3/28/2012

Shooting Sunrises And Sunsets

By Alice Becker


Sunrises/sunsets are two of my favorite shooting subjects. Anywhere I journey, I make sure I'm in position to shoot at both times in a day. This means scouting locales beforehand so I'm in the spot when the two times happen.

Putting something in the foreground presents a sense of scale. Due to the fact that your subject is a silhouette in sunset snapshots, it's got to be identified on shape alone. Mountains and their unique, triangular shape are my favorite. Other usable forms are trees, lakes, buildings, lighthouses, ships, boats, cityscapes and regular folks. For a touch of romance, a hand-holding couple will do the trick.

Sunrises

To get an ideal sunrise, don't think of obtaining a meter reading via the TTL meter with the sun in the viewfinder. Obtain said meter reading simply to either the right or the left of the sun. Employ at least a 200-milimeter lens or bigger to have the sun look larger.

Nice shadows, vivid textures and warm colors are hallmarks of a sunrise. Some clouds provide drama to either a sunrise or a sunset. During sunset or sunset, clouds offer blue or pink colors. A nice picture option is shooting the rising sun on a mountain while said mountain gets reflected in a body of water. Typically, these bodies of water are still at sunrise, making nice reflection pictures. If said water has a tiny ripple in it, so much the better. This impressionistic shot will be all the better.

If you're shooting prior to sunrise, utilize a white balance setting of cloudy if you hate a bluish-type cast on any digital pictures. At times, you're going to have to communicate the mood as it was in the moment.

Sunsets

Lots of the metering/silhouetting tips are equal. Still, though, what follows are sunset-focused picture-taking tips. Sunset light's grander in color and more orange than sunrise light. If you're shooting post-sunset, meter specifically off the sky for an afterglow. You must work quickly if there's an afterglow, though.

Post-sunset is the nicest time for shooting cityscapes because buildings' lights have only come on. The west is going to still have a bit of light left. The building lights/mauve backgrounds provide a swell digital picture. Meter right off the sky. With a sensor reading of ISO one-hundred, any meter readings ought to be near 1/30 at f4.

Next time you shoot sunrises or sunsets, use these digital photography tips for great sunrise/sunset digital photos. Sunrises and sunsets are easy to shoot and the results can be incredible. In addition, it forces you to take the time to enjoy the dramatic show Nature puts forth twice a day.




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