Eclipses have the power to shift our perspectives. We investigated the experience as it played out, in Cleveland.

Eclipses are a humbling site. Especially as a communal experience. It’s rare that we’re given such a tangible signal of our specific place in the universe and the sense of awe it creates is unique.

On April 8th, thousands of people flocked to Cleveland, Ohio hoping to observe this year's solar eclipse in its totality. All eyes were on Cleveland this weekend. With the city having hosted the NCAA Final Four tournament for Women’s college basketball days before and the Cleveland baseball team’s home opener held that same day, it made for a popular destination to witness the event.

Crowds gathered along Cleveland’s lakefront, next to the Free Stamp sculpture. People seemed drawn to the event for all sorts of reasons; to hang out with friends and family, to casually observe, to document, to analyze, and even to preach.

Parks, rooftops, and parking garages across the city made good observatories and attracted gatherings all across the city.

In the early stages of the eclipse, the crowd's reaction grew as the moon became more visible; people started to notice their shadows getting shorter and more crisp.

Cheering began as the eclipse reached its peak and spectators were able to remove their glasses. Onlookers couldn’t seem to help breaking out in applause when the moon finally covered the entirety of the sun and the corona appeared.

Onlookers balanced the urge to take out their phones with the desire to be present. The collective experience of witnessing such a phenomenon can foster a sense of community and shared humanity, as people from different backgrounds and beliefs come together to marvel at nature's spectacle.

Watching an eclipse involves a complex interplay of awe, humility, connection, and perspective. It's a reminder of our place in the universe and can evoke deep existential emotions, making us feel simultaneously small yet profoundly connected to something much larger than ourselves. Shared experiences such as this deserve to be celebrated.

Photography and words by Sophie Hatch