Best Time To Take Photos Outside: 5 Killer Ways to Better Pictures

Most professional photographers swear that the best time to take photos outside is usually during the “golden hour.” This is the time of day that has the best lighting. Below we will discuss what golden hour is and how you should take advantage of it.

Lighting is the one thing that can make or break a photograph. You can have a stunning portrait model or an incredible landscape, but with poor lighting, you will be left with a dull photograph. Poor lighting brings forth flat and uninspiring photos.

This is why it’s imperative that you find the best time of day when shooting your outdoor scene. Do not be alarmed, both amateur and professional photographers have been pondering over this problem since the invention of the camera. They have come up with the perfect answer to this predicament – the golden hour.

What’s the Golden Hour?

A few photographers also call the golden hour, the magic hour. This is usually the last hour of light before the sun sets and the first hour of light after sunrise. It should be noted that the exact duration of the golden hour varies between seasons.

During these two times, the sun is low in the sky, thus producing a soft and diffused light which is extremely flattering. This is unlike the harsh midday sunlight when most of us take pictures. You should note that lighting during the magic hour is soft, warm and diffused.

This type of light is known to produce less contrast thus reducing the overall chances of losing parts of your images in blown-out highlights or strong shadows. The warmness adds an overall pleasant feeling to the scene. The long shadows on the other hand help to pick out details and this helps by adding texture and depth to the image.

There are fewer people during dawn and dusk giving you a chance to take your photographs with relative ease and peace.

When to Use the Golden Hour

Any type of outdoor photography can apply and use the golden hour rule. Landscapes and city scenes are also a good choice for the magic hour rule. Outdoor portraits and other shots of plants, flowers and still life cars are a good choice for the golden hour rule.

Calculating the Magic Hour

The easiest and quickest way of calculating the times of two daily golden hours can be found HERE: http://www.golden-hour.com. It has been verified by most professional photographers who claim the calculator produces very accurate times.

If you want to work out things on your own, you need to start finding out your local sunrise and sunset times. The easiest way of doing this is by using an online sunrise and sunset calculator which can be found HERE: https://www.timeanddate.com/sun.

During sunrise, the golden hour will continue for about an hour. The second magic hour usually runs between an hour before sunset and finish immediately after sunset.

Hints for Shooting quality Pictures:

Once you know what you are going to photograph and when, you should take your camera out and start shooting. Before you do so, consider the following tips to ensure things go smoothly and you make the most out of your photography experience:

Using a Tripod

During sunrise and sunset, the scene is usually dark, you should wait for it to get lighter. Set your camera on a steady tripod and set the ISO nice and low not forgetting to use a long exposure.

Have ample time to set up

The golden hours are known to start suddenly, you should prepare adequately beforehand. Get to your location early even if it means starting your journey during the middle of the night.

Keep Shooting

During each golden hour, you will notice that the light changes quickly and the scenery changes suddenly too. Instead of taking one or two photographs and heading home, you should plan to stay for an entire hour.

Taking photographs during the golden hour is without a doubt an inspiration to photographers all over the world. It means having to go around with your camera at odd hours, which is worth the sacrifice. You should give the golden hour a chance and see how it will transform your photography.

Happy Shooting

We hope that you have found useful information about the best time of day to take photographs in natural light.