TECHNOLOGY TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET LEFT IN THE DARK DURING THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Whether you are located in the eclipse’s path of totality or not, you can still get great photos and video of this rare moment with a smartphone or drone. U.S. Cellular has tips and tricks to safely capture and enjoy the total solar eclipse, which beats waiting for the next occurrence in the continental U.S. in October 2023.
“We encourage people to grab their wireless devices and accessories to help enhance the memories of this special occurrence, while also keeping safety tips in mind,” said Nathan Waddell, U.S. Cellular’s director of sales in the Mid-South. “We want to ensure our customers can view and share this rare phenomenon, so we provide a strong network and the latest top-of-the-line devices to help them take high-quality photos and video to commemorate the event.”
While the total solar eclipse is not to be missed, there are safety procedures that should be followed. Looking directly at the sun or taking photos of it without a special filter is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse, when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s face. More information is available online through NASA at https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov or the American Astronomical Society at https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/websites.
Keeping safety in mind, U.S. Cellular offers the following smartphone and drone tips to help you capture the total solar eclipse:
• No Flashing – To ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone around you, do not use a camera flash of any kind because it will ruin the dark adaptation of people’s eyes and could spoil the event for others.
• App Way to Capture It – Individuals should experiment with their smartphone camera settings ahead of time and consider downloading an app, such as Camera+ or NightCap Camera for iPhone and iPad or Night Camera for Android devices. These apps can provide higher quality photos and video in low-light and help you prepare to capture this moment. For additional preparation, you can pre-focus your camera on a full moon prior to the event, double check camera settings and make sure your device is fully charged.
• Drone Do’s and Don’ts – Drones are suitable to catch video of the approaching and retreating shadow of the moon as it crosses the landscape and the fun reactions of people enjoying the eclipse, however, they aren’t good for catching the eclipse itself. If you decide to fly a drone during the solar eclipse, avoid populated areas and practice good wireless etiquette by not flying a drone between crowds and the eclipse.
• Not Too Close – Most smartphone cameras will be able to pick up the moon’s darkened disk surrounded by a recognizable bright solar corona, but you should avoid zooming into the eclipse, as it will give you a pixelated, enlarged image that will not show much detail.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier offers coverage where the other carriers don’t and a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. U.S. Cellular has the Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance in the North Central Region, according to the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, and 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.
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