How to Photograph the Sun Solar Photography

Solar Photography

Solar Photography Tips

The sun is amazing.

Photography has enabled us to capture the sun in a whole new way. It can be used to create images of great beauty and also to record events and memories.

Sun photography has been around for hundreds of years, but it has only become possible to take clear photos of the sun since the early 20th century. Before this the sun was always seen through clouds or mist. However, the invention of the camera lens allowed us to take sharp pictures of the sun.

One of the earliest techniques used to photograph the sun is known as ‘heliography’. In this method, you use a special type of camera (the heliograph) to capture images of the sun by shining a light through a pinhole at the top of the camera. The light then travels through the camera lens and is focused onto a piece of photographic paper inside the camera. The result is a photo of the sun with its dark shadow behind it.

Another technique that is used to take clear pictures of the sun is called solarization. This technique works in the same way as heliography, but instead of shining a light through a pinhole, the sun itself shines through a piece of photographic paper inside the camera.

Solar Photography

Sun photography doesn’t have to be expensive and the results are often stunning. You can buy solarization cameras on the Internet. There are also several online courses that can teach you how to take high-quality solar photographs.

The sun can be used in many different ways. It can be used as a backdrop for an image, for example, as in the photograph above, or it can be included in the subject of a picture. It can also be the main focus of an image, such as the picture below.

For best results, always aim to take the pictures between two and six hours after sunrise.

Best Tips and Techniques for Solar Photography

Solar Photography

We want to show you how to photograph the sun. This takes a few minutes but will make a huge difference to the photos you produce.

  • Use an SLR (single lens reflex camera) or DSLR (digital single lens reflex camera). These will produce the best images.
  • A DSLR is a camera designed to allow you to take both still pictures and movie clips. The shutter speed of a camera is measured in seconds rather than in fractions of a second (as with a point and shoot camera), so slower shutter speeds mean less blur.
  • Set your camera to bulb mode. This means you will be able to take images at low light levels. You can either turn off the flash or use a flash diffuser.
  • Point your camera in the direction of the sun and set the focus. You will see your image reflected in the viewfinder. If you find this difficult, you may have to switch to manual focus.
  • You will probably notice the sun is surrounded by a halo of light. This is the effect of diffraction. Diffraction means that light waves spread out from objects and interfere with each other. In the case of sunlight, they are scattered. If your camera has a lens hood, put it over your lens.

Solar Photography

  • Hold your camera vertically. Hold it with your left hand, with the lens pointing straight up, while the ground becomes a black rectangle. Keep your right hand on the lens, pointing upwards and slightly outwards.
  • Look through the viewfinder and press the button to take a picture. If you are using an SLR, move the mirror down to let light reach the sensor and press the shutter.
  • You will see that the image appears in your viewfinder. You will probably also see a little dot on the edge of the image. This is called the “sunspot.” This will be a white circle in the middle of the photo. This will show up much more clearly if you are taking the picture of a still subject.
  • Now look again through the viewfinder. You should see the sun spot. Look in the center of the spot and take your finger off the shutter button. The sun spot will disappear.
  • You will find that you will need to take lots of pictures of the sunspot. If you are photographing a moving object, such as a car, train or plane, take lots of shots.
  • In order to find the sunspot, you will have to experiment. You may need to experiment with different settings and different angles. It may be useful to take the photos in the early morning, when the sun is highest, before it sets, and at times when there is a lot of haze.