Among the many tips and tricks that new photographers learn regarding lighting, time of day is an important concept that, when photographing some landscapes and some dynamic shots of natural or artificial light, represents the time of sunset or sunrise. This is the time immediately before the appearance of the sun or immediately after its disappearance, when it is not yet so dark that it is necessary to additional source Sveta. This is an introduction to the “blue hour,” a natural period of time so popular among photographers.

What is “blue hour”?

Blue hour can be defined as the time of day when the sky changes color from blue to dark blue, becoming black, or vice versa, depending on the time of day in question (sunrise or sunset). It is called the blue hour on the assumption that the blue color of the sky remains for about an hour. It actually lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Its duration depends on geographical location and time of year.

Rules of thumb for blue hour

The basic rule regarding the blue hour is when exactly it starts or ends:

• Sunrise. At this time of day, blue hour begins approximately 30 minutes before sunrise. Its peak can be 10 minutes before sunrise. During sunrise, the blue color fades very quickly as the sun rises above the horizon.
• Sunset. During sunset, the blue hour begins approximately 10 or 15 minutes after sunset. Personally, I like to photograph the blue hour during sunset because then I have extra time to set up my equipment or move somewhere before the blue hour itself begins.
• There are websites where you can find the approximate blue hour times for any location, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
• If the weather is cloudy, the duration of the blue hour decreases, and in some cases, cloud cover can completely destroy the blue hour.

What to photograph during blue hour

Blue hour is the best time to photograph city or natural landscapes and picturesque beaches. These shots require long shutter speeds or slow shutter speeds, making it difficult to capture images of people or moving objects as slight movement can make the picture blurry, but at this time the light is optimal to show the vibrancy of the landscape.

Why take photos during blue hour?

Creative representation of movement

Since blue hour photography requires a long shutter speed or relatively slow shutter speed, depending on the scenario, long shutter speeds can be used creatively to show movement. It is best to capture the light trails of vehicles during the blue hour by photographing city landscapes; and if there are clouds at this time, then the movement of the clouds can be used to get a broaching effect. When photographing picturesque beaches, the movement of water will be fabulous. All these effects add dynamism to the photo.

Easy control of parameters in low light

Personally, I find shooting during blue hour quite easy and fun compared to the conditions bright light. When the right equipment is available (such as a tripod, remote control or delay shutter), it is easy to operate various parameters to form a frame. In comparison, on a bright sunny day there is a chance of getting a blown-out image or bleached areas if there are no means of controlling the light relative to the subject. However, any photography technique has its advantages and disadvantages.

List of blue hour equipment

• Digital SLR camera - absolutely necessary thing for photos. The better the CZK, the better the long exposure noise performance will be.
• A sturdy tripod is an absolute must, and the reason is long exposures during the blue hour. So shooting handheld greatly increases the chances of getting blurry images.
• A wired or wireless remote release is also an important thing that can help avoid camera shake. An alternative is the internal timer, but at times during the blue hour you may need to use bulb mode (shutter speeds longer than 30 seconds) to capture your surroundings (for merging multiple layers).
• A convenient flashlight - to see your surroundings when setting up a tripod, when it’s a little dark around.
• Stopwatch - this thing is now present in any mobile phone and comes to the rescue when you need to monitor the exposure time, if the camera or remote control does not do this.
• A wide-angle zoom lens or a lens that suits your composition isn't necessary, but a wide-angle lens will make it easier to frame your shot correctly if you can zoom in and out depending on what you want to see in the photo.
• A lens cleaning cloth and rubber bulb are important to keep the lens clean in case of fingerprints or dirt. Although it is not specific to blue hour, it is an important photographic tool all the same.
• Various little things - these things can be useful and will make the photography process comfortable. If you place a tripod in the grass, it will useful remedy insect repellent, also if the weather is not hot, be sure to take a small towel to wipe dew off the equipment instead of getting the camera or lens wet.

How to Photograph During Blue Hour

Equipment installation

First of all, you need to install the camera on a tripod, on solid ground, to avoid camera shake. Place the tripod on the ground and give it a good push to make sure it's firmly in place. Place the camera on a tripod and make sure it is securely mounted. Look through the viewfinder and frame your shot, and check that the camera is properly leveled with the bubble level or electronic level (if your camera has one). Make sure you are not under a direct source of bright light, which can cause flares in the lens.

Connect the remote control remote control to the camera if it is wired, or prepare a wireless one. Looking through the viewfinder, focus on some bright object in the frame. Once the focus is set, set the lens focus switch to manual mode to avoid refocusing and thus losing focus.

Try to get the image in RAW format rather than JPEG, as this gives more flexibility and detail when post-processing the image. Double check that the focus covers the entire frame properly by taking a few test shots. I always try and make sure everything is ok well before blue hour so I can get on with my day. work time to set up your equipment and be ready to receive pictures.

Several exhibitions

Once your equipment is set up and your lens is properly focused, set your aperture between f/8 and f/16 to ensure you get good depth of field. I personally like to maintain a balance between ISO and shutter speed to control the noise in my painting. Preferably ISO is around 100-200, and I refer everything else to the shutter speed, which varies from five seconds to over a minute depending on the details of the foreground or whatever light show I want to capture. I prefer to shoot in full manual mode so I can control all the settings.

If your frame includes trees and grass, try to get multiple exposures good lighting, so you can use them later in post-processing. This will also give you an idea of ​​what shutter speed you'll need to shoot the sky.

Continue to take shots at different intervals throughout the blue hour so that you can use the best exposure in post-production. If the composition contains any light displays or architecture full of light, then you may need to adjust your shutter speed accordingly to avoid overexposure. At the same time, you need to continue to check your frames to make sure they are properly exposed for post-processing.

Post-processing exposures

This could be a separate article on the topic “Merging Multiple Layers in Adobe Photoshop”, but I will give a brief description here.

I use Adobe Photoshop to merge multiple layers of my blue hour photos. If the image is in RAW format, then you can change basic parameters such as Exposure, Clarity, Vibrance, Temperature, etc. after opening the file. When you do all this, the current image will open in Adobe Photoshop. Select and open multiple images based on the exposure of the sky, foreground, etc. Select one image with the best exposure of the blue sky and make a clean “New Layer” to copy another image with a good foreground exposure.

Bottom layer for light sources, middle layer for ground and upper layer for the sky.

Arrange the different layers in order of coverage. In the example image, the layer with a large portion of the sky is at the top, followed by the foreground layer. Use the Erase tool to erase the underexposed areas from the top layer to reveal the normally exposed foreground layer (you can also use a layer mask). Adjust the settings such as Selective Color, Shadow/Highlights, Contrast, etc. of each layer to get the same color feel. Glue these layers together to form a single layer when finished and you will have your finished image.

I personally do not glue the layers together, which gives me the opportunity to adjust any of the layers if needed in the future.

Feel free to make suggestions or comments if you have them, as I am always eager to learn more and more.

All photographers strive for their work to stand out in some way. Apparently there is no shortage of photographers on the planet, so I think anyone who calls themselves a photographer is delusional in thinking that they are the only one using any method or technique; we all just want our work to reflect our personality, in some way. We want our work to be magical.

Which isn't that hard, right?

Not at all. Maybe I felt like that sometimes. You've read advice after advice, articles; Maybe even enrolled in photography school, searching for that one elusive thing that will really take your work to a higher level.

But no matter how much good advice you'll get on how you'll improve your tracking technique, how to sharpen your photos in post-processing, how to compose a portrait - a group portrait, you need to remember that photography is all about light. And the quality of light is the only thing that can make the difference between an OK photo and an amazing photo.

If these are stunning photos then you should check out what photographers call the golden hour.

Walk on golden sand

"Golden Hour" Definition

In very informal terms, the "golden hour" is simply the first hour after sunrise, and last hour before sunset. Of course, exactly when this happens will depend on where you live and will vary with the seasons.

What makes it magical?

And the reason - several reasons, in fact - is why the “golden hour” is also known as the magic hour. During each golden hour (morning and evening), you will find that the sun is low on the horizon, and when the light source is larger and closer to the main subject, it produces a soft, diffused light. Soft light is preferable for almost any subject, as it creates sharp shadows and generally quite dynamic range, meaning you don't lose any detail in deep shadows or blown-out details. The shadows themselves, however, are a bad thing; The long shadows created by the sun at this time of day can help add texture, depth, and ultimately interest to your product. And let's not forget that it's warm golden hue. You can't afford any of these benefits when shooting in the oppressive midday sun.

What kind of photography is this suitable for?

The short answer: for anyone. Landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, even macro and generally for still life photography. Almost everything seems to look better when exposed to the warm golden hour. And you are not limited to working solely on outdoors. You can get beautiful natural interior lighting by letting in some of that magic through a large window.

1. Shoot quickly. But don't be in such a hurry that you don't have time to use good technology, but remember that you have a relatively small window in which to use such great light.
2. Calculate your golden hour. You can maximize the effectiveness of golden hour by planning ahead. Know your purpose, have an idea of ​​what subjects you want to shoot, and calculate exactly when golden hour occurs where you live. This handy golden hour calculator will do all the math for you.
3. Use an open aperture. If you typically shoot with your aperture wide open, golden hour presents a great opportunity to do this. You will be delighted by the beautiful dot of bokeh light created at this time of day.
4. Stay with him. Changes in lighting during golden hour occur quite quickly; The scenery you took when he first arrived at your location will likely look significantly different 10 minutes later. So keep shooting for a full hour and be sure to capture as many options as possible.
5. Adjust white balance. Automatic white balance is yours the best choice when shooting golden hour. By setting the white balance to "cloudy" you risk neutralizing the wonderful golden glow.

Shooting during golden hour can be inconvenient; You may have to sacrifice your comfortable bed to shoot early, or unglue yourself from your usual spot on the couch to shoot in the evening. But you will be richly rewarded as the impact of filming in magical time days can be truly transformative. Go and try it yourself. Prepare to be surprised.

Many non-professional photographers have heard about the “gold” and “blue” hours, but professionals have not only heard of, but even repeatedly encountered these concepts. For those of you who are just starting to master the basics of photography, we will try to cover this difficult topic.

In the morning, at sunrise, the sky is blue and the light emitted from it is also blue. This phenomenon can also be observed after sunset. And it is called the “blue hour”.

Before sunrise, during sunrise, sunset and just after sunset, the light has an orange (golden) tone due to the refraction of the sun's rays. Thus, this phenomenon was called the “golden hour”.

These periods are called hours, although the definition itself does not entirely correspond to these phenomena. The presence of such light depends on geolocation and time of year.

Benefits of the Golden Hour

During the "golden hour" the sun approaches the horizon as close as possible and emits refracted light. In addition, it creates natural balance between complementary colors, where the orange (gold) tone, from the sun, contrasts with the blue tone on the opposite side. If you are careful enough, you can use this phenomenon to your advantage...

This refracted light can be used in many different ways, particularly when it comes to portrait photography. Add one lightweight reflector to act as a leveling light and you'll get a little more dynamic light in your portrait without the need for any flash. You can technically use the sun as a natural reflector. The brightest part of the sun will serve as the direct source of light.

Benefits of Blue Hour

"Blue hour" is the exact opposite of "golden hour", where the light is not strong and refracted, but rather completely diffuses, becoming "soft" and blue. This natural phenomenon is almost impossible to see unless photographed during the period between the “golden” and “blue” hours.

Blue Hour is used with great success in street photography and landscape photography, but never in portrait photography. You can combine city lights with natural light to create interesting combinations. Working at midnight, for example, the subject of your exposure will not stand out much against the black sky. When photographing during the blue hour, light is still present in the sky (clouds, for example), which can be combined with city illumination. This way your photos look more dynamic and natural.

For portraits, you'll need a small amount of artificial light as opposed to flat light, and blue hour will ensure a decent background. Make sure your camera's white balance is set correctly. Otherwise, flat light will destroy the blue hour effect.

conclusions

After reading this article, you might want to get out there soon to “photograph” something in the conditions we just discussed. However, since most other photographers will be doing the same thing, you will have to apply out-of-the-box thinking in order for the photo material to be exclusive and therefore unique. Yes, often such experiments end in failure, but not always! All possible shooting techniques have long been hackneyed, but don’t give up and you will definitely find your own unique way of working with photography.

Use these tips, shoot!

Professional photographers use the term “golden hours” to refer to the time of day with the best lighting. Let's take a closer look at this concept.

If you try to name one of the most important components of photography, it will certainly be lighting. You can find a magnificent landscape or an incredible beautiful model, but without proper lighting you will get a flat and uninteresting picture.

This is especially true for street photography, since it is extremely difficult or almost impossible to illuminate a subject with artificial lighting and you have to rely entirely on natural light.

Therefore, it is necessary to determine the best time of day in terms of lighting. Fortunately, professional and amateur photographers have been asking this question since the advent of the camera, and a solution has been found. The time of day with the best lighting was called the “golden hours.”

What is "Golden Hour"

The golden hour, also sometimes called the “magic hour,” is approximately the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. The length of this time varies depending on the time of year. At this time, the sun hangs low on the horizon, emitting a soft, diffused light - much more suitable for photography than the harsh midday light, which, nevertheless, many of us prefer to use for our photographs.

During the golden hour, the lighting is soft, diffused and warm.

By using golden hour lighting, you'll get less contrast in your photo, reducing the chance of losing some objects in deep shadow and blowing out brightly lit parts. The warm tones of the golden hour bring a pleasant feeling to the composition, while the long shadows reveal the smallest details, adding texture and dimension to the image.

The consequence of photographing during sunrise and sunset is that there will be relatively few people around, allowing you to work undisturbed.

When to use the golden hour

The concept of golden hour can be applied to any type of street photography - from the obvious things like landscapes and city scenes, to portraits, shots of flowers and plants, and even still lifes involving cars.

Professional photographers simply idolize this time of day, and some of them refuse to shoot at any other time. Of course, you shouldn’t take this as a dogma, but at least it’s worth listening, because it’s not for nothing that these people are called professionals.

Definition of golden hour

The fastest and easiest way to calculate golden hour time is to use a golden hour calculator. This calculator is based on a more complex algorithm for calculating the golden hour than we described above. However, you can easily get accurate results.

Determining the golden hour of the location where you'll be filming will help you plan your work.

An alternative way to determine golden hour is to determine the time of sunrise and sunset. The easiest way is to use an online sunrise and sunset calculator.

So, you have decided on the subject of shooting and prepared the appropriate equipment for this. Before you press the shutter button, read some tips.

Use a tripod. As a rule, the lighting immediately after sunrise and before sunset is not bright. However, don't wait for brighter light as you will miss out on the fantastic colors and textures of your subjects. Simply mount your camera on a tripod, lower your ISO sensitivity, and shoot at slow shutter speeds.

Spend enough time on preparatory settings. Usually the golden hours start quite unexpectedly, so it is very important to be fully prepared. Get to the location early (even in the middle of the night if necessary) and make any necessary adjustments.

Don't stop filming. During the golden hours, the lighting changes rapidly, and within minutes your composition will look completely different. So make the most of this hour - shoot continuously to be able to get the full range of effects.

Bring hot drinks and a flashlight. Sunrises and sunsets can be very cold. It sounds obvious enough, but believe me, sometimes it gets forgotten. A flashlight will help you see what you are actually doing and where you are going, and hot drinks will warm you up while you wait for the right shot.

Shooting during golden hour adds extra color, texture, and a sense of depth to the image.

Without a doubt, shooting during the golden hours has revolutionized my street photography. Of course, this means that you will be using the camera during the time that you would normally spend in bed, but the result is worth the sacrifice. Try it yourself and see how your photos change.

Do you want to learn how to shoot professionally during the golden hour, as well as in the dark? Then click on the picture below and take advantage of our promotional offer!

Professional photographers say the Golden Hour is the best... best time for shooting. Therefore, in this article you will learn what it is and how to use it.

Photo by Sidious Sid.

If there is one thing in the world that can ruin a photograph more than any other, it is lighting. You can find the most beautiful landscape, buy the most expensive camera and a flash, spend more than a week creating it, but without the necessary lighting, all your efforts will go to waste, resulting in only dull photographs that even the famous Photoshop cannot save.

And this is actually true, because it is often impossible to illuminate the subject using artificial lighting, so we, photographers, are very dependent on natural light.

Therefore it is very important to find right time With the right amount Sveta. Fortunately, photographers have been looking for a solution to this problem since the invention of the very first camera, and they found perfect solution- “Golden Hour”.

So what is the “golden hour”?

The golden hour, or magic hour as it is also called, is a time that is an hour after dawn or an hour before sunset, although the exact time depends on your location and time of year. During the golden hour, the sun is low in the sky, giving off a soft and diffused light that is much better for photography than the harsh, harsh light of midday that many of us often photograph.

Lighting during golden hour is soft, diffused and warm. Photography by Martin Soica.

When shooting with this lighting, photos come out with less contrast, which reduces the chance of losing the subject due to too much shadow or, conversely, reflection. Additionally, a warm glow gives your photos a dreamlike look, while long shadows help highlight details, adding depth to your photos.

Another advantage of shooting during golden hour is that there are very few people on the streets at this time, so you can not only take photos in peace, but also get good photos without being crowded with people.

Rule

The golden hour rule is suitable for any street photography, both natural and big cities. Also during the golden hour, flowers and even objects such as cars turn out well. In general, anything.

Most professional photographers are so obsessed with this rule, and follow it so closely, that they simply refuse to shoot at any other time. But of course you shouldn't be so punctual. But still, these guys are worth listening to, because they are called experts for a reason and follow their advice.

Calculating the golden hour

The fastest and most convenient way to find out when golden hour typically occurs in your area is to use a golden hour calculator. Just type into Google: “golden hour calculator.” And you will certainly find what you need.

By calculating your golden hour, you can plan your shoot time in advance. Photo by Bethany.

If you don’t trust all sorts of calculators and like to find out everything yourself, then just find out when sunrises and sunsets usually occur for you. Next, based on this data, you will find your own golden hour. The main thing to remember is an hour after dawn and an hour before sunset.

Hints

Once you've made the decision to head out during golden hour to take some photos, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Firstly, use a tripod. I think there is no need to explain why it is needed and how to use it. The main thing is to set your camera to long.

Secondly, get ready in advance. Arrive at your shooting location at least half an hour before the golden hour, as it comes sharply and most often unnoticed. It would be a shame to come and miss it, wouldn't it?

Third, follow the rule: the more the better. During golden hour, the light changes so quickly that two photos 2 minutes apart will look very different from each other. Therefore, shoot as much as possible, and select the best pictures at home.

Fourthly, Bring a flashlight and a thermos with a warm drink. Sounds obvious. But many people forget exactly this. What you need a flashlight for is already clear, but a thermos is simply a gift from the gods, especially if you live in a country with a cold climate.

A photo taken during golden hour is colorful, rich and deep in color. The photo was taken by a person under the username sibbiblue.