11:eleven Photography

Maybe you’ve heard the term. “The Golden Hour”. But what is it exactly? How is it a thing? That’s what we’re going to take a quick dive into. Without getting overly science-y, we’ll talk about why the low lying sun is such a game changer for not just portraits, but landscape as well.

The golden hour, or as some call it, the magic hour, is the hour after sunrise or before sunset when the light is soft, warm, and has that beautiful glow. It really is a magical time for photos, the light is soft, warm, gentle. It provides a practically perfect light for any subject.

During this “golden hour”, the sun is positioned low in the sky, and depending on the relationship between the position of the sun and your subject it results in either long, soft shadows or a warm, golden glow. The light is perfect for capturing nearly any subject or situation. They don’t call it the magic hour for nothing.

I believe that aside from shooting in a studio, where everything is within the photographers controls, portrait photographers prefer shooting during the golden hour because the light is soft, gentle, & forgiving. It creates a beautiful, warm, glowing touch to the skin. The light at golden hour is directional, which means it can be used to. sculpt your subjects features, making them stand out.

Portrait photographers are not alone in their love of the golden hour though. Landscape photographers love it as well, as it adds drama and depth to landscape photos. The warmth of the sun can make even the simplest, most basic landscapes look beautiful.

To make the most of the golden hour, you need to plan ahead. Find out what time sunrise and sunset will occur. Make sure the weather is clear, so that the light is not blocked by clouds. Be sure you arrive at your location early enough to give yourself plenty of time to set up your equipment, find your angle, prepare your composition, and get the most out of the golden hour.

I’ve probably gone on long enough about the golden hour, and how magical it is for photography. All I can say is get out there and try it for yourself. Go make sure you take advantage of nature’s perfect lighting. It literally costs you nothing to shoot at the golden hour.