UV filters to photograph solar eclipse selling out in Western Wash., tips if you don't have one

Photographers in Western Washington are greatly anticipating the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, but if you didn’t get a solar filter for your camera, you’re likely out of luck.  The rush on the UV filters surprised even the biggest camera enthusiasts at Glazer’s Camera in Seattle’s South Lake Union.

“In the last 30 days it's been really kind of crazy,” Glazer’s co-owner Rebecca Kaplan said on Wednesday.  “We've been selling solar filters like crazy.  We've sold out.  And it seems like everybody regionally has gone through their inventory as well.”

Professional photographer Pete Saloutos planned well in advance.  Six months ago, he reserved an 800 millimeter lens worth $17,000 and two solar filters for his two cameras.  He picked them up at Glazer’s on Wednesday.  He told KIRO 7 he’s excited and nervous for the big moment on Monday.

“There's all these things going on in my mind,” Saloutos said.  “It's now or never, I won't have another opportunity.”

He's already scouted his location in Weiser, Idaho, and had solar eclipse T-shirts made for the people he’s staying with and helping him out.

“I'm bringing my daughter, who's into supernatural phenomena,” Saloutos said.  “And we're going to experience this together.”

The experts at Glazer’s emphasize if you don’t have a solar filter for your camera, do not point it at the eclipse.  It will ruin your filter.  But they stress there will still be great moments to photograph aside from the sun.

“Just photographing the faces,” Daniel Rodriquez, of Glazer’s, said.  “And people around the event would be really interesting and cool.“

Cox Media Group