On April 8, 2024, Dallas fell inside the path of totality, and the corona appeared above the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge at the precise moment the city's street lights activated — the sky dark enough in mid-afternoon to trigger the automatic systems, while the corona burned above in a ring that no photograph can fully prepare you for. The Baily's Beads and the Diamond Ring effect bracketed the two minutes of totality, appearing and disappearing in seconds at the exact moment when the moon's edge became precise enough to break the solar disk into individual points of light. This image required pre-positioning on the bridge approach with a clear view of the western sky, a complete solar filter kit, and the experience of having rehearsed every step before the shadow arrived. Total solar eclipses happen on a schedule; they do not wait for setup.