Everyone watched with rapt attention on Monday, April 8, as the moon overtook the sun’s rays in a total eclipse, creating a dusky darkness in the middle of the afternoon. And with a click of a button and a whir of a shutter, Mr. Brian Youn had captured this fleeting moment. 

Beginning nearly a decade ago, Mr. Youn’s passion for photography commenced when he started traveling around the world. 

“When you travel and you find yourself in cool looking places, and you’re like me, [with] an affinity for toys and gadgets, camera gear is like a natural progression,” Mr. Youn said. 

With a particular interest in landscape photography, Mr. Youn has diligently documented his travels for years, honing his craft at the same time. 

“[I like photographing] anything that when you look at [that] picture, it’s something that makes you think ‘Man, I wish I could be there right now,’” Mr. Youn said. 

Photographing a total eclipse requires unique preparation to capture the moment effectively. When it comes to getting a good shot, the correct equipment, angle, and timing are all incredibly important. 

“I was technically prepared,” Mr. Youn said. “I had my camera and my long lens in my backpack for like two weeks, ready to go.”

On the day of the eclipse, the cloudy weather turned out to be another obstacle that Mr. Youn would need to overcome to get a good shot. 

“We went outside at one o’clock, and I almost didn’t take my backpack. I was like, ‘We’re not gonna be able to see anything,’” Mr. Youn said. “But once we got out there, I was like, ‘Cool, let me see how many shots I can get.’”

Despite all the research, preparation, and set-up, Mr. Youn was still able to be in the moment while simultaneously capturing the total eclipse. Total eclipses are rarely visible from the United States, and Austin was lucky enough to be in the direct path of totality. 

“Honestly, I wasn’t even photographing it, I was just experiencing it,” Mr. Youn said. “You know, we built it up and the anticipation was incredibly high, but experiencing it was cooler than I anticipated.” 

As a photographer, Mr. Youn hopes that his oeuvre will inspire people to go out and experience the world around them, even when there’s not a once-in-a-lifetime scientific phenomenon occurring. 

“When I started traveling a lot, it kind of opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many beautiful, wonderful, fantastic places,” Mr. Youn said. “There are people all around the world with fantastic stories, and it’s awesome to be able to hear how people live in other places. I feel like that’s eye-opening, and really opening for the soul. And if anyone ever sees any of my pictures and thinks, ‘Wow, I need to get out there’, then that’s what I’m going for.”

More of Mr. Youn’s photography is available on his Instagram.