Photographers know how important it is to understand the influence of light upon their subjects . Ever wonder how they capture those beautiful images that seem to glow with their own light ? More often than not they were taken during the “ golden hour ”— the magical moments just after sunrise and just before sunset . Their duration depends on many things — time of year , location , weather — all of which combine to determine the angle of the sun , which in turn determines the quality of the light . Keep in mind that the “ hour ” is usually much less !
During golden hour the sun is very low , which means all of the elements of a scene will be uniformly lit . The light is diffused by the distance it must travel through the atmosphere and is influenced towards a more yellow tone , hence the glow . Reflections are especially beautiful during this time of day , and portraits are much more complimentary for your subjects .
A second favorite time for photography is the “ blue hour ”— the period of time before sunrise and after sunset each day during which the light has a particularly blue hue . It ’ s a time when the light is soft enough to emphasize the dark of the scene without an additional , artificial light source . Again , the “ hour ” is usually less and depends on factors like season and location .
Unlike golden hour , blue-hour photography often looks so dark to the naked eye one might think it is too dark to shoot . Because there is so little light , a tripod is a photographer ’ s best friend when shooting during blue hour . Matrix shooting using +/ - can also help to assure the best results .
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when shooting either golden- or blue-hour photos is to be prepared . The shooting time is short so the likelihood that you will find a place , get set up , fine-tune your camera adjustments , and be ready for the perfect shot is nearly zero .
Instead , scout your location in advance , preferably using an application like Photographers Ephemeris to determine the sun ’ s angle and the timing of sunrise or sunset . Compose your shot ahead of time by taking test shots before the light fades ( or increases ). Learn how to use your histogram to check for lost pixels and adjust accordingly .
Most importantly , don ’ t give up ! Golden- and bluehour shooting has its challenges , but practice makes perfect and one thing is certain — tomorrow will bring another sunrise and sunset for those who persevere . NK
WINTER / SPRING 2017 • VOLUME 37
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