Morning kayakers on Lake Natoma just before the eclipse

I didn’t shoot any photos during last Sunday’s solar eclipse, although I was lucky to be able to catch a few glimpses of it from my backyard. I did have to wait patiently for a few holes in the cloud cover, but it was well worth it! I certainly remember the last solar eclipse that was visible in my area, back on August 21, 2017. It fell on a Monday rather than a Saturday, which I suppose is why there didn’t seem to be as many local viewing events as there were this year. Instead, I hiked up to the bluffs above Lake Natoma, just east of Nimbus Dam, and shared the experience with only one guy and his dog. It was such a cool way to start the week and a memory I’ll remember for a very long time.

It was quite a climb, but the view was superb

Mississippi Bar, with Sierra Nevada on the horizon

Marker at the top of the bluff

One particular type of eclipse photo currently popping up features the odd crescent-shaped shadows cast through tree leaves and branches.I definitely remember seeing shadows like these in 2017, and I swore I shot at least one photo of them. Unfortunately, a search through my photo archive doesn’t match up with the images I remember. I do have pictures of the shadows, but sadly none of them look anywhere near as impressive as the examples you can find all over the internet today. The good news is that we’re apparently due for another solar eclipse in early April 2024, so I may have another chance at some cool shadow shots!

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