What Time Is The Best Lighting For Photography?

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‘Golden Hour’ photography, also known as the ‘magic hour’ in the movie industry, refers to specific times of the day when the natural light of the sun is softer and has more of a reddish hue than during the rest of the day.

During the first hour of the morning light and in the hour before the sun sets the light is much more mellow. This has to do with the physics of light itself and so because of the angle of the sun the wavelengths of light are slightly stretched as they travel through the atmosphere before they hit the Earth meaning that they shift into the redder parts of the light spectrum.

This makes the light less intense and brings out the softer hues of warm color in your subjects when you photograph them at these times of day. During other times of the day, when the sun is higher in the sky, this effect is minimized and the light is not so ‘soft’.

Why is the ‘Golden Hour’ Good for Photographers?

Photographers can make use of this natural shift in the lighting by taking their photos during these times of day to create lovely soft toned images. Of course there are no hard and fast rules in photography, however, appreciating and understanding the concept and nature of the ‘golden hour’ is a valuable asset in the tool kit of any photographer.

During these hours of the day the light is a lot easier to use than during other times of the day. As the evening arrives and the day draws to an end you can feel a tangible shift in the atmosphere and the lighting noticeably changes. A similar thing happens in the morning as well.

However, there are other times during the day when a similar effect can occur. When the clouds are broken by the sun and the atmosphere is still very moist there can be a warm glow that emanates from the sky. Changes in the atmospheric conditions, days when it is particularly dusty and the moments before a storm can often produce a ‘golden hour’ feel too.

This means that as a photographer you need to have your eyes peeled for shifts in the natural lighting and when you notice the light becoming more suitable for your work then you need to get busy and make the most of it while it lasts!

Tips to make the most of the Golden Hour in Your Photography.

• Take advantage of the shadows to really make your work stand out. During the golden hour when the sun is lower in the sky the shadows will naturally stretch out longer and create dramatic patterns that you can use to great effect in your work. Powerful shadows can turn a flat image into a vibrant and strongly contrasted image with massive depth that just jumps out the page.

• The light is directional. When the sun is lower in the sky you can take very flattering portraits that highlight the features of your subject’s face and with the warmer light they will look vital and fresh.

• Plan ahead. If you are intending to practise your golden hour photography, get to the location with plenty of time to spare so you can scout out the site and set up your equipment. Make a mental note of where the sun will set or rise and line yourself up appropriately so you’ll make the most of the limited time that you will have as the light changes. There are many spots in Philadelphia where you can take beautiful photos during the golden hour. Areas like Rittenhouse Square, Schuylkill River Bank, Philadelphia Museum of Art and City Hall.

• Take your photos quickly. It’s not the usual advice for photography to take multiple pictures fast but in certain situations, such as the golden hour when your window of opportunity is strictly limited, then it makes sense to take photos faster than you normally would. Once the light has started to fade and your session is over you can go back to your pictures and delete the ones that didn’t quite capture what you were looking for.

• Turn off the white balance on your digital camera. Many digital cameras, and smartphones, have a built in automatic color correcting function that will attempt to offset the warm orangey glow which can be a disaster for your golden hour photography! Ideally, you should use your camera in manual mode for this type of photography so you can have maximum control over the outcome of the images. This allows you to use a wide aperture and slower shutter speeds to make your photos more intense and dramatic.

• Experiment with the angle of your camera. By changing the angle of your camera you can create powerful effects. The ‘lens flare’ is a perfect example of what you can achieve with a little practise. In order to create a lens flare in your photo you need to angle your camera slightly towards the sun and you’ll see it pop out in the image. Remember though, never look directly at the sun so if you’re trying to get a lens flare then look at the image in the LCD screen and not directly through a viewfinder because otherwise you could damage your eye sight!

• Have fun and explore the options available to you! Play around with long and dramatic shadows, silhouettes, sun flares and the warm mellow light. Test the different settings on your camera while you are working in manual mode and write down anything that works really well!

Golden Hour is not always an hour and it’s not always golden!

The atmosphere, weather and light is always changing in the natural world – remember you’re not in your perfectly set up home studio – and there are some days when you will get a warm orangey light all afternoon long!

This means you need to be ready at any time to take advantage of a sudden shift in the light but it also means you can’t fully depend on the golden hour before sunset and after sun rise to deliver the perfect conditions each and every time you try.

Even within what seems to be an ‘ideal golden hour’ the lighting can change in a second which means you need to seize the opportunity whenever it arises!

Golden Hour Photography can give Your Work a Magical Touch.

As with many of the best things in life, golden hour photography is a fleeting moment that doesn’t come every day and so when it does make the most of it! With beautifully mellow orangey yellow hues your subjects will look their best and the stretching shadows will add great depth to your work.

Do you like taking photos during the golden hour?

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