Hey guys!.
This is a warning so basic it almost sounds stupid. In fact it's one of the first things we hear from our parents:
"Do not look directly at the sun"
Duh!, right?
(and to imagine there are some spiritualism enthusiasts that encourage sungazing is something that completely baffles me)
Well, it happens that I wanted to make one of those sunset photos where the Sun hasn't totally set yet, so you could admire it's perfectly circular shape while the sky around it looked like on fire.
You can find said photo below.
And of course I tried not to look directly at the Sun through the camera's viewfinder; but like a damn moth, sometimes I couldn't resist but to take micro glances at it while focusing and shooting.
Consider that, plus the fact that the photo session lasted a good 7 to 8 minutes until the sun had finally set behind the mountains.
At the end of the session my left eye was really hurting, and I could see a huge stain on my retina caused by the sun "burning" it.
Let me tell you one thing, don't be a fool like me.
I spent about four hours (like the perfect dork) with my left eye closed. And I reconfirmed my screen addiction since I couldn't stop working on the computer, and I finished work I laid in bed and single-eyed binge watched the last two episodes of "Better Than Us" on Netflix (100% recommended if you are into Sci-Fi, by the way). Yes, I think I've a screen problem.
So yeah, it took a full four hours of closed eye for the "sun stain" to wear off my left eye.
The lesson here to learn is: don't be a fool like me, and avoid looking directly to the Sun!. Or wear sunglasses while shooting. Or don't shoot sunsets through the viewfinder, use the camera screen instead (if yours has one).
Oh, and here are some sunflowers shot during the same session.
What protective measures do you follow while shooting sunsets?
Stay safe!
@greencross
Disclaimer: all photos shot by me. Don't use them. Thanks.