Are these the only successful daguerreotypes of the 2024 Solar Eclipse?

The question in the title is a real one. This video was originally posted to Instagram on April 8, 2024 after I completed a three-daguerreotype sequence of the Great America Total Solar Eclipse as it’s become known. I have been contacted by many people offering congratulations and asking many questions but no one has yet identified any other known examples of a successful daguerreotype made of this eclipse event. I would like to try to confirm if these are the only ones. If you know of any other daguerreotypist (there aren’t many of us) who succeeded in capturing the eclipse, please contact me so that I can connect with them and see their plates.
I made the daguerreotypes from my studio in Southern California where we had about 55-65% coverage. I was unable to make travel work to try to reach the band of totality but I feel incredibly privileged to have still been able to attempt this, let alone succeed in capturing the eclipse on three plates.
To answer some common questions:
1. The sun appears black or blue-black in the daguerreotypes because it has solarized on the plate. Even with the extraordinarily slow speed of the daguerreotype process the exposure was approximately 1/4 - 1/2 of a second. I’m used to working with slow processes that don’t require a camera shutter so I had to just wing it and hope for the best. Fortunately it worked.
2. Lots of questions about if the daguerreotypes are for sale. I haven’t really decided that yet. One thing I can answer is that they absolutely will not be sold individually. They are an eclipse sequence and as such, together they constitute a singular object. So they will not be separated.
3. I have not heard of anyone else having successfully captured this eclipse in a daguerreotype. I have heard of some other attempts but not other successes. I may have gotten incredibly lucky and these may be the only daguerreotypes in the world of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse.
4. I made both the wood solar viewer and the white lens-scope used for this project using parts that I collect for various photographic and astronomy purposes. They are a hodgepodge of optics and are highly modified.
5. It’ll likely be 21-22 years until the next time I’ll have the opportunity to capture another eclipse like this one. Thats because the chemicals I use are very hazardous and cannot be flown on a plane so I’ll have to wait until the next total solar eclipses in North America on Aug 23, 2044 and Aug 12, 2045. Yes, I’m already planning for that one.
Thank you again to everyone who shared the eclipse post and also those who sent kind words! I do what I do because I truly love it and love sharing my passion with others. Your support means the world to me. Also a huge thanks to my wife, Laura, who I could not have done this without. Thank you!
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Statement on disabled comments as of 8/2024:
In an effort to focus more on my work with reduced distractions, I have limited my social media usage and disabled engagement features where possible -- this includes commenting across all social media that I use. When I share content, I'm doing so mostly as a record for myself and to share with those who follow my work in a bulletin board type fashion. While I appreciate the responses of my viewers, the nature of how these platforms work means that I am frequently inundated with one word comments, emojis, and spam. I spend very little time online and since I am not creating content to chase engagement, I have found that the best way for me to respond to meaningful questions and discussion is directly via email. I prefer 1:1 communication and this helps me further reduce time online, make more meaningful connections, and increase time spent in the studio. Those who follow my work understand how important this is to me. So, if you have questions or would like to share something with me, please feel free to email me through my website. Thank you.