This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with astrophotographer Jon Carmichael. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I have been dreaming of a specific eclipse photo since I was 12 years old: I wondered if I could get high enough in the sky to see the shadow of the moon moving over the Earth.
I finally got my chance during the 2017 Great American Eclipse, but capturing that perfect shot from my dreams was not easy.
About a year before the eclipse Alaska Airlines announced it had an entire plane flying into the eclipse with just one seat left and it was holding a competition for that seat. It felt like fate.
I poured my heart and soul into a 30-second video explaining why I should get the seat. All my eggs were in that basket. But when it announced the winner less than a week before the eclipse, I’d lost.
I can’t describe how devastated I was.
At that point, it was a race against time. At first, I gave into my disappointment and laid in my bed. Then I started looking at commercial flight paths, which involved a lot of math.
As I looked at flight paths, I realized that a Southwest flight from Portland, Oregon to St. Louis, Missouri would travel basically along the eclipse path. I had to be on that plane. But, I’m based in New York, so I needed to buy a last-minute cross-country flight to Portland.
When I got there, that Alaska Airlines flight I had dreamed of was departing from the next gate. It felt like the universe was torturing me.
Still, I was determined. When I arrived, I was equipped with three cameras and a surplus of cash in case I needed to bribe someone for a window seat.
Then Southwest announced it was delaying the flight. My heart sank. I was going to miss the brief window to witness the eclipse, I thought. But then the flight crew clarified that they were deliberately delaying the flight so it would be inside the moon’s shadow.
I nearly died of relief, then decided to push my luck. I took out all my cameras and made sure the NASA t-shirt I was wearing was clear. I told the crew my whole saga. Lucky for me, the flight crew and pilot took my mission to heart.
I was the first one on the plane, and the ground crew even cleaned my window. The pilot did circles at 39,000 feet and adjusted the angle of the plane so I could get the best possible shot.
To be clear, this was not a private jet. This was a Southwest commercial plane rerouting its flight for my shot — I can’t believe I was so lucky.
After we landed, the real work began. I spent hundreds of hours over the course of a year editing the more than 1,200 photos I’d taken.
The result has been hailed as one of the most outstanding eclipse photos in history, showing not only the eclipsed sun, but also the shadow of the moon sweeping over the Snake River, the border between Idaho and Oregon.
Getting that shot really was a childhood dream come true. If I try to reproduce a similar image, again, I’m worried lightning won’t strike twice.
So instead of trying to force it, I’m going to savor the experience this year.
After all, total solar eclipses are a miracle. They only happen because Earth is just the right distance from the sun and moon, so I really want to appreciate that magic during the 2024 total eclipse.
What I’m doing differently this year
Jon Carmichael
At first, I considered just enjoying this eclipse in nature with my family. I’m based in New York, relatively close to the path of totality, so it would have been easy.
But then, Southwest Airlines contacted me about a partnership, and I couldn’t say no.
So now, I’ll be on another flight, high above clouds and unpredictable weather, hoping to catch another spectacular image.
The difference is, this time instead of being alone I’ll be with the people I love: my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces, Alayna and Madelyn.
We’ll be traveling on a flight from Dallas to Pittsburg, which should give us plenty of opportunity to photograph the eclipse with different landscapes.
I’m keeping my specific ideas to myself, but I will say that the Mississippi River is an iconic feature of the US that I’d love to highlight.
I’m planning ahead, and you should too
Even though I’ll be on a flight, getting a great photo of the eclipse takes a lot of planning ahead even if you’re an amateur shooting with your smartphone.
The angle of this eclipse means it will be higher in the sky than the 2017 event, making it more difficult to get the sun and the landscape into the same shot.
I’ve been spending a lot of time using tools like this Navy calculator that lets you see the height of the eclipse at different longitudes and latitudes.
Knowing what the eclipse will look like in various places will help me get the best shot — I hope.
Regardless of whether I get a great photo this time, or not, being with my loved ones is what really matters to me this time around.
Flying through an eclipse with Alayna and Madelyn, who are the same age I was when I first became fascinated with the skies, will truly be a full-circle moment.
