How to Plan Your Photography for the Best Natural Light at Golden Hour
If you love taking photos, you know how important light is. Light can make your photos look amazing or terrible, depending on how you use it. But not all light is the same. Some light is better than other light for different kinds of photos. One of the best kinds of light is called - golden hour.
Golden hour is the time of day when the sun is low in the sky, just after sunrise or just before sunset. During golden hour, the light is soft, warm, and colourful. It creates beautiful shadows, highlights, and contrasts. It makes everything look more magical and dramatic.
Golden hour is perfect for many types of photography, such as landscape, portrait, street, and nature. You can use golden hour to capture the mood, atmosphere, and emotion of your scene. You can also use golden hour to create stunning effects, such as silhouettes, sun flares, and bokeh.
But how do you plan your photography around golden hour? How do you know when and where to shoot? How do you make the most of golden hour? Here are some tips and tricks to help you:
Find out when golden hour is. Golden hour is not exactly an hour. It depends on your location, the season, and the weather. It can last from 20 minutes to an hour or more. To find out when golden hour is in your area, you can use online tools, such as The Photographer's Ephemeris or PhotoPills. These tools can show you the exact time and direction of sunrise and sunset, as well as other useful information, such as the moon phase, the tide, and the milky way.
Scout your location. Once you know when golden hour is, you need to find a good spot to shoot. Look for places that have interesting subjects, shapes, and textures, and for places that have a clear view of the horizon, where the sun rises or sets. Look for places that have water, glass, or metal, which can reflect the golden light. You can also use online tools, such as Google Maps or Instagram, to search for popular or hidden locations near you.
Arrive early and stay late. Golden hour can change quickly. You don't want to miss the best moments. That's why you should arrive at your location at least 30 minutes before golden hour starts, and stay until 30 minutes after it ends. This way, you can set up your camera, test your settings, and explore different angles and compositions. You can also capture the different stages of golden hour, from the soft blue light before sunrise or after sunset, to the bright orange light at the peak of golden hour, to the purple and pink light after golden hour.
Adjust your camera settings. Golden hour can be tricky to photograph. The light can be too bright or too dark, too warm or too cool, too harsh or too soft. You need to adjust your camera settings accordingly, to get the best exposure, colour, and focus. Here are some general guidelines to follow:
Use a low ISO. ISO is the sensitivity of your camera sensor to light. A low ISO means less noise and more detail in your photos. A high ISO means more noise and less detail. Since golden hour has enough light, you don't need a high ISO. You can use an ISO of 100 or 200, depending on your camera model.
Use a small aperture. Aperture is the opening of your camera lens that controls how much light enters your camera. A small aperture means less light and more depth of field. A large aperture means more light and less depth of field. Depth of field is the area of your photo that is in focus. A small aperture can help you get everything in focus, from the foreground to the background. A large aperture can help you blur the background and isolate your subject. You can use an aperture of f/8 or f/11, depending on your lens and your desired effect.
Use a fast shutter speed. Shutter speed is the duration of time that your camera shutter is open, exposing your camera sensor to light. A fast shutter speed means less light and less motion blur. A slow shutter speed means more light and more motion blur. Motion blur is the effect of moving objects or camera shake in your photos. A fast shutter speed can help you freeze the action and capture sharp images. A slow shutter speed can help you create motion blur and show movement. You can use a shutter speed of 1/125 or 1/250, depending on your subject and your desired effect.
Use a white balance. White balance is the colour temperature of your photos. It can make your photos look warmer or cooler, depending on the light source. Golden hour has a warm light, which can make your photos look too yellow or orange. You can use a white balance setting that matches the light, such as "sunny" or "cloudy", to get accurate colours. Also you can use a custom white balance, by using a grey card or a white piece of paper, to get the most accurate colours, and to use a creative white balance, by using a different setting, such as "tungsten" or "fluorescent", to get a different mood or effect.
Experiment and have fun. Golden hour is a great opportunity to unleash your creativity and have fun with your photography. You can try different techniques, such as:
Back Lighting. Backlighting is when you place your subject between you and the light source, such as the sun. This can create a silhouette, a rim light, or a sun flare. A silhouette is when your subject is completely dark and the background is bright. A rim light is when your subject has a thin outline of light around them. A sun flare is when the sun creates a starburst or a rainbow effect in your photo. To achieve backlighting, you need to expose for the background, not the subject. You can also use a lens hood or your hand to block some of the light and avoid lens flare.
Front Lighting. Front lighting is when you place your subject facing the light source, such as the sun. This can create a soft, even, and flattering light on your subject. It can also bring out the colours and details of your subject. To achieve front lighting, you need to expose for the subject, not the background. You can also use a reflector or a flash to fill in the shadows and balance the light.
Side Lighting. Side lighting is when you place your subject perpendicular to the light source, such as the sun. This can create a dramatic, contrasty, and three-dimensional light on your subject in photography. It can also emphasize the shapes and textures of your subject. To achieve side lighting, you need to expose for the midtones, not the highlights or the shadows. You can also use a reflector or a flash to fill in the shadows and balance the light.
Golden hour is one of the best times to take photos. It can help you create stunning images with beautiful light. But you need to plan your photography around golden hour, to make the most of it. You need to find out when golden hour is, scout your location, arrive early and stay late, adjust your camera settings, and experiment and have fun.
If you follow these tips and tricks, you will be able to capture the best natural light for your photography. You will also be able to improve your skills, express your vision, and enjoy your passion.
Happy shooting! 📸
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