Look! Up in the sky!
🎶 Total Eclipse (of the heart... sing it!)
How many of you have experienced a total solar eclipse? How many of you have witnessed it multiple times?! 👉I have!👈
The first total solar eclipse I've witnessed was when I was in grade school, in the 80's, in the Philippines.
I remember lining up to go out to the basket ball court with film strips that I've taken from one of our photo albums (my aunt worked for a photo processing store so we have tons of pictures with film strips. I don't think I was interested in photography back then. I remember being shy in front of a camera. Looking at my old pics now, I look so awkward. And nature tripping wasn't a thing. I grew up in Manila and the closest to nature that I've been was when we go to my Grandparent's house in Antipolo. We call their place bundok which is by the way, the origin word of boondocks. But I digress.)
We squatted down (growing up I was told not to sit on a warm cement. It'll give me the runs. I have yet debunk that theory) and waited for the moon to cover the sun. Of course back then I'm not paying attention to what's happening unless I was told to but I do remember that it got dark for a few minutes and wearing a couple of film strips like a pair of sunglasses.
My next total solar eclipse encounter was when I was in Idaho back in 2017. I actually took a day off and drove to Sweet, Idaho and hiked Squaw Butte now called Sehewoki'I Newenee'an Katete (we all know why from my last post).
This time, I actually have eclipse sunglasses and getting into photography and editing so I really want to get a good image of the eclipse. And this time, I laid down on the side of the trail and really enjoyed watching it while clicking on the camera.
Then my co-workers shared images of seeing the eclipse at the parking lot and I'm like.. huh.. I could have just stayed in Boise.
And my latest experience witnessing the total solar eclipse was in my own front yard in Milo, Maine. But no "official" solar eclipse glasses this time. No eyes or lens protection. I figured no one would want to come up to Milo, Maine to watch the solar eclipse. Walgreens or the 5 or 7 convenient stores around me should have them. Incorrect.
I drove around and they were all out! All out! Not that they never had them, they were all out! Why? This is the heart of Maine. Sleepy town after sleepy town after sleepy freaking town! Nobody "visits" the heart of Maine after snowmobile season. And I did not think the town would care about things like this.
Note to self. My new adopted town cares about celestial events.
So now what? Well thank goodness for being sentimental. I keep almost everything that means a lot to me. Yes, I am a hoarder. But not a TV hoarder (hoarders you see on TV). Mine truly have meaning. Like film strips from the 80s!!! Yessssss!!! Those film strips. They survived and I was beyond thankful for being a hoarder, I mean, sentimental.
And then what? I'm like, I have an hour to spare. I should find a decent spot - a more open spot. So I drove around, looking for an open spot and couldn't find one.
Note to self #2: heart of Maine = north woods = no open space! I miss Idaho.
So I drove back home, set-up my camping chair, tripod and a folding table in my front lawn and watched the moon once again, completely covering the mighty sun.
Once again, I went back to the basket ball court. The darkness and eeriness and stillness was such a unique experience.
Night's A Glow
A few weeks later, my aurora app told me that the northern lights will be 3% visible in my area. Why not. So I packed my gear and head out to Schoodic Lake in Lake View, Plantation. A 10 min drive from my house and the most open area you'll find in Milo, Maine.
I have several pictures of the northern lights since I moved to Maine in 2021.
But my camera lens mostly sees them. They were never visible in the naked eye. Until this day. Well... I mean... I can kind'a see the dust of it. LOL. Not like how you'd see it if you're in Iceland or Finland. But still.. to be able to see the shape of it, how it shoots up, it was a surreal experience. It was so unbelievable to me that I got teary eyed.
A local photographer/Iceland tour extraordinaire was there too and we chatted all night. I was really happy to have shared that experience with him. He gave me some tips and tricks on how to setup my camera when taking northern light pictures.
But you need to stay tuned. There's more aurora story in the future.
Where to next, Puu?
Beach in MA and to the eastern most place in the US!
In the meantime, check out my store to see more images like this! Or maybe follow my Instagram page. Or maybe get some free stock photos. Thank you internet!
Be inspired. Breath fresh air. Don't just survive. Thrive.
