The Golden Hour: The Best Times for the Best Photos
We love taking photos. From live action shots to subdued subtle landscapes and dramatic portraits, snapping pictures is an art form we can’t help but admire. Every photographer, however, will know that what makes or breaks a photo isn’t necessarily the subject or the angle, it’s the lighting.
As avid, seasoned photographers, or even if you’re new to the world of snaps, you’ll know of a particular time of day when the best photos are taken. The magical Golden Hour, when the sun is at its softest and the world is cast in brilliant, warming rays of golden light. This hour, ladies and gentlemen, is the best time to take your outdoor photos.
Why is the Golden Hour Important?
The hour just after the first rays of sunlight have graced the horizon, or the hour just before dusk descends, are the perfect times for shooting your outdoor photographs. During these magical hours the sun is at its lowest, so it bathes the world in a soft, warming light that elongates shadows, adding depth and texture to your subject you won’t find during the harsh midday blaze.
Capturing the perfect snap can take but a split second and pure luck; with people milling around you, you may find that you lose your chance to capture the atmosphere exactly as you want to. Waking up early and staying out late are also worth the wait as these are the two points during the day when you’re less likely to get human traffic interfering with your photo. Not only do you get the lighting just right, but you get a clear shot each and every time!
What Can You Photograph?
The Golden Hour offers up stunning opportunities to photograph anything you wish. From dramatic ocean views to serene country fields and towering cityscapes, soft light can transform your ordinary daytime images into otherworldly photos. Subject specific images such as plants can also perfectly capture the rays of the rising or setting sun!
How Can You Find the Golden Hour?
It’s very easy to figure out when the best times to take your photos are. Every region has slightly different sunrise and sunset times so, to be sure you get it spot on every time, take a look at your local sunrise and sunset times. From there you can work out when your first and last hour of sunlight is.
If, however, you’d like a more precise way of finding out your local Golden Hour, you can take a look at the Golden Hour Calculator which will help you to pin point the exact time to don your coat and grab your camera before setting out.
Sometimes you may find that a new camera can help you capture the image no matter what time of day you choose to shoot in. When that happens you can sell your used cameras to us! To find out more , contact us today on 0208 371 4179. While you get to make a little extra cash, you can also keep up to date on the latest photography info by following us on Facebook and Twitter!
Tags: cameras, lighting, photography, second hand cameras
