Johnathan Walker:Use these tips to help get a great photo of the solar eclipse with just your phone

The Johnathan Walker2024 solar eclipse is April 8 and since a total solar eclipse won't be seen in the United States again until 2044, you may want to hang onto the memory.

For most people, that will entail reaching for their phone to grab pictures and videos.

The 115-mile path of totality will cover portions of the Midwest, the Rust Belt and the Northeast, though most of the country will get to see the moon pass in front of at least a portion of the sun.

Some places will see totality for about four minutes, so being prepared to capture the peak moment is important.

Here are some simple tips to make better photos during the solar eclipse.

Understanding eclipses:Why don't eclipses happen every month? Moon's tilted orbit is the key.

Protect your eyes and your phone

Much the same way one should protect their eyes when watching the eclipse by wearing eclipse glasses, one should protect their phone when taking pictures of it.

For taking casual photos with a phone before or after totality, use solar film or hold eclipse glasses over the lens to protect it. It is easier to keep the protection on during totality, but just as eclipse glasses can be removed from your eyes during totality, the same goes for phone lenses.

Remember to protect both your eyes and your phone. If you are viewing from an area where totality will be reached, eye and lens protection can be removed during those two to four minutes of totality.

If you are using a telescope or binoculars with a phone, use a solar filter to protect against concentrated sunlight.

Samsung recommends using a solar filter when taking longer exposures during the event when using its phones.

Practice ahead of time

Before the eclipse arrives, test any gear — tripods, lens protection, apps, etc. — you plan to use that day. The window to see the moon's shadow is small so you don't want the experience to be felled by technical glitches.

"You think, 'Oh, I'm gonna be like, super prepared,' but it is a big rush," Carly Stocks, a Utah-based astronomical photographer told USA TODAY. "So you want to have a plan and practice."

You can also use apps, such as PhotoPills, to plan locations and time photos.

Look around for photo opportunities beyond the eclipse itself

There will be many people taking pictures of the eclipse itself so it might be wise to turn your lens away from where everyone else is pointing theirs.

Take photos of people observing the eclipse and the scene of any eclipse gatherings. This will connect the human and astral experiences.

If you find yourself in a spot where there are few people present, try putting the eclipse in context using the surrounding structures or nature as a frame.

Don't try to capture an eclipse selfie

With a proper solar filter, you can capture the sun with the front camera lens during the solar eclipse, but it won't make the best selfie.

Stocks said the camera will have trouble focusing on both you and the sun. She recommends taking a photo focusing on each and blending the two together with editing software.

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY