Capturing an eclipse at Western
A one-in-a-million shot of this past June’s solar eclipse also showcases the university’s campus.
When Allan Leparskas woke up before 5 a.m. on June 10, he knew exactly where he was going and what he was going to do that morning: take a photo of the annular solar eclipse that was scheduled to happen that day. His father, Henry Leparskas, a retired computer resource technician for Western University’s physics and astronomy department, had already scoped out where they were going to take their pictures: Brescia University College hill at Western.
“My dad and I do photography as a hobby together. We mostly take photos of celestial events, eclipses, interstellar clouds, basically anything astronomy-related,” Mr. Leparskas says. “As we knew where the sun would rise, one location we thought would work was on the hill at Brescia University College which would give us a great vantage point and also provide us with Western University as a foreground.”
As the two were setting up their equipment, they were joined by a few members of the university community, as well as joggers who were passing by on their morning run. Eventually, a crowd of about 10 to 15 people joined them to watch the eclipse. One of the observers, Jan Cami, an associate professor in Western’s department of physics and astronomy, handed out eclipse glasses so people could watch safely.
At 5:52 a.m., Mr. Leparskas, a Western alumnus, snapped what could arguably be a perfect shot of the eclipse. For all of the amateur photographers who are curious, he used a Canon 6D Mark II with an EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. “One important thing to note was that this shot was taken without a solar filter due to how hazy it was, along with there being some thin clouds in the distance. Once the sun was higher in the sky, I had to put the solar filter on the lens to capture the rest of the eclipse.”
His intention is to make a collage of the eclipse through its phases with the Middlesex and University College towers as the foreground. He may even enter the photo in a contest or two.
Featured Jobs
- Fashion - Instructional Assistant/Associate Professor (Creative & Cultural Industries)Chapman University - Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Vice-President Research & Scientific EngagementMS Canada
- Economics - Associate/Full Professor of TeachingThe University of British Columbia
- Public Policy - JW McConnell Visiting ScholarMcGill University
- Public Policy - JW McConnell Professor of Practice McGill University
More from News
-
Headlines for December 6, 2024
CBC NewsQuebec adopts bill to restrict international student enrolmentUniversities, opposition worry about Bill 74 undermining academic autonomy. CTV NewsUWindsor lands amongst top research universities in CanadaThe University of Windsor has been named one of the top research universities...
-
Headlines for December 5, 2024
City NewsOttawa outlines $2B in spending for artificial intelligence computing powerThe federal government says it will spend up to $1 billion to build public computing infrastructure for the Canadian artificial intelligence sector, part of a $2 billion...
-
Headlines for December 4, 2024
CNW NewsFederal government establishes council to deliver Canada's first National Infrastructure AssessmentSean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, announced the new Canadian Infrastructure Council, an expert advisory body that will deliver the country's first-ever National...
-
New life for Dimensions
A little over a year after the program was quietly shut down, it has been quietly revived.
More from Articles
-
Take part in UA’s gender equity survey
Help promote strategies towards meaningful change.
-
Engaging the public in sidewalk astronomy
The #popscope project energizes public spaces through experiential, free-choice learning.
-
New zine developed by OCAD U students helps artists perfect the art of tabling
‘The goal was to create something both practical and visually engaging,’ says one of the creators.
-
Quebec universities concerned about losing their autonomy
Ottawa has tightened the belt on international student admissions in Canada. Now Quebec wants to implement further changes, but universities are worried the Legault government might go too far.
Post a comment
University Affairs moderates all comments according to the following guidelines. If approved, comments generally appear within one business day. We may republish particularly insightful remarks in our print edition or elsewhere.