The amazing Solar Eclipse of 2024. Taken at Shoal Bay, on Lake Dardanelle, near New Blaine, Arkansas.

The calm before the storm - I rest before the big event.I sit on the dock at sunrise, at peace before the hectic solar eclipse I'll be shooting later in the day.

(Tammy takes a few minutes to rest - the calm before the storm)

My arm hurt for months due to aiming my camera up at the sky, every 4-5 minutes for two hours.

Beautiful still waters and mountain view landscapeNew Blaine, Arkansas's Dardonelle Lake features distant mountains and a shandy shoreline. Dawn photograph with wispy clouds and blue sky.

(Lake Dardanelle at sunrise)

The eclipse began at 12:33 p.m. and lasted until 3:10, with totality from 1:49 CDT 1:53.

Photos of the eclipse from beginning to end are here.

2024 Solar Eclipse, New Blaine, Arkansas2024 Solar Eclipse, New Blaine, Arkansas, at totality   2024 Solar Eclipse, New Blaine, Arkansas, fun shadows of leavesShadows of leaves take on a new texture and shape during the Eclipse of 2024, New Blaine, Arkansas. Shadow of the person taking a photo with a point and shoot camera, wearing a ballcap.   2024 Solar Eclipse, New Blaine, Arkansas, the sky darkensA family views the eclipse from the fishing dock. Lake scene with jettyLake Dardonelle in the morning at sunrise, stillw aters, mist on the lake. Peaceful outdoor scenic dawn.

I used a Canon 7D and Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II USM. The camera body and lens, combined, weigh over 6 lbs. 

Tammy Harding taking a photo of totality With a tripod fail, Tammy takes photos hand held. Totality shows a darkened landscape and sky at the campground. This photo is lightened, otherwise it would look totally dark.

(6 pounds of equipment, hand held. Photo taken at totality had to be lightened, it was so very dark.).

Photos of the area during the eclipse are in this gallery.

As the moon took chunks out of the sun, I felt the weather change. The lake went from still to choppy to still again, and a cool breeze came up. As it got darker, birds, including buzzards, all began to fly over, apparently to the their resting spot - they thought it was bedtime! The shadows of tree leaves on the asphalt were really cool!

As totality began, I took off my solar sunglasses and removed the solar filter from the camera. Someone in the campground had been playing music from the 60s and 70s, but as it got dark,  they played Johny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”, and as the sun came back out, “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beetles.  There was loud cheering and applause accompanying the eerie darkness. 

The party seemed to break up after totality, though I stayed and continued to take photos.

It was an experience of a lifetime.