Total Lunar Eclipse Phase Progression

To photograph a lunar eclipse, the sky must be clear. Historically, the Southwest has the USA's clearest winter skies, and going with the odds seemed the ideal decision. Death Valley National Park has the statistically optimal location and a long list of other photography opportunities, so it got the selection.

About 5 hours before the start of the eclipse, the selected Death Valley location, Stovepipe Wells, was getting an extreme storm. While there was little rain, the wind-blown dust and sand reduced visibility below 100 yards (meters) and blew fine sand through the edges of the solid hotel room door, coating everything in my room and creating little sand dunes just inside the door. It was crazy.

The forecast showed this storm coming, but much of the western US had the same or worse forecast. Forecasted clear skies were a flight away, and that option wasn't in play.

Miraculously, a slot of mostly clear sky opened up overhead just before the start of the lunar eclipse and closed just after the full moon reappeared. Heavy clouds were visible to both sides during much of that time, but the moon remained between them.

The primary goal for this trip was to capture the shots needed to create the lunar version of this 2024 Total Lunar Eclipse Phase Progression image. Goal met. #blessed

While the lunar eclipse was a top goal for this trip, most of the time was spent photographing the landscape, including many hiking miles carrying gear. The most solid tripod available is the optimal choice for photographing the dark total eclipse with a big, long-focal-length lens and long exposure, but a lighter model (that could still manage strong winds) was needed for landscape use.

Flying with more than one significant tripod impacts available storage, but this support need was solidly met by the Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Mk2 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod. A review of the TVC-32G Versa Mk2 has been on the to-do list for ... years, but it is an outstanding choice when short height is sufficient for the need. A lower tripod is typically less impacted by vibrations, and I was sitting for the eclipse, so height wasn't needed in that regard.

A Wimberley WH-200-S Sidemount Head solidly held the RF 600mm F4 L IS USM Lens and a RF 1.4x Extender on a Canon EOS R5 Mark II for exposures reaching 0.5 seconds.

A larger version of this image is available here.