Captured during the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse over León, Spain, this composite image by Engelbert Vollmer showcases the ethereal solar corona flanked by the rapid transition phases of totality. To bring out the intricate details of the Sun's outer atmosphere—a superheated plasma stretching millions of kilometers along magnetic field lines—the photograph was crafted using an HDR (High Dynamic Range) sequence. By bracket-exposing shots in 1 EV increments from 1/1000 second to 1/2 second, the camera captured both the dazzling highlights of the solar photosphere and the delicate, faint streamers of the outer corona, which were then digitally blended together.

Flanking the central eclipse image are brief, fleeting phenomena that lasted only seconds before and after totality. These edge sequences capture Baily's beads—tiny, brilliant points of light created when the final rays of sunlight stream through the rugged peaks, craters, and valleys along the Moon's silhouetted rim. Interspersed alongside bright pink solar prominences, these glowing beads merge into the diamond ring effect just as the Sun slips completely behind the Moon, offering a spectacular visual summary of the eclipse's most dynamic moments.