Finding a non cloudy spot was going to be a challenge.  Discovering whether I had the skills to capture a shot was a completely different story.  

The forecast last night wasn't pretty and I wasn't getting my hopes to high on the weather front and would have to just act quickly and try my hand on the skill side of things!  Nothing ventured as they say though so I was up with the lark and set off on my mission.  

Glasgow was grey, with slashes in the clouds.  "Maybe there is hope!" I thought.  Cumbernauld was grey, with no breaks in cover!  Stirling looked promising with big clear patches.  However there was still 2-3 hours to go so would the cloud fill in?  I could see the potential of a shot with the Wallace monument as an out of focus addition to the photo?  Were my skills up to it?

No, I wanted clearer skies.  Driving on Perth arrived and it was clear, with blue skies!  Should I go on still further?  The coast was forecast to be clear however this looked good.  Perth it was to be then.

Before the Eclipse

I sort of just landed at Perth's South Inches Park. I found a suitable car parking space and the park became my base for the coming extravaganza.  

Where to set up, could I use the trees to frame a shot?  A couple of tests showed that the sun would be tiny so my focus became how to get the sun as big and sharp as possible.

As the time rolled on I was joined my some locals.  I met Sue and her daughter Tori with their 6 month old puppy Toby.  Then there was, Joan who had been curious as to what I was up to and why I had moved further across the pitches.  Nothing escaped Joans attention!  It was lovely to meet them in all seriousness and they were loitering to take in the spectacle in too.  We ended up with quite a gaggle around us.  Toby was joined by one of his friends Baxter and a big greyhound with another guy.  This gent had his pin hole projection kit...two bits of paper, but it worked a treat and gave us another view of the eclipse.

The light dimmed, the temperature dropped and as 0930 UTC came and went the eclipse passed though its maximum for our point in the world.  Oh to be in the Faroes with the totality they would have been experiencing.  Apparently America in 2017 is up for an eclipse, must go and look out where and when.

My result for the morning is my piece below, brought together with the aid of the app Diptych.  It may not be earth shattering however it was thoroughly good fun and a spectacle to experience.

As for our next total solar eclipse in the UK, well that is not till 2090 so we either need to head to Asia in March next year or Tennessee on Aug 17 2017. Road trip anyone?

Solar Eclipse