Got maybe 15-30 mins of sleep, then left around 3am, arrived around 3:45am. Had a spot picked out on the refuge boundary, but the locals hired a security guy to tell everyone they cannot park there. So it was back down the hill and into the refuge area. Settled on a spot where the lakes are on the far west side. The short hike to the hill was already completly full of cars so that was the only possible elevated vantage point.
Everyone was in a great mood, had a great talk with a couple from Seattle that had driven 10+ hours, and I learned a ton about China, as both were originally from that region. We shared food/drinks/and photo tips!
Then one of us looked up, and it had begun!
Nothing short of magical!!!
Had three cameras setup, and I could probably justify having 30 and still just not have enough!!!
5dmkiv with 100-400 II + 1.4x III for the telephoto 4k part going from totality back to normal (end part of video); 5dmkiii wide angle 1080p stationary video 16-35f4; hand held 70d with rode mic 24-105F4, just to try to capture the cheers and pan around. 2 mins is just NOT enough!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhCQw8oeIBM&t=7s
