Sunset Photography – The Guide to Perfect Golden Hour Pictures

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Sunset Photography – The Guide to Perfect Golden Hour Pictures
Sunset Photography – The Guide to Perfect Golden Hour Pictures
“Why don’t my sunset photos look like what I saw that day?”

Among all levels of photographers, taking gorgeous sunset photos can sometimes be challenging. We want to know how to take advantage of “The Gold Hour” to capture sunset pictures and sunrise images too. What type of digital cameras are used, what shutter speed, how you can use shutter speed effectively and other exposure settings, what to do with the foreground, what is the right time to get the best colors, all these are variables that affect whether we end up with cool sunset photos or with just another lackluster snapshot.

Camera Settings for the Perfect Sunset Pictures
For the best sunset pictures, some camera settings and sunset photography methods work better for than others.

Make the most of the “gold hour.”
Figure out the right camera mode. We always recommend manual mode, but landscape photography mode might be an option as you start learning.
Use a tripod or monopod to stabilize your photos. Low lighting means a higher risk of camera shake.
Keep auto white balance in mind. Consider shooting in RAW over JPEG mode if possible.
Consider the dynamic range of lighting and colors.
Use a neutral density filter to enhance colors.
Consider using HDR and other image editing techniques if you’re going for a more artistic feel.
Use the right apps when shooting sunsets with a mobile device.

There is no reason why just about anyone with almost type of any camera can’t get perfect sunsets to show as perfect sunset photos. A little forethought, a little practice, and a passion for beauty and art are all we need to capture that gorgeous sunset photo and make all our friends and family say, “Why don’t my sunset pictures look like that?”