Golden Hour Photography Tips

1. Arrive Early, Stay Late

The golden rule of golden hour photography is to arrive at your location at least 30 minutes before golden hour begins. This gives you time to scout compositions, set up equipment, and be ready when the magic light begins. Similarly, don't pack up immediately when golden hour ends – blue hour often provides equally stunning but different lighting opportunities.

2. Shoot with the Sun at Your Back or Side

During golden hour, position your subject with the sun behind them (for silhouettes and rim lighting) or to their side (for dimensional lighting with beautiful shadows). Avoid having subjects face directly into the sun, which can cause squinting and harsh shadows.

3. Use a Reflector for Portraits

When photographing people during golden hour, a reflector can bounce the warm sunlight back onto your subject's face, filling in shadows while maintaining that magical golden glow. Gold reflectors enhance the warmth, while white reflectors provide more neutral fill.

4. Experiment with Silhouettes

Golden hour is perfect for creating dramatic silhouettes. Position your subject between you and the light source, expose for the bright background, and capture striking shapes against the colorful sky.

5. Embrace Lens Flare

While lens flare is often avoided in regular photography, during golden hour it can add atmospheric elements to your images. Shoot partially into the sun to create artistic flares and starbursts. A lens hood can help control the effect if it becomes too strong.

Blue Hour Photography Techniques

1. Use a Tripod

Blue hour means less available light, so longer exposures become necessary. A sturdy tripod is essential for sharp images during this time. Consider using a remote shutter release to further minimize camera shake.

2. Adjust White Balance Manually

Auto white balance might try to neutralize the beautiful blue tones that make blue hour special. Try setting your white balance to "daylight" or "shade" to preserve the cool blue ambiance, or experiment with manual Kelvin settings between 3000K-4000K.

3. Capture City Lights

Blue hour is the perfect time for urban landscape photography. The deep blue sky creates a beautiful contrast with the warm yellow glow of city lights. This brief window when artificial lights are on but there's still enough natural light is photography gold.

4. Long Exposure Water Effects

Blue hour is ideal for creating silky smooth water effects through long exposures. Use a neutral density filter if needed to extend your shutter speed further, creating ethereal effects on oceans, lakes, or rivers.

Equipment Tips for Magic Hour

Essential Gear:

• Tripod: Stability is crucial as light levels drop
• Reflector: 5-in-1 reflectors are versatile for portraits
• Graduated ND filters: Help balance bright skies with darker landscapes
• Extra batteries: Long exposures drain power faster
• Golden Hour Calculator app: Never miss the perfect light again

Camera Settings Guide:

Starting points for golden and blue hour photography:

• Golden Hour Portraits: Aperture f/2.8-4, ISO 100-400, Shutter 1/125+
• Golden Hour Landscapes: Aperture f/8-f/16, ISO 100, Shutter varies
• Blue Hour Cityscapes: Aperture f/8-f/11, ISO 100-400, Shutter 1-30 seconds