The solar eclipse is spotted in Shepard Park on a musician’s back

You didn’t need a cereal box pinhole viewer to see the eclipse. A tree would have done. In the photo above, images of the Great American Solar Eclipse can be seen on Mac Petrequin’s back as he plays his guitar under a tree in Shepard Park. How does this happen? Openings between the tree’s leaves create pinholes that project crescent-shaped sunbeams onto objects below. In this case, the object below is Mac.

Petrequin, a Pilot Knob resident, describes himself as a “sort-of” professional musician. He jams with a bluegrass band Tuesday nights at the Cleverdale Country Store. When not strumming his resophonic guitar and serving as a projection screen for solar eclipses, he teaches math at Whitehall Junior/Senior High School.

This photo was taken at 2:36 p.m., about five minutes before the eclipse peaked in Lake George. We returned to Mac’s bench after the event to make sure the eclipse caused the phenomenon. It is possible that trees in Shepard Park have crescent-shaped leaves, and our photo had nothing to do with celestial events. However, with the moon out of the way, we saw only the usual dappled sunshine on Mac’s back.

If you missed the eclipse today or were disappointed that it wasn’t more dramatic and life-changing, hang on. April 8, 2024, another total eclipse will pass just north of Lake George. Be sure to buy your eclipse viewing glasses well ahead of time, or scout out a good tree, one that might attract a musician wearing a white shirt.