DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

This photographer captured total solar eclipse from a commercial airplane at 39,000 feet

Aug 27, 2018 by Dunja Djudjic 5 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

This time last year, the total solar eclipse made millions of people stop, observe, film and photograph the breathtaking sight. Photographer Jon Carmichael captured the totality from an airplane and made it look like the photo was taken from space. Many people have described it as “the most amazing image ever taken from a commercial airplane.” And now, Carmichael shares the equally amazing story that follows this awe-inspiring photo.

In an interview with Inc., Jon Carmichael describes himself as a “big space nerd.” When he was a kid, he realized that he would have a chance to live through a total solar eclipse. And when 2017 arrived, as a pro photographer, he didn’t want to miss the chance to capture it.

Carmichael had spent some time figuring out how to get as high above the ground as possible during the eclipse. The first idea was to enter Alaska Airlines’ contest for a seat on a plane that would fly the perfect path to observe the eclipse. He created a video for the contest, and he says he was “devastated” when he didn’t win. But then, he figured out his plan B.

The photographer mapped flights and paths of other airlines. He came to the conclusion that a Southwest Airlines flight from Portland to St. Louis would be just perfect. But there was a problem. As Southwest didn’t have assigned seating, Carmichael was afraid that he wouldn’t get a window seat. Considering that he had come this far, he brought $600 in cash and was ready to bribe someone for a window seat if necessary. However, the odds turned out to be in his favor.

At the gate, the photographer introduced himself to the Southwest crew and told them about his plan. They gave him seat 1A, and the Captain even cleaned his window for him, so he could take the clearest image possible. Since Carmichael needed a 180-degree view and all he had was a tiny airplane window, he asked the Captain if there was a chance to turn the plane around when in totality. But the Captain told him not to get his hopes up. This could have potentially messed up with his plan. Fortunately, the Captain did turn the airplane around and Carmichael got the view he needed for the photo.

The photographer explains that he “utilized everything he had ever learned with photography in his career in these two minutes of time.” He took over 1,200 photos during the eclipse. When he returned home, he went through the photos to see what he ended up with. Then he realized that, during totality, he was above the Snake River which borders Oregon and Idaho. As a bonus, the weather was perfectly clear.

After all the help from the crew and the luck he had with the weather, this is the final image Jon Carmichael ended up with:

A year ago, millions came together and witnessed one of the most beautiful moments in history. My dream was to capture this from a unique view to remind us of our place in the universe and to stay united in our humanity. Thank you @Twitter for sharing that vision. #eclipse108 pic.twitter.com/AjSzf27xxQ

— Jon Carmichael (@photographerjon) August 21, 2018

Carmichael writes on his website:

“My wish is for this photograph to be a symbol of that fleeting beautiful moment and remind us that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. I hope it inspires people to take care of each other, our planet, and to keep looking up.”

The photo is titled 108. Personally, I love the image as it really makes me feel humbled. And after reading all that took to make it, I’m even more impressed. On Carmichael’s website, you can zoom in and explore it in details, or order prints.

[via Inc.]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

This video of the total solar eclipse was captured from stratospheric balloon This 119-year-old video is the first ever footage of a total solar eclipse How to capture this year’s total solar eclipse over the USA on video in a single take This video shows the 2019 total solar eclipse in all its glory

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: airline, Airplane, eclipse, Jon Carmichael, solar eclipse, Total Solar Eclipse

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

« Photographer dies after falling from 40 feet while trying to take a photo
Five wedding video shots you absolutely need from bride and groom prep »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Learn photography

Recent Posts

  • Fujifilm’s new Instax Pal is a tiny camera and a huge hassle
  • Five tips to capture beautiful photos nearby
  • A deep dive into Sigma’s new FP firmware
  • A closer look at Obsbot’s new AI-powered Tail Air PTZ camera
  • George R.R. Martin joins fellow authors in copyright lawsuit against OpenAI

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy