Orangila's Photography Course - Part 2 (Golden Hour Photography)

In continuation of my effort to expand my training on the subject of photography. I am going to reiterate about the next important rule from my photography course outline

You can read about Part 1 on 1 Second Rule & Rule of Thirds here

GOLDEN HOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Definition of golden hour photography is the valuable minutes of dawn (sunrise) & dusk (sunset) when color of the skyline is orange and/or purple.

This topic is extremely popular and warrants a post all by itself. There are many Steemians who use the tag of #goldenhourphotography and I have come across a few posts with this tag that are truly amazing. Do spend sometime and check some of it for yourself.

Why?

1. Harsh light during the day meaning the shadow is strong (loss of details).
2. Cloudy day results in soft lighting. Greyish or white skyline makes the photo dull.
3. Day time photography during the day can get uncomfortable hot for both the photographer and models.
4. Night photography is challenging especially when most of the light source is either too strong or too weak, contrast between the shadow and highlights can be very strong.

When?

Generally falls between the half hour after sunrise and half an hour before sunset. But it also depends on many factors such as weather condition, season, high-rise buildings or mountains that block the source of light, solstice/equinox, etc.
Angel and position of photography is also important factor. Ideally, one can spend some time scouting for the perfect spot or be at the right spot to be ready for a location one that is familiar with.

How?

Here are some tips to get the perfect shots:

• Get to the location early to locate the perfect spot/angel (especially for popular tourist destinations)
• Use tripod for both your DSLR camera or smartphone
• Take multiple shots and choose only the best photos
• Capture shots at different interval especially during the final minutes after sunrise or before sunset
• Focus on different subjects especially when shooting directly at the sun. Exposure meter for your camera or smartphone will register the source of light differently pending on the brightness of the focal point and settings.

Below are photos I have taken around the world with comments to better explain the setting/condition.

AUSTRALIA

A silhouette of a Kookaburra in Sydney. Notice that the background color is not monotonous.

Shot at Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne - Notice that the warm sunlight hitting the trunk of the tree? The ray of sunlight brings a little life out of this photo. Otherwise, it is a relatively dull photo.

Scenery near Byron Bay. I was lucky that the sky was dark and the orange cloud makes it for a soothing contrast.

Shot during Anzac Day in Fraser Island. If this shot was shot during day time, it will just be light blue sky and dark blue ocean. For this photo, you can see warm color skyline and dark blue ocean/waves. Yellow/orange and dark blue are matching colors make this photo appealing despite the fact that it does not have any subject such as a yatch.

Speaking of matching color of blue and yellow/orange, Ayer's Rock (aka Uluru) is simply perfect when taken during the day.

However, this sunset photo gives a different mood to the landscape

This was taken moments before sunset, notice the difference in hue/saturation of color between this photo and the one above despite the fact that it was only taken minutes apart.

MALAYSIA

This was taken in my high school reunion. During sunset, outdoor light is soft and you'll see that the foreground and background subjects isn't covered by hard shadows.

This shot was taken at my home just before sunset. Because of surrounding building and trees, there isn't any sunlight that hit any part of the subject. But weather isn't hot (in an otherwise unbearable heat in Malaysia), hence my friend Joyce could comfortably pose for me.

HONG KONG

Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Notice the warm ray of sunlight hitting the bronze statue. Just like studio photography, it is always nice to have light source from a different angle especially when the light is warm and soft.

INDIA

This photo was taken in the outdoor during lunch time. It was a cool 18C but due to the harsh lighting. You noticed that my friends had to either squint their eyes or cover their eyes from the direct sunlight.

Wagah Border - Evening flag lowering ceremony and taken from the Indian side of the border. I used Adobe Lightroom & Nik Software the enhance the sunset skyline so there is a gradient of dark blue and orange.

Group photo of my friends from Penampang, Sabah at Agra Fort. Perfect lighting for group shot and everyone is at ease when condition is perfect.

This was shot of a mosque off Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah.

LAOS

This is a decent photo but was taken during a cloudy day. If this shot was taken during golden hour photography, the skyline will be replaced with orange/purplish sky which will score more points to this shot.

NEW ZEALAND

This was shot in Aukland an hour before sunset. I was there early to scout for the perfect shot.

After some scouting, I finally found an idea spot for this sunset shot.

CANADA

A boat in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. A popular destination during summer.

My friends' wedding in Canmore, Alberta. Took this shot moments after exchange of vow. Timing wasn't perfect because my friends are under the shade while the background is perfectly lit.

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Thank You For Reading My Post. I am most passionate about photography and eager to help fellow Steemians to improve on their photography skill. I am happy to give free tutorial, offer advice and step by step instructions to help you take better photos. You can contact me on Discord at orangila#9358

Caricature by @sireh