Stories

From Tom Massey:

1998 Total Solar Eclipse observed in Antigua, BWI. Being an avid astrophotographer I had my high end Hasselblad medium format camera set up with two 12 exposure backs available and a 500mm lens. I planned to shoot the partial phases with one film back and then change backs to a fresh one for the total phase. Good plan right? Wrong! When the total phase began I had my new back installed on the camera, tried to trip the shutter for the first shot and the shutter would not budge. Again I tried and again and again and the shutter was locked. Long story short, I had forgotten to reset the film counter when I loaded the film back the night before. Needless to say I missed the total phase completely. Was I aggravated? Yes !!! And that is an understatement.