Hey there, workers, peasants, and photography enthusiasts.
There's something magical about capturing the beauty of a sunset through the lens of a camera. That’s why tourists do it, little kids do it, even home health aides do it while pushing their patients in wheelchairs with one hand and snapping the magic light with the other.
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On our roof. Ricoh GR 3. F/2.8, ISO 100, SS 1/15
Oh, the the vibrant hues, the dramatic sky, and the serene ambiance – it's no wonder that sunset photography is a favorite among homo sapiens. However, while sunsets can be incredibly rewarding to capture, they also present a unique set of challenges. In this post, I’ll take a belly-dive into the (art) craft of photographing sunsets and the challenges you might encounter.
First, the challenges:
Dynamic Lighting Conditions: Sunsets involve extreme changes in light levels as the sun dips below the horizon. This dynamic range can be a challenge for your camera to handle, often leading to overexposed skies and underexposed foregrounds.
Color Accuracy: Balancing the colors accurately can be tricky due to the warm and intense hues of a sunset. Maintaining the vibrant shades while avoiding oversaturation requires careful consideration.
Composition: While a beautiful sunset can be the main attraction, a good composition is still crucial. Finding the right balance between the sun, the landscape, and any other elements in your frame is essential for a visually kick-ass shot.
Nova Scotia. Nikon D750. Don’t remember the settings (it was a few years ago), but I remember adding a bit of mist in Luminar Neo. Not sure if it works or not. I’m trying to learn how to leave the photos alone. But, man, is it hard!
Essential Camera Settings:
Use Manual Mode: To have full control over your camera settings, switch to manual mode. This will allow you to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO independently.
Low ISO: Begin with a low ISO setting (e.g., ISO 100 or 200) to maintain image quality and minimize noise.
Wide Aperture (Low f-number): A wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 to f/8) will help you achieve a shallow depth of field, making the subject stand out while creating a pleasing bokeh effect.
Stony Beach, Cape Cod. Nikon D750. F/2.4, ISO 80, SS 1/60
Bracketing: Due to the challenging lighting conditions, bracketing your shots (taking multiple shots at different exposure levels) can be beneficial for capturing details in both the bright sky and the darker foreground.
Graduated Neutral Density (ND) Filter: To balance the exposure between the bright sky and the landscape, consider using a graduated ND filter. This tool darkens the sky area without affecting the rest of the image.
Shoot in RAW: RAW files retain more information and provide greater flexibility during post-processing, especially when dealing with challenging lighting conditions.
I know, I know. But I’ve photographed this scene a hundred times already and wanted to do something different. Ricoh GR III, f/2.8, ISO 400, SS 1/30
Composition Tips:
Golden Hour Magic: The hour just before sunset (golden hour) offers soft and warm lighting that can enhance the overall mood of your photo.
Foreground Interest: Include elements in the foreground to create depth and a sense of scale. This could be anything from silhouettes to natural elements like rocks or plants.
Rule of Thirds: Apply the rule of thirds to place the horizon and other key elements off-center, making the composition more visually engaging.
Leading Lines: Incorporate leading lines that guide the viewer's eye towards the focal point of the image.
Experiment with Angles: Don't be afraid to experiment with different angles, such as shooting from a low perspective or trying out unique framing.
But even if you don’t follow any of the rules above, you can still capture a beautiful sunset with your cheap mobile phone, without even paying much attention to what you’re photographing. That is why a photographer friend of mine swore off taking photos of the setting or rising sun. Too touristy. Too cheap. Too uncreative.
Is he correct? I don’t think so. I prefer the Dina Litovsky approach to the magic hour light. A renowned photographer known for her distinct perspective on capturing everyday moments, she invites us to rethink our approach to sunset photography.
The ubiquity of sunset images on platforms like Instagram has led to a certain fatigue – a feeling that we've seen it all before. This phenomenon is what Dina Litovsky addresses in her insightful approach. She encourages us to think beyond the obvious when it comes to photographing sunsets. She suggests that rather than solely focusing on the aesthetic allure of the scene, we should strive to infuse our personal narrative and unique perspective into our sunset captures.
Gibraltar. Nikon D750. Don’t remember the settings. But I do remember that when I took this photo about ten years ago, I didn’t know how to bracket shots to create high dynamic range, so it’s a single shot. I wanted a silhouette of the Barbary macaque, and I think I got it.
A Personal Touch:
According to Litovsky, the key lies in infusing our emotions, stories, and individual experiences into our photographs. Instead of capturing just another beautiful sunset, why not incorporate elements that convey a sense of time, place, or even human presence? Imagine a solitary figure watching the sunset, their silhouette against the vibrant sky. This creates a connection between the viewer and the image, fostering a deeper engagement that goes beyond mere visual appeal.
Exploring the Unseen:
Litovsky's approach invites us to explore the unexplored facets of sunset photography. It's not about shying away from photographing sunsets, but about approaching them with fresh eyes and an innovative perspective. Seek out the hidden stories, the overlooked details, and the nuances that make your sunset moment uniquely yours.
Trying to avoid the sun and sky. iPhone 13. Auto. Played with white balance, strcuture, and contrast in Lightroom.
If you’re looking for tips to break out of the “sunset rut,” or searching for ways to capture breathtaking and unique sunset images, here are 12 creative ideas.
Go After a Storm
If you have a chance to photograph a sunset after a storm, go for it! The sunsets following storms tend to be dramatic and beautiful – all of that light streaming through the receding clouds can make for a spectacular light show.
Woods Hole, Cape Cod. After the rain. Nikon D750. f/5.6, ISO 400, SS 1/60. Some adjustments in Luminar Neo. Some.
Play With the White Balance
If the white balance is left on auto, there’s a chance that you will end up losing some of the vibrant, warm tones during the sunset. When photographing sunsets, you may need to ditch the auto balance in favor of the “shade” or “cloudy” setting. This will help to bring out the vibrant tones and add a warm cast to your image.
Going b&w to avoid the cliche of a woman sunbathing. But one can’t avoid a cliche even in b&w. Maybe that’s why a cliche is a cliche. Crystal Lake, Callicoon. Ricoh GR III. F/5.6, ISO 200, SS 1/30
Capture Silhouettes
Sunset time is a great time to capture silhouettes. To photograph silhouettes, you’ll want to find a suitable subject – a person, or an object that has a clearly identifiable outline – like trees, blades of grass, or bridges. Then position them with the sun behind them. Use a faster shutter speed for a darker exposure.
Turn Around
It’s easy to focus on the beautiful setting sun, forgetting that there’s a whole world alight in beautiful colors right behind you. Sure, the sunset is the main attraction, but during sunset, everything is bathed in a beautiful orange glow, presenting an excellent opportunity to capture other images too. In addition to landscapes, look for opportunities for portraits or even macro images.
Use a Long Exposure
Ever look at an image and wonder how the photographer managed to capture such a beautiful sunset with the ever-so-slightly blurred water and soft, streaky clouds? Using a long exposure will softly blur movement – like clouds or water, resulting in a gently blurred image. The next time you’re photographing a sunset, slow down your shutter speed, and make sure your camera’s on a tripod. The results may surprise you.
Consider Portraits
The beautiful warm light during sunset is can make for great portraits. Try to bring along a reflector, if you have one, and a flash. You’ll also want to diffuse the flash, or even put a tissue over it to prevent harsh wash out. Just remember that the sun quickly disappears, so be prepared to work fast.
Look for Reflections
It’s true that photographing a sunset over the sea can be a bit of a cliché – but this doesn’t mean that you can’t look for other bodies of water. Ponds, pools of water, or even ice can all make great reflective surfaces for sunsets.
While sunsets have a reputation for being a bit clichéd, that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth capturing. Instead, look for ways to make your sunset photos unique – the results will be beautiful photos that stand definitively apart from the crowd.
Tryting to capture the sun’s reflection in the water. Ricoh GR III. F/3.5, ISO 400, 1/60
‘Til next time,
ak
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