The ‘golden hour’, whether at sunrise or sunset, is beloved by photographers for good reason. Landscapes take on a magical quality, the light is warm and soft and subjects create dramatic silhouettes.
If you’re planning a sunrise or sunset adventure in the school holidays, it’s a great time to capture some fabulous family photographs. Even if you are only armed with a phone, here are some simple tips for composing a stellar sunrise or sunset shot.
Set your alarm
If you're after a sunrise shot, aim to arrive at your destination about 30 minutes before the sun is due to rise. The best photographs can often be caught in this magical half hour before the sun shows itself.
Use the rule of thirds
Rather than snapping the horizon in the centre of your shot, position it so that it lies along the bottom third of the frame, allowing the colours of the sky to take up the top two thirds.
Hold very still
In low light conditions a camera on a phone will automatically reduce the shutter speed to allow more light to hit the sensor. Move and you’ll just get blur. If you don’t have a tripod, lean on a rock, a tree or even a backpack to help you hold still.
Include a subject
Whether it’s your kids, a tree or a rock formation, including something in the foreground will help to add interest and make the sunrise stand out even more. If you snap your subject with the sun directly behind them, you will get a halo effect which can look good in photos.
Turn around
It’s easy to get transfixed on the beauty of the sun rising or setting, but sometimes the best pictures are being lit up in dusky pink and purple hues behind you.
