Two side by side photos of a total solar eclipse
My photo of the total solar eclipse (left) next to a professional shot of a total solar eclipse from 2015 (right).
  • Taking a great photo of a total solar eclipse is hard, so I asked a NatGeo photographer for help.
  • Babak Tafreshi has been photographing solar eclipses for 30 years. He's seen them on all seven continents.
  • For him, the most challenging part is controlling his own excitement enough to get a clear shot.

Total solar eclipses aren't something you see every day. Monday's eclipse was the last one we'll see in the US for another 20 years.