Golden Hour Photography: Tricks & Tips

What is the Golden Hour in Photography?

Golden hour is a treasured period for photographers, characterized by the sun being low in the sky, resulting in soft, warm, and magical light. This article aims to explain the concept of golden hour, when it occurs, and how to leverage it to take breathtaking photos.

When is the Golden Hour?

Golden hour occurs twice daily, shwortly after sunrise and just before sunset. During this time, the sun's position creates a unique lighting environment perfect for photography.

How to Capture Beautiful Photos During the Golden Hour

1. Understand the Timing: Golden hour happens soon after sunrise and before sunset. Be prepared to take advantage of these fleeting moments.
2. Utilize the Soft Light: The gentle, diffused light reduces harsh shadows, creating a flattering and ethereal look for your subjects.
3. Experiment with Angles: Try shooting with the sun behind your subject to create a beautiful backlit effect, or position the sun to the side for interesting shadows and highlights.
4. Play with Silhouettes: The contrast during golden hour is perfect for capturing beautiful silhouettes of your subjects.
5. Adjust Your Camera Settings: Use an open aperture to enhance soft light and be prepared to adjust low ISO and high shutter speeds - this will make your photos come out fabulous

By combining your photographic skills with the enchanting light of the golden hour, you can achieve stunning results that highlight the beauty of your subjects and surroundings.

When is the Golden Hour?

The standard definition of the golden hour refers to the hour or two before sunset and after sunrise. However, the timing of the golden hour actually changes throughout the year and varies based on your geographical location.

If you live near the equator, the golden hour typically lasts one or two hours, and its timing remains fairly consistent throughout the year. But if you live closer to the North or South Pole, you’ll notice significant changes in the golden hour’s timing, and it often lasts much longer.

To truly take advantage of the beautiful golden hour light, it’s best to pay attention to the sun over a few days. Ask yourself: When does the sun rise? When does it set? When does the evening light start to become warm and soft? And when does the morning light start to become harsh? While you can use astronomical charts to calculate the exact times of the golden hour, it’s often more effective to observe the light yourself. Before long, you’ll become very attuned to the sun’s changes and will know when to expect that magical golden hour lighting.

The best filter for Golden Hour? Aurora Orange

The Aurora Orange Filter by ReflectLens is a high-quality optical filter designed to enhance orange flares when shooting golden hour and other types of photography involving strong light sources. It has unique structures resembling orange chaotically running lines on the front surface of the filter, which interact with bright lights and point sources to create wonderful-looking "flares". The filter can be rotated infinitely to the left or right - which allows you to adjust the direction of flares when taking photos or shooting video. Captured flares align with filter rotation and orientation, giving photographers the tools they need to capture moments in the full color spectrum and add captivating flare effects in-camera. This is a MUST-HAVE for all photographers who love to photograph with the light source behind the subject or during golden hour sessions.

Golden Hour App - on your phone

Here are some popular apps for Android and iPhone that can help you determine the golden hour:

Android

1. Golden Hour
2. Sun Surveyor
3. Photographer's Companion
4. Magic Hour
5. GoldenHour.One

iPhone

1. GoldenHour.One
2. Magic Hour
3. Sun Seeker
4. PhotoPills
5. Sun Surveyor

Why is the Golden Hour So Special?

I've already highlighted the low, soft, warm light created by the sun during the golden hour – but why is it so ideal for photography?

In general, soft light is highly valued by photographers. It avoids creating harsh shadows and reduces the dynamic range of a scene, resulting in images without extreme dark shadows or bright highlights.

Additionally, the warm color temperature of golden hour light is aesthetically pleasing and flattering, as demonstrated in the accompanying photo of a woman on a beach during golden hour.

The low angle of the sun during this time also illuminates the subject more directly, minimizing shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin.

However, the golden hour isn't perfect for every type of photography. Portrait, wildlife, and landscape photographers often cherish this light, but street photographers usually prefer midday's harsher light for its contrast and shadows. Macro photographers might favor overcast conditions to capture saturated colors and fine details.

So, while you don't have to shoot exclusively during the golden hour, it's a fantastic time to enhance many kinds of photos. Does that make sense?

Conclusion and Final Touch

Mastering golden hour photography requires a combination of patience, skill, and creativity. By utilizing the tips and techniques discussed in this blog, you can elevate your photography to new heights and capture stunning shots that leave a lasting impression. Remember, the golden hour offers a unique opportunity to play with light, colors, and composition to create visually striking images. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just starting, embracing the magic of the golden hour can significantly enhance your photography portfolio.

So, grab your camera, head out during that magical time of day, and unleash your creativity to capture the beauty and warmth of the golden hour. Keep practicing, experimenting, and refining your techniques to truly master the art of golden hour photography.