April 8th 2024 Eclipse
Click here to purchase this print: https://www.nicholasisabella.com/astrophotography/p/eclipse-over-the-adirondack-mountains
Last weekend, my wife and I embarked on a journey to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles: a total solar eclipse. Our destination? The amazing Adirondack Mountains.
We began our trip early Saturday morning around 2:00 AM. Our Jeep was packed with camping gear and my favorite 00’s rock playlist was cued up. The drive from New York City to the Adirondacks is always a scenic one, but this time it felt more than that. I had a sense of excitement I’ve never quite felt before. As we moved away from the city, the landscape transformed into rolling hills and pretty forests, a preview of natures beauty that awaited us.
Navigating through the winding roads of the Adirondacks, we were in search of a perfect spot to camp. We finally stumbled upon a secluded campsite, deep in the woods through a fresh layer of snowfall, nestled beside a beautiful lake. It was as if the universe had reserved this spot just for us. Surrounded by tall trees and the sounds of nature, it felt like stepping into paradise.
We set up our campsite, turned on our diesel heater and made dinner. As you can see in the video above snow was still falling and it was a brisk 30 degrees outside.
Saturday and Sunday passed in a blur of excitement of the eclipse and worries about cloud cover. The thought of missing the solar eclipse due to clouds loomed large, we had many conversations about relocating to Vermont or even Maine but Mariya and I ultimately decided to stay put and roll the dice for clear enough skies. We woke up early on Monday, the day of the eclipse and were greeted by rays of sunshine. However, as early afternoon approached, skies filled with thin high clouds, something we were afraid of. But we would soon learn the thin clouds didn’t affect the eclipse much at all.
Finally the moon began to slide in front of the sun, causing eerie colors and strange shadows. And then almost instantly, daylight turned to darkness and temperatures dropped. Birds immediately started singing and moving loudly amongst the branches above our heads. Animals all around us started to move, including mice and chipmunks running by our feet. The world seemed to hold its breath. Stars and planets appeared before our eyes and the horizon glowed with a sunset that circled all around us. The glow of the Corona of the Sun, made visible by the moon's complete cover, was a sight so mesmerizing it felt almost spiritual.
Click here to purchase this print: https://www.nicholasisabella.com/astrophotography/p/phases-of-the-elcipse
As the sun returned and normal daylight resumed, everything around seemed transformed. That evening, as we sat by the campfire, Mariya and I shared our feelings of awe of the overwhelming beauty we had witnessed. The eclipse was not just a celestial event; it was a life-changing experience.
We decided to spend another night in the Adirondacks to avoid all the traffic. Packing up early Tuesday morning, we felt a mixture of sadness to leave but gratefulness for what we’d experienced. The drive back to NYC was quiet, reflective and filled with discussions about the the past few days.