Planning for the next Eclipse... In Australia

I've started planning for a trip to Australia in July of 2028 to photograph the solar eclipse on July 22 of 2028.

The eclipse path crosses the entire continent from the NW all the way down, to Sydney. Sydney is actually directly in the middle of the path of totality.



I have a friend in Australia still, I think, in Adelaide. So hopefully I can connect with him and get some local support. I'll be traveling with my wife and my daughter who will be 23 by then.

Travel: Flying from Tulsa, Oklahoma is about a 22 hour long trip, with ~15-16 hours in the air between the U.S. and Sydney, Australia. Obviously you can't book flights until a year out at most, and hopefully the global economy won't crash between now and then. Hopefully, Sydney is a big enough city that the extra tourists coming to see the eclipse won't make a significant impact on the local hotel availability (unlike the Iceland eclipse in August this year, where all 17 hotels room in the country are already booked). Also, this eclipse happens right in the middle of the LA Olympics in 2028, so hopefully that takes some of the tourist and airline brunt since we'll be flying in the opposite direction.

I have a specific prospective location just north of Sydney that should provide about 3:42 of totality. But I need to figure out a back up location in the event that weather spoils my plans.

Cameras: Definitely taking my my R6 mkII and my R6 mkIII and probably my RP for candid and people photography while the two R6's are shooting the eclipse. I'll also be bringing my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for video and vlogging.

Lenses: Definitely taking my RF 100-500 for the eclipse. And my RF24-70 and 70-200 for general photography during the rest of the trip.

I need to pick up an RF1.4x extender for the 100-500. I'm debating on either getting another 100-500, or a RF 200-800 possibly. I already have a KASE magnetic ND100000 16.5 stop solar filter for the 100-500 and will pick up another once I figure out what secondary lens I'll be using. I have battery grips for both the R6s so I'm not worried about running out of juice. But I do need to get another sturdy tripod. Right now I have a Magnus fluid head video tripod, and a Sirui lightweight carbon fiber travel tripod with a ball head. But I need a better sturdy tripod for the second camera.

Travel gear: I currently have two Pelican carry-on size cases: a Protector 1510, and an Air 1535. I also have two larger Pelicans: a 1560 and a 1650 for really large items. But I don't think I'll need to use the 1650. I'm planning to use the Air 1535 and/or the 1510 for carry on duties. But the airline regulations are changing these days, and carry-on restrictions are getting tighter. Need to avoid checking camera gear at all costs.

Some of the things, like tripods and cables can be packed in the checked baggage. Cameras, lenses and batteries will stay with us as we travel. Luckily, with three of us, I can assign a carry on camera gear case to everyone as needed in addition to our personal bags (backpacks).

If any of you guys have flown internationally with camera gear lately, please chime in with your experiences and suggestions.

Shooting: I'm going to use automation software to control the actual photography. Seems like the most most popular are Set'n'C for Windows and Solar Eclipse Maestro for Mac. I need to start working with these and figure out which one works better. They both will control multiple cameras. Leaning towards the Eclipse Maestro as I can run my MacBook Pro on an External USB-C power bank for an extra 2 or 3 hours.

Here's the two best photos I took from the eclipse on April 8, 2024 here in Oklahoma, at the Hugo Damn in Hugo, Oklahoma.

@JCBigler do you need assistance carrying your camera gear? If it comes with transportation, accommodations, and meals... I am here for you.

I caught the Transit of Venus back in 2012 on a very cloudy day.

Experiencing totality is definitely on my Bucket List. Photographing it would be icing on the cake. My sister pointed out that they have 'eclipse cruises', which have the advantage of allowing the captain to maneuver the ship to the closest clear skies... And then maximizing totality by motoring along a fast as possible along shadow's path. Now that would be awesome!

Dean Wilson said:

@JCBigler do you need assistance carrying your camera gear? If it comes with transportation, accommodations, and meals... I am here for you.

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I'll match that offer - and up the ante by bringing my own scotch!

Dean Wilson said:

@JCBigler do you need assistance carrying your camera gear? If it comes with transportation, accommodations, and meals... I am here for you.

I caught the Transit of Venus back in 2012 on a very cloudy day.

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I haven't ruled out the option of "leading" a photo expedition... Apparently they can be quite...lucrative. I need to talk to my friend in Adelaide and see what he has to say and figure out if the location that I want to shoot from will allow it.

I've seen two total solar eclipses so far in my life, once in Missouri in 2017, and then again here in Oklahoma in 2024. The one in 2017 I had just my crappy 60D, and the even crappier EF75-300 lens which didn't do anything and I couldn't get squat in focus. But the experience was mind blowing. (There was also an annular eclipse in 1992 that I saw also, but I was in elementary school and barely remember it).

In 2024 my daughter and I went eclipse chasing, tried to stay mobile and ended up in SE Oklahoma. It was cloudy the whole morning and you can't even see the sun disk at all. Then about 10 or 15 minutes before totality, the sky opened up and we started getting a clear view of the sun. And I was able to get some good pics with my R6 mkII. I also had the R7 at the time, but none of those pics were usable at all.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental US won't be until August 12 of 2045. I'll be 66 then, and it will probably be my last total eclipse. Luckily, totality runs right across the state of Oklahoma including our property.

July in Sydney is supposed to have a 75-80% chance of clear skies, and it's the dry season, as well as winter. Weather: highs in the 60s, overnight lows in the 40s. It should provide a good chance of clear skies. Won't really be beach and bikini weather, but you can't get everything you want all the time, right?

I also want to take a side trip up north to Warrumbungle National Park, which is a recognized dark sky location in Australia. It's about a 6 hour drive from Sydney. And June to August is the prime Milky Way view season. The Eclipse happens smack dab in the middle of that period. And of course all the cool wildlife there is to see.

It’s going to be visible in NZ too, although the path of totality will be to south of me. Might have to plan something nearer the time. Plenty of good locations to choose from…

Bucolic Old Sir Henry said:

It’s going to be visible in NZ too, although the path of totality will be to south of me. Might have to plan something nearer the time. Plenty of good locations to choose from…

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I was looking at New Zeeland for a bit too. But there is a singular location that I want to try to shoot from that is just north of Sydney.
I'd love to get to New Zeeland, but not sure that I ever will. This one trip may be a once in a life time trip for us.

...although, there is another total solar eclipse that crosses Australia and New Zeeland 9 years later in 2037...so, we'll see...

JCBigler said:

...although, there is another total solar eclipse that crosses Australia and New Zeeland 9 years later in 2037...so, we'll see...

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11 years at my age might be pushing it.

If I get to 2028 I’ll be happy.

For my fellow Astro-Geeks: I've always thought this video was fascinating.