try solar photography, that they MUST use a properly constructed filter using materials guaranteed to cut out most of the suns brightness.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/sola...ilm-nd-50.html


C&C Welcome...

[Stagecoach]

Very impressive James, I'm pleased your solar filter has worked out well. And thanks for taking the time to include the technical used to shoot these.

[IzzieK]

+1 to Grahame's comments.