Solar Eclipse on August 12: How to Take Safe Photos

Paris – 11.08.2026: On Wednesday, August 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in France and large parts of Europe. According to NASA, the path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, northern Spain and a small part of Portugal. France lies outside this narrow zone of totality. Anyone wishing to photograph the event should check their equipment before it begins and never use improvised protection.

The same basic rule applies to the camera as to the naked eye: throughout all partial phases, a suitable solar filter must be placed in front of the lens. Eclipse glasses do not protect the eyes when looking through a camera, binoculars or a telescope. The concentrated radiation can damage the glasses’ filter and cause serious eye injuries, NASA warns.

Only undamaged filters explicitly intended for solar observation should be used. Safe viewing filters generally comply with ISO 12312-2. Ordinary sunglasses, tinted glass panes, photographic neutral-density filters or homemade solutions do not provide sufficient protection. Scratched, damaged or loosely fitted filters must be replaced. Children should use optical devices only under constant supervision.

NASA recommends taking test photographs of the uneclipsed Sun in advance using the same camera and intended lens. This makes it possible to set framing, focus and exposure without time pressure. A telephoto lens makes the solar disk appear larger, but requires a particularly stable setup. A tripod, remote release or self-timer, and preselected framing reduce the risk of frantic adjustments.

The filter must always be placed on the front of the lens, never behind the lens or on an eyepiece. Without a suitable filter, the camera must not be pointed at the Sun. A safe alternative to direct observation is pinhole projection: sunlight passes through a small opening onto a bright surface, and only the projected image is viewed.

Whether the eclipse will actually be visible depends on local weather conditions. Météo-France points to regional differences in cloud cover, visibility and humidity. The south and the Mediterranean coast statistically often offer more favorable conditions in August, although a short-term forecast may differ. Thin clouds or temporary clearings may open up a view, while dense clouds can completely obscure the spectacle.

Only within the zone of totality may the fully covered Sun be viewed without protective glasses during the brief period of totality. In France, the solar disk will remain partially visible. Therefore, throughout the entire event, both eyes and camera optics require a suitable, securely fitted solar filter.