A photographer has captured a composite image showing the stages of the 12 August 2026 solar eclipse over London's Big Ben and the UK Houses of Parliament.
Toshi Omagari produced the image by capturing multiple shots of the solar eclipse at various stages, then stitching them together using image-processing software.
"I wanted to take advantage of the low altitude of the eclipse by incorporating a famous London landmark, so I scouted various places around the city," he says.
"I eventually decided on the Big Ben tower, as its predicted Sun position would fit nicely in the frame.
"I secured a nice view along the Thames Path walkway on the other side of the tower.
As the Sun got darker and the atmosphere cooler, the whole area went unusually quiet, everyone facing the same direction.
"I took quite a few shots – the Sun using a solar filter and the tower after sunset – and composited them afterwards.
"Considering the heavy crowd, I was quite lucky that my lightweight tripod wasn't knocked over during the long shoot!
"The image came out exactly how I envisioned; a majestic yet tranquil moment over the majestic building.
"As someone with only a few years of experience with photography, I am quite pleased with the shot."
Capture details
- Camera: FujiFilm X-E4
- Lens: Sigma 18–50mm with solar filter
- Exposure for the eclipse: f/8, 1/4000s, ISO 3200, 5-minute intervals
- Exposure for Big Ben: f/8, 1/180, ISO 640
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