Tag: Eclipse
Photo of the Day 9/18
by Sean on Sep.19, 2009, under China, Photos
Wuhan Total Eclipse 2009
Disclaimer: Sorry my photo is blurry, but it’s the best one I have.
The day everyone has been waiting for: a total solar eclipse. I can’t remember the last time I saw one, if ever. I just so happen to be living in an area of the world where it’s possible to see the complete solar eclipse from the balcony of my apartment, and I’m so grateful for the chance. My girlfriend and I wake around 5am for the event, having planned to meet her friend by the river. By the time we get outside, we realize there are over a hundred people in the garden of our building, and this spot will trump the spot by the river.
Most of the people here have been gearing up for the eclipse by buying 2rmb special glasses, which honestly do a MUCH better job than my $150 glasses from the States. A random Chinese woman approaches me and offers to let me use her glasses for a moment to see the difference. I realize I can use these glasses as a lens for my camera. It’s from then on I begin placing the lens behind these glasses, my sunglasses, and even my girlfriend’s glasses to form different colors and shades to make good pictures.
At some times it feels like we’re waiting forever, and others it seems like only second’s have past and the moon is covering the sun ever quickly. After an hour outside, the sun is finally being covered by the moon, and producing amazing shades of a variety of colors I couldn’t even begin to say (as I’m partially colorblind, I can’t recognize the colors, only appreciate them). Finally! The sun is gone, and we’re plunged into darkness. Then, the worst thing ever happens. The lights in the buildings around us are turned on, removing us from our brief encounter with the Dark Ages.
My girlfriend is amazed because she’s never experienced anything like it, and at some times feels a bit scared by the weirdness of it all. After 6-10 minutes, the sky returns to normal and the day goes on. We feel lucky for the chance to experience this thing that occurs only once, maybe twice a year, and in only one latitude line at a time.
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Eclipse 2009
by Sean on Jul.23, 2009, under China
I have to apologize now, as Picasa hasn’t been working for me for quite some time. As a result, I can’t post new pictures here unless it happens to be one that Picasa allows me to see. I’m really angry at this idea, but Picasa won’t let me see any of the eclipse pictures, so the best thing I can do for you is to give you a link and let you see it yourself by clicking here. 
So here is my story:
I was awoken at 6:45am by the rustling of my girlfriend. She promptly woke up and began getting ready as if she were planning to go out. Around 7:30, I ask her what the hell she’s doing, especially since I’m the one normally awake at that time, and many hours before her. She replied, “You forgot, didn’t you? This morning is the eclipse!” The night before we partied a bit, so I was still a bit slow. I said, “oh yeah,” and got out of bed.
My girlfriend has never seen an eclipse before, let alone a total solar eclipse. I guess it’s just my luck that we had the opportunity to see such an amazing event and didn’t have to leave the park in front of our building! As it approached 8am, we began to see hundreds of people swarm in the parking lot and in front of the building. For the last week, people had been selling special glasses for 4rmb ($0.65) to watch the eclipse, but I didn’t buy them because I thought my $150 sunglasses would be much better. To my dissatisfaction, a Chinese woman nearby approached us and began talking. She shared the 4rmb glasses with us, and I began using it as a filter for my camera.
After that, I realized the best way to get amazing pictures was to use my sunglasses on top of Lily’s sunglasses, and then my camera behind them both. You can tell the difference between no filter, one filter, and two filters just by looking at my pictures. From then on, my pictures were much clearer and precise. The sky became increasingly dark, making the air a bit cool and weird. There is an ancient Chinese story which says eclipses are the result of a dog trying to eat the sun. I don’t quite understand the meaning, but it makes eclipses out to be the bad guy. I used this to my advantage by making ghost sounds and other things to scare Lily.
As the moon approached the sun and eventually cut off all light, the entire sky became pitch black. I know it’s a once in a lifetime experience, but I just didn’t feel like it was amazing. I took the pictures and did what I could to make my girlfriend enjoy the experience, but it just felt like another day. After the moon passed over the sun, I saw on the opposite side of the building there were amazing patterns in the sky. I rushed back to my apartment, only to find the sky had returned to normal. The eclipse was over. I cursed myself for not staying out there and taking pictures as the moon finally allowed the sun to send light to us once again.
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