The prime lighting situation for a photographer is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. These specific times of the day are both referred to as the golden or magic hour by photographers. The lighting conditions attained through magic hour is dramatically diffused with very mellowed highlights and shadows which is in contrast to the lighting conditions that can be found during the middle of the day. The subject of the photograph will portray highly saturated and warm colors. Here are a few tips on successfully shooting during the golden hour:
- Shoot with the sun in the background, making your subject a silhouette.
- Avoid using the flash; flash photography during magic hour defeats the purpose of magic hour.
- Try experimenting with the manual mode on your camera and use the fastest available aperture (use the 'f' closest to zero).
- Golden hour is the perfect time for landscape shots and even more so for portrait photography. Since there are no harsh shadows, especially under the eyes, the warm tones offers a flattering opportunity.
- It's also a good time to experiment with shadows. During the golden hour, shadows appear elongated.
- If your shots come out with too much blurring try using a tripod.
- Take your time, practice makes perfect.
Keep these tips in mind and the results of brilliant, saturated photographs should be enough motivation to wake up early and if you like to hit your snooze button, then there is still a chance at the end of the day before sunset!
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