Here are a few images I took during the solar eclipse which peaked in London shortly after 7pm on August 12, 2026. The heatwave was in full force and alongside hundreds of others, me and my husband Stephen walked up Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath. I was merely armed with a camera but lots of people had prepared picnic gear and were encamped on towels and blankets on the parched, drought-affected grass:
There was also a homely feel reminiscent of the DIY creative projects on the long-running BBC TV children’s show Blue Peter, with people repurposing old cereal boxes and using household items like colanders:
We had brought along a green plastic colander and sheet of white paper. Next a few photographs featuring the aforementioned colander!
Below, profile shot of my husband Stephen and the colander, followed by an an image of his outstretched arm holding the paper with multiple crescent shadows caused by the eclipse:
Despite the shortage described by the media many people seemed to have obtained special eclipse glasses:
The atmosphere was friendly and festival-like, with a sense of community and joint purpose:
The couple below must have kept their glasses for the 27 years since the August 1999 eclipse. Hope their eyes are still ok!
Above, me and Stephen during the eclipse peak, shot by Stephen on his iPhone. Examining the photo now I can see there’s a luminous crescent reflection on his shoulder blade.
