In Search of the Total Eclipse

We made the decision to see this year’s eclipse, with the knowledge that we would not be able to see it again in the States for 20 years.  We had seen partial eclipses many times, but never a 100% eclipse.  We understood that we might be caught in traffic, being alongside everyone else who was enthusiastic about seeing it.  So, we planned ahead and packed the car with emergency supplies, just in case we got caught in bad weather or traffic.  I felt silly going through all this effort but had an inclination that it would be worth it.

The excitement was building up as it got closer to the date.  We remained flexible as to where we might find the best chance to see the eclipse. A couple of days in advance, we finally made our choice to head north to NY state.

The day before the eclipse, we checked out the beautiful Lake Placid and the surrounding areas. The ride up was gorgeous. The Adirondacks provided a beautiful backdrop to highway 87, as we headed north.

Highway 73 was tree lined with beautiful mountain scenes behind the trees.  A moment of solitude to absorb the scenery before reaching Lake Placid.

Lake Placid offered an expansive site, with the mountains surrounding the background of the lake.

The snowcapped mountain charmingly peaked behind the lower mountains. It was such a beautiful day to spend in a beautiful town.

Concerned about the crowds gathering in a small town, we continued in search of a larger space to observe the eclipse.  We chose Plattsburgh City Beach, just north of town of Plattsburgh.  The beach around Cumberland Bay would allow us to enjoy the view of the sun, bay, and beach throughout the day. 

On the day of the eclipse, we left our hotel early and were at the beach by 9am.  Crowds had already started forming and grew, reaching close to 5000 by midafternoon.

The sun was shining bright, with no care that in a few hours it would not be visible to the millions of people on the planet earth basking in its warmth and light. What a strange thought that seemed.   Even the lonely log on the beach seemed to be reaching for the run.

We were all busy setting up our cameras and taking test shots, talking, and connecting.  It was a cold morning, and I had properly bundled up.  As the sun rose to the middle of the sky, we felt warmer and started taking our jackets off.

At about 2:15pm, the eclipse started. Everyone was looking through the eclipse glasses and taking pictures. I struggled initially with the amount of light emanating from the visible parts of the sun, but I got comfortable with the settings. I had to balance photography with being present in the moment, to not miss the actual visual experience by being busy taking pictures.

I experimented with a filter and zooming as the eclipse was happening. That enabled me to capture a few good shots around 3:20pm, with the full eclipse coming next at 3:26pm and lasting a little over 3 minutes.

Close to the total eclipse, the sky started turning very dark and Venus became visible, which was unbelievable, given that it was the afternoon time. With a regular camera, the glow of the sun surrounding the moon masked the ability for the picture to reflect the true eclipse visual. But, it was quite an eerie and amazing feeling.  It got cold again and some of us started putting our jacks back on, while trying not to miss a glimpse of the sun.

So many observers were shouting in amazement as the total eclipse was forming. You could hear “Oh my God” repeatedly. I was feeling strong emotions and yet cognizant of the experience. I could not take my eyes off the eclipse.  The 3 minutes allowed me to take pictures and stare at the eclipse. While taking deep breaths, I had feelings of joy and sadness at the same time— joy for what I was observing and sadness for how short of a time I was experiencing this visual phenomenon. I was trying to stay in the moment as much as I could.

We then started seeing the sparkling diamond peaking behind the bottom left area of the moon, signaling the end of the full eclipse and the movement in the opposite direction. A feeling of calmness had set in. Family and friends were talking to each other with excitement while a feeling of serenity had engulfed us. Even strangers were connecting and sharing their amazement.  No one wanted the moment to end, as we knew we had been experiencing a rare event.  For those fleeting moments, we were all recognizing that we were connected to each other in awe of what we felt, but so hard to comprehend.

The darkness that filled the sky was ominous, stunning, and mesmerizing.

I will never forget those precious moments, not only for seeing the total eclipse, but also for the connection I felt with all who were there.  I remain grateful for these moments that reminded us of the grand design that is at play and is larger than all of us and yet part of us.

The trip back to our hotel took 4hrs instead of 1.5hrs, but we did not care. We had just seen something special and were still absorbing and amazed at the experience. For days after the event, we were trying to share our thoughts, pictures, and excitement, but it was so hard to explain, as no words or pictures came close to the real feeling.  I hope that with this blog, I am able to share with you our experience and some of the feelings, so that you could experience our heartfelt eclipse journey.

Parto Dehdashti