Driving almost 2,000 miles to film a TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE | Documenting my first time in TOTALITY

This is my first video in a series of astrophotography videos that I'll be sharing here on this new channel. I've been wanting to make videos like this for 4-5 years now and I feel there's no better place to start than the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse. It was truly a life changing, unforgettable experience that I hope I was able to do some justice to through this video. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!
IG: @midnight.films
Gear Used:
Sony FX3, A7SIII, A7III
Sony 24-105mm f/4 G
Sony 100-400mm GM
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM
Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
DJI RS2 Pro
SkyWatcher EQ6R Pro
SkyWatcher Star Adventurer
Askar 103 APO Triplet Refractor (1.0x field flattener)
ZWO ASIair Plus
Canon 5D Mark III
Baader ND5 Solar Film
DayStar Quark (Chromosphere Version)

[@solareclipsetimer]

Nice video! Very genuine commentary about your experience! I appreciate it. This is Gordon Telepun, the developer of the app Solar Eclipse Timer. I have a preference for glass solar filters. It looks like your Spectrum filter was their solar film product. I would always use glass. But the important point I wanted to make here for you other viewers who watch this is that wrinkles, folds, and ripples in Baader film have no effect on its optical quality. In a crunch situation, like you were in, you could have just wrapped the film around the front of your scopes and used a loose elastic band or a loose wrap of electrical tape to hold it on. Not too tight so you can quickly remove it. But you did not need to make a frame. Baader film does not need to be stretched out flat. Just so you know for the future. But, thanks for making the video and sharing it.

[@mdnt_astro]

Gordon, I am truly honored that you took the time to watch my video. You saved the day for me with your app back in 2017 for my first solar eclipse, although I only got to see it at about 90% or so from Denver. I had your app running on my phone once again this year as a backup plan in case something went wrong with my computer! Thanks for the info about the various types of solar filters. I did read somewhere that the Baader film can still be optically flat without being physically flat, but also that it was not ideal to stretch the film too much. This was my first time using it and it felt fragile so the foam mounts seemed like a good idea, and now I'll have the mounts already made for the next eclipse or solar photography until then. But good to know that in a pinch the film can be used without needing much else. I think I might pull the film out of the Spectrum filter and repurpose it with some Baader film as a more permanent solution in the future as well. Anyway, thank you so much for the kind words, information, and providing such an awesome tool. I truly can't begin to say how much I appreciate it.

[@solareclipsetimer]

@@mdnt_astro Happy to comment. Thanks for using my app! Yes, Baader film feels amazingly fragile when you are working with it, but it is quite durable. I have a few sheets of Baader for testing purposes, but as I said I use glass for eclipse photography. One thing about Baader, regarding light transmission, it passes about 2 stops more light that glass. Even when rated as OD-5 (optical density 5). So, if you are in a situation where you are switching types of filters at the last minute, or you have two rigs using both types of filters, realize that the exposure settings are going to be very different. My KZbin channel called Solar Eclipse Timer has hours of eclipse preparation videos.

[@Electric.Elektra]

Got tears in my eyes watching this. What an incredible experience.

[@lulubee1000]

Awesome setup! Thanks for sharing!

[@AlexPuddintame]

Killer, subbing, cool and underrated channel

[@lulubee1000]

I drove from Florida to Texas to experience the Eclipse! I completely agree with your take on this!

[@mdnt_astro]

It really was incredible, wasn’t it!? I’m a little north of Jacksonville but sounds like you drove even further than I did!

[@Huskers2100]

I love that you got to use the 5D MKIII for this ❤🤘🏼

[@mdnt_astro]

That camera is one of my most prized possessions, especially now that it's seen totality with me!

[@kanadum]

Fantastic job, man!!!

[@tatsearnhardt]

forever proud of you nick.

[@mdnt_astro]

Thanks brother, I appreciate that beyond words.

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Awesome!

[@daviddixon7895]

What a beautiful and relatable story, thank you for sharing. I traveled from Phoenix to see and photograph the eclipse, ultimately in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. Austin had been Plan A, but weather pushed us northeast, and it ended up being perfect. This was my first experience with astrophotography, so I didn’t have any of the automation, but I am thrilled with how it went with the tools I had. And man, the emotional experience was incredible - you described it so well and I related to it so much it brought that feeling back pretty strongly. Awesome. 🤘

[@mdnt_astro]

Thanks so much! I truly feel privileged that it all worked out so perfectly, especially with how last minute I planned everything. Glad it all worked out for you too!

[@DubbleD69]

Fantastic video man. Love that you’re tapping into the emotion associated with Astro ‘stuff’. Great footage, great description, and great fucking effort!! Were you able to experience and/or capture any of the Aurora 2nights ago? And video editing and music is second to none. Great work.

[@mdnt_astro]

Thanks so much, that really means a ton to me. The emotion behind it all it what draws me so deeply into this as a hobby in the first place so I really enjoy sharing it. I was lucky enough to get some incredible shots of the aurora all the way down here in southeast Georgia. It was mind blowing to say the very least. I’m wrapping up a new video about what it takes to shoot dark nebulae and I’m hoping to include the aurora stuff in that video. I have some cool footage of it as well as some shots of the sunspot that caused it to be possible so should be a fun section. I wanted to make an entire video about it but I wasn’t expecting to see it down here so I wasn’t prepared. I went out again last night and waited but sadly we didn’t get anything else. Rambling aside, thanks again for the kind words!

[@naturalbornstonernbs4767]

Awesome bro! Truly jaw dropping !

[@mdnt_astro]

Thanks homie, I really appreciate that! It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, hands down.

[@jordoreed]

incredible video. subbed!

[@gandalfandyodaatds9]

Great personal and technical storytelling. The rain, lack of sleep and questioning viewing location are all familiar. Without the automation I did miss the first Bailey’s Beads and the moment of totality. A minute in I pulled myself from the camera to look around. Then 30 seconds before totality’s end, my eyes went back to the camera. You did things the right way and soaked in the experience. Well done!

[@mdnt_astro]

Thanks so much! Even with the automation, I ended up missing Bailey’s Beads unfortunately. I did get a cool video of them but no photos. I think maybe the time on my computer was slightly off because it did fire the shots meant for the beads, but it happened while it was still in the diamond ring phase. It also prematurely told me to put the filters back on and I should’ve waited another 20-30 seconds. Definitely a bummer, but I can’t complain at all since the view was worth missing some shots. I really did forget all about my cameras the moment I saw totality and I’m grateful I was able to do that. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for watching!