Total Solar Eclipse Photography Story

Witnessing the Majesty of a Total Solar Eclipse in Hamilton, Ontario

On April 8, 2024, the skies over Hamilton, Ontario, offered a spectacle of celestial wonder: a total solar eclipse. This breathtaking event, captured by the photographer Matthew C. Ng, was a moment of pure awe and an evidence of the magical of our universe.

Preparations and Anticipation

The journey to capturing this phenomenal occurrence was marked by precise planning and careful consideration. Matthew, with his extensive experience in architectural, landscape, and cityscape photography, was determined to seize this “once in a lifetime moment”. The planning process involved looking for multiple locations and continuously monitoring weather forecasts to ensure the best possible view.

Hamilton’s weather is often unpredictable, and the morning of the eclipse was cloudy. But just as the eclipse began, the clouds cleared up, giving us a perfect view. This sudden change added to the excitement of the moment.

The Experience of Totality

As the moon started to cover the sun, the light changed in a strange but beautiful way. When totality came, the sky went dark, showing a bright ring around the sun and colors on the horizon like sunrise or sunset. This amazing view made us feel awe and hope, connecting us deeply to the universe.

Matthew called this moment “truly unlike any other,” saying the sky’s change felt almost magical. The eclipse was more than just something to see; it was an emotional experience showing the world’s beauty and complexity.

Capturing the Moment

Using his Phase One XF camera equipped with a Blue Ring 240mm lens and a 2x teleconverter, along with ND 16 stop and ND 3 stop filters, Matthew was prepared to capture the eclipse in detail. Despite wishing for a longer focal length lens, the IQ4 150 camera’s capability to crop and still produce a 40-megapixel image compensated for this limitation.

During the brief window of totality, which lasted 2 minutes and 30 seconds, Matthew utilized the camera’s exposure bracketing feature to capture the eclipse at various settings. This technique ensured he could select the best-exposed image during post-processing, enhancing the final photograph’s quality.

Composition and Aesthetic Vision

Matthew’s approach to photography emphasizes the use of negative space to draw attention to the focal point. For the total solar eclipse, he centered the composition on the eclipsed sun, surrounded by ample negative space. This technique not only highlighted the eclipse itself but also allowed viewers to appreciate the vastness of the sky and the majesty of the event.

The focal point of Matthew’s image was the total eclipse and the visible solar flares, captured with precision and clarity. His choice of composition, focusing on simplicity, reflected his philosophy that perfecting a seemingly simple image is one of photography’s greatest challenges.

Behind the Scenes

Meet the Photographer: Matthew C. Ng

Matthew C. Ng’s journey into photography began at the age of 16, sparked by the curiosity and inspiration of using his father’s camera. Over the years, he explored various photographic genres, from wildlife and portraits to events and street photography. However, it was in landscape, cityscape, and architectural photography that he found his true passion.

Matthew’s approach to photography is defined by detail planning and an eye for discovering unique perspectives. His dedication to capturing scenes that appear simple at first glance but reveal complexity upon closer examination has become his signature style. “Perfecting something simple and plain is always the hardest,” Matthew says, emphasizing the importance of planning, scouting locations, and understanding the environment to capture the perfect moment.

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