Stunning sunset photography images are just a shutter snap away. With a few, easy steps you can create sunset images that burst off the page. These four steps include shooting tips, tools, timing and post processing.
Shooting Tips for Sunset Photography
The following ideas are designed to inspire artistry and composition.
- Photograph what interests you. What is it about the setting that draws your eye? Is it the flow of waves? Does the railing along the walkway guide your eye? How about the clouds, do they say ‘photograph me’?
- What is the anchor point of the image? Consider the foreground, middle ground and background. Where do you want the viewers eyes to go? What is unique? Images that are just ‘of the sunset’ are nice. Images that share emotion and draw the eye through the image jump off the page.
- Harness the light with bracketing. When the sun sets our light constantly changes. Bracketing exposures (BKT in Nikon, AEB in Canon) ensures more options in processing. When you bracket, you’re shooting an image of a scene multiple times. In that bracket, the images will include your current exposure settings combined with a step darker and a step brighter. Different cameras have options of capturing 2, 3 and more exposures in a bracket.
- Round suns rock, sunbursts shine. Capture the sun in your images as it goes from big ball of fire to a sliver of light at the horizon, or peaking through objects. See our fast tips for creating starbursts.
Tools
Stability – A tripod and a remote shutter release sets the stage for clear sharp images. If you don’t have a remote shutter release, not to worry. Many cameras have an exposure delay mode. With delay mode, the camera shutter is released and the mirror raised when the photographer presses the shutter button. Then, the camera will wait a couple of seconds and capture the image. Shutter shake is significantly reduced! When you reduce shutter shake you increase image quality.
Light Management – A graduated density filter is made of gray glass that fades from gray to clear. This type of filter balances contrast between a between a bright sky and a darker foreground. There are many neutral density filters available. Today I have a B+W graduated neutral density filter and a Lee graduated neutral density filter. Other manufacturer examples include: Hoya, Tiffen plus others.
Timing
The Golden Hour – Sunset photography starts when the sun bathes the landscape with golden light. Referred to as the golden hour, stunning images of landscapes abound at this time. This is also the time where the graduated neutral density filter referenced above can help manage a very bright sky. If you’re wanting golden hour images, the hour before sunset is a great time to get started.
The Blue Hour – After the sun dips below the horizon, rich colors of oranges, reds and blues emerge. This is where the phrase “wait for it” has meaning. Why? The best colors at sunset happen after the crowds have left. The sun kicks back rich, colorful lighting into the skies and clouds about twenty minutes after sunset. This blue hour isn’t quite an hour long but it’s worth the wait!
Post Processing
We’ll do a deeper dive into post processing in an upcoming blog. Until then, a few suggestions. Process your images. Period. Sunset photography comes alive with your vision in post processing.
Don’t be shy in pushing the sliders in your post processing, you can always push them back. With sunsets, punch the contrast, clarity and texture sliders to bring out the details. Increase color saturation and vibrance to share the evening’s glow. Take advantage of the sun’s colors in your highlights and shadows with split toning. (See: Adding Jazz & Pizazz with Split Toning)
Sunset photography images reflect your creative eye and technique. Your colorful results begin with planning and end with your personal stamp of processing.
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