Many people from different countries and professions often use these maps and weather reports from meteorologists to identify the ideal locations for viewing the eclipse. Camps are set up in the path of totality as people prepare to record the eclipse. Among the groups of observers there are usually astrophotographers, who take high quality pictures of celestial events. These filters are commonly made of glass or mylar and are designed to shield the eye from the harmful rays of the Sun. The filters are removed only during totality, which is safe to view.
Photos are notorious for failing to present the full experience of the event depicted.
An expert photographer can manipulate the photo to present the best depiction. Astrophotographers typically use cameras with long focal length lenses to capture eclipses. Variation in focal length dictates how large the eclipse will appear in the photo. Another camera technique consists of using multiple exposures on the same frame, allowing for the eclipse to be captured in different stages. Resulting photos are called composites that may reveal a larger variety of details in just one frame.