How do you prepare to photograph an event that lasts only a few minutes?

We asked two veteran photographers to share their top tips for documenting the biggest astronomical event America has seen in years.

Photographer Babak Tafreshi fell in love with astronomy and the night sky when he was 13. His first eclipse lasted only 14-seconds in 1995 along the border of Iran and Afghanistan. “I had a long list of tasks for totality, but when it arrived I was just a caveman shivering at the power of nature. I only clicked the shutter once.” Babak photographs celestial and astronomical events around the world.

Weather is a big consideration, so I’ll check the National Weather Service daily and use