Long after the sun goes down

At summer time we get out and about and find ourselves in amazing places admiring the sun setting.

The sunset is probably one of the most photographed objects in the world but what many people do not realize is the beauty of the time after the sunset.

Here are some tips on how to create some breath-taking photographs during what is called the golden hour and blue hour.

There are several distinct phases of twilight: the time leading sunset; sunset itself; and the stages of the blue hour. Each phase creates totally different images with different tones, light and feel.

The images below are taken during the various phases of sunset at Narrowneck Beach in Auckland and Mangawhai in Northland. You can view the other images I took at Narrowneck Beach and Mangawhai Heads on the red photo box facebook page.

Before Sunset
Known as the “golden hour”, it is the time before sunset when the sun is still visible and the light is diffused creating a warm, soft light. This is a total contrast to the harsh light of mid day and is great for portraits and landscapes.







Sunset
This is the 30 minutes or so from when the sun touches the horizon. The horizon is visible and the tones range from golds to pinks. Colours will change very quickly during this time so be ready and take many images – you’ll be surprised in the difference between each shot. The light will still be bright enough to not need a tripod.







Moving to Night
Most people stop shooting after sunset thinking there is no light left and make their way home. But the “blue hour” produces just as stunning images as the “golden hour”. You’ll notice in the first 30 minutes or so after sunset the tones are deep blue tone with orange and yellow hues on the horizon. The light will change quickly so you will need to work quickly and use a tripod. You may also need to consider using artificial light so look around for street lights, building lights and/or flash.


After this time you will see the sky fill with a blue glow. This will also last another 30 minutes or so until it becomes “night time”. Adjust the shutter speed and ISO on your camera to make the most of what light is left and continue to use your tripod.


So there you go – dare to become a creature of the night and stay out after dark and you’ll appreciate the results.


To find out the exact times of the blue and golden hours check out this twilight calculator that gives you the times in any given geographical location