On April 8, the great solar eclipse will take place in the United States, from the San Antonio area to the Maine/Canada border. Yes, you can photograph it with your phone. I’ve received so many questions about it, let me answer a few of the best ones here.

What makes witnessing a total solar eclipse such a unique and special experience for people?

It’s a normal average day, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, then all of the sudden you see the sky start to dim, and it gets darker and darker with evening type skies. Then it zaps back to light again, quickly. That’s thrilling, especially when you’re in the company of a crowd that is oohing and aahing with the intensity of a great rock concert gathering.

What you need

Solar glasses to protect your eyes when viewing the sun, plus a solar filter which you can tape over your phone if you’re attempting close-ups. Add a tripod if you’re going to shoot a video, or use advanced phone features like night modes on the iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel to get dark sky shots. Add a smartphone tripod adapter to snap the phone atop the tripod.

Is it realistic for smartphone users to expect to get a great close-up shot of the eclipse?

Yes, they should set their expectations. Even with the top of the line phones, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21, S22 and S23, you get a 5x or 10x zoom, and that’s not that close for a great shot. NASA shoots through telescopes and most photographers with big cameras have huge 600mm lenses or more. Don’t go beyond the top zoom setting (2x, 3x, 5x etc.) for what’s called digital zoom, because that’s just a bad crop that ends up with fuzzy, pixelated photos.

So what to do? Should I just focus more on wide shots of the environment and crowd?

Yes, because that’s the fun stuff you want to see at a gathering. The faces, the clothes, the expressions.

Can I really damage my phone lens if I don’t buy the filter?

Yes, if you use the telephoto camera to zoom in. If you do a big wide shot, you have nothing to worry about. But I’d still buy the filter. You have plenty of time for Amazon to deliver, or pick it up from your favorite local camera store.

What about a video?

That’s my no. 1 tip. I think moving images of the world changing in minutes is way more telling than a small picture of an abnormal looking sun. I’d do regular video, or timelapse. You’ll need a tripod for this to keep the shot steady. To do timelapse, just open the Camera app on the iPhone, swipe the left, select Timelapse, compose your image, click record and that’s it. Samsung calls it “Hyperlapse” and has it in the “More” section of the photo app.

But I want a photo. What settings do you recommend using on phones to get the best possible eclipse photos.

Use the Night Mode features and Burst Mode. Night Mode on the iPhone is the second feature in the “Camera Mode” section, which you access by opening the Photo app and clicking the carrot in the top middle of the screen. You’ll see the Night Mode icon as the second choice, next to Flash. Click it, and take it off Auto, for “MAX” time. If you handhold the phone (and you shouldn’t) you can keep the camera open for 10 seconds; if you’re on a tripod, you can go 30 seconds. Google calls it “Night Sight” and to Samsung it’s simply “Night.”

Best video settings?

The native apps on iPhones, Galaxy and Pixels are auto only. Open them up, compose your shot and click record. Ditto for the Timelapse modes. If you want more control, and are comfortable setting the shutter speed and adjusting the ISO (the amount of light the camera sees) try the free Blackmagic Camera app, which is available for iPhones.

How much of a difference does having a telephoto lens on a newer smartphone make when shooting the eclipse?

Very little. iPhones, Galaxy and Pixel cameras can go from 120mm to 220mm, depending upon the model. The accessory lenses available won’t get you anywhere closer than 100mm or so. So not worth the effort.

What’s the best way to quickly capture a shot or two without getting distracted by the phone the whole time?

Put the camera on a tripod, set up a video or timelapse, press record, and let her rip. Take a few photos as well—which you can do at the same time as recording a video. A little white button shows up on the screen after the video record button turns red.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to get out there on a Monday afternoon to witness the event, congratulations and have fun! Remember there’s no do-over the next day. The next Solar Eclipse is scheduled for 2044!