What is Golden Hour Photography?
Golden hour photography is simply the first hour of light shortly after sunrise, and the last hour of light before sunset. It is one of the most beautiful times of day to shoot.
It’s also sometimes referred to as the “Magic Hour”, and it is truly magical.
During the golden hour, the sun sits low in the sky, and produces light that is soft, warm, directional, and diffused. The light glows with red, orange, yellow, or golden tones which is ideal for creating spectacular photos.
Professional photographers, as well as beginners, prefer the golden hours because the light is more desirable to shoot in than other times of the day. The light is warmer, shadows are less harsh, and highlights are less washed out.
Golden Hour Photography Tips
Scout your location
Since the golden hour doesn’t last very long it’s always a good idea to scout your location prior to shooting. Check out what the location looks like during sunrise and sunset. This way you’ll know what to expect when it comes time to shoot.
Know exactly what time the golden hour is going to happen
How long the golden hour lasts, depends on where you live, and varies from season to season. Find out when the golden hour happens in your location with these tools:
- The Photo Ephemeris – Photo Ephemeris helps you plan outdoor photography in natural light. It’s a map-based Sun, Moon, and Milky Way calculator.
- Golden Hour – This golden hour calculater website calculates when the golden hour will start for your location. You can also check for the golden hour for future dates and different locations.
- PhotoPills – PhotoPills is a photography planning app. It helps you plan your photos ahead of time… So you’re always at the right place at the right time to capture the best photo possible.
Use a tripod
A tripod is a crucial piece of gear when you are shooting around sunrise or sunset. Once the light starts to fade during the golden hour, you’ll have to use slower shutter speeds.
By using a tripod you can maintain a low ISO, slow down your shutter speed, and keep your images sharp.
Aperture for golden hour photography
By using a wide aperture of around 2.8 you are letting in as much light as possible to the sensor, which will give you some gorgeous “bokeh” shots.
In landscape photography, when you want to keep everything in focus choose smaller aperture values between f/8 to f/22.
Shoot fast and take lots of pictures
Lighting changes quickly during the golden hour, and you want to get as many variations as possible. The sun moves faster than you may expect, so just keep shooting!
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