Solar flares on the sun’s western and southwestern limb. Click for a larger version.
It was my goal to capture the sun’s corona during totality of the solar eclipse, but I was not expecting solar flares. That was a happy accident because there just happened to be giant solar eruptions on the sun’s western limb during the eclipse.
As soon as totality arrived I removed my solar filter and began taking bracketed exposures of totality. The best exposure for the solar flares was ISO 800, f/11, 1/400 second and that was still a bit too bright. I had to tone down the exposure in Adobe Camera Raw. I think 1/800 second would have been even better. In the longer exposures which show the corona best, the solar flares disappear in the bright white of the corona.
This is another view of the solar flares. They are all concentrated on the west and southwest limb. West on the sun is to the right, East to the left, and North at the top.
Solar eruptions as totality ends.
As totality ended there were all kinds of solar eruptions visible around the sun’s western limb. It was a magnificent display. You can see how the white corona bends in arcs around the flares at the northwest limb. I needed a shorter shutter speed but there just wasn’t time as the sun became dramatically brighter.
This was my first total solar eclipse and it was extraordinary to experience.
The Great American Eclipse Series
The Great American Eclipse Series  – All of my eclipse articles are listed at this link. This is the 41st article in the series.
Eclipse Photography
How To Photograph the Sun (and an Eclipse) with Lee and Other High Density Solar Filters
How to Process a “Blue Sun†Photographed with a Lee Solar Filter
How to Photograph the Sun (and an Eclipse) with a “White Light†Solar Filter
Practice Your Solar Eclipse Photography Skills Now!
Photographing the Eclipse: How Big Do You Like Your Sun?
HDR Photography During Eclipse Totality
How to Choose the Right Lens for Eclipse Time Lapse Photography
Eclipse Imagery