Obviously, you don’t want to make any sloppy mistakes, but bear in mind how quickly the light will be changing. Try to keep shooting steadily while you have the best evening lighting, with minimal stopping and starting. If you have a particular location in mind, such as a building or garden, arrive a little ahead of time to scope out the scene and get your gear in order. That magic hour of evening tends to arrive suddenly, with the light shifting by the minute, so try to be prepared. If you don’t typically shoot using a wide aperture, the golden hour is an excellent time to experiment with stunning bokeh effects. Start by setting the ISO low, with a long exposure.Īuto white balance isn’t your best bet when shooting during the golden hour so adjust to “cloudy,” to avoid neutralizing the warm natural light. It’s recommended to invest in a camera with interchangeable lenses or close-up and user-adjustable settings, along with a sturdy tripod.
Whether you’re a photography pro or amateur enthusiast, a few simple tips and reminders will dramatically boost your evening shots.
The golden hour, referred to here in terms of the evening, is ideal for architectural and landscape photography, as well as outdoor portraits, close-up shots of flora & fauna, and various types of still life portraiture. During these times the sun casts a soft, diffused light which produces minimal contrast, lessening the chances of draping your subject in harsh shadows or overblown highlights. The golden hour, also called the “magic hour”, is roughly the hour or so before and after sunrise, though the exact duration varies according to region. With evenings lasting well past 8pm, now is the perfect time to make the most of your interior and outdoor photography.
With outdoor photography, it’s generally harder to use artificial lighting to illuminate your subject matter, making you more or less reliant on natural light. Late summer is truly the season of the “golden hour,” when buildings and exteriors are bathed in a warm pre-dusk glow. Making the Most of the Summer “Golden Hour”