Sunrise and Sunset Photography
A glorious moment called the “Golden Hour” when the sun’s slowly drifting in or out of the earth’s axis, rising above and descending below the horizon. Sunrises and Sunsets are well founded momental scenery pleasures by people around the world. Each scenery changes depending on the place, whether it’s backdrop is a humble sea or beach, a modernous building laden cityscape, vividly color painted skyscape, or the tranquil mountains. What makes it special because every Sunset or Sunrise is unique, one of a kind. They are strangely simple but grand in their own way.
Blog Category: Photography
Destination: Cebu, Philippines
Photography: Jones Silva Creatives
Earl & Stephanie Sunset Engagement Photography
Which Light is Best?
Before comparing such trivialities, this question must be beckoned; Can people differentiate between a sunrise and sunset photo? Most people would think they couldn’t. Both are lights coming from the sun. You can show a person a picture of a sunrise and he or she can guess it to be a sunset photo. In reality, there are differences, scientifically, artistically, and in photography.
The Sun itself is an artist when it comes to creating beautiful skyscapes. The Sunrise is where the light is gradually increasing while The Sunset is where the light is gradually decreasing. Sunrises have cooler tones since light reflects less in the atmosphere, which can paint orange to bluish skies while Sunsets have more warmth in their tones since light reflects more, having to paint reddish to purplish skies.
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Lensball Photography by Jones Silva Creatives
Sunrise, Somnus Hour to Inspiring Radiance
The Sunrise can represent “Hope”. As it begins in the dawn, gradually illuminates the solemn darkness amidst the quiet serenity into a bountiful inspiring radiance as it signals a brand new day. Experiencing the rising sun somehow gives you a warm feeling that results in you producing a smile. Sunrise is also a time when people are still sleeping and animals are awake, a perfect situation to capture the captivating stillness of nature. This timing is best for shooting portraits as there is little to no distractions. It’s just you, the object, and nature.
Sunrises produce less haze since drastic weather changes mostly don’t occur during dawn. There’s also less chance for fog to occur since the temperature drops as night falls and rises as the day comes back into life. Not all photographers prefer to take the sunrise since it takes more timing and the effort to wake up early can be quite a hassle. You set the alarm, wake up way earlier than you usually do, set up your gear, make your way to the spot while hoping that you’re not too late, arrive at the spot, set up the best angles, and as twilight comes, you start shooting. To do all that takes determination. Photographers opt these since they rather save their energy for the day’s shoot. It may not be common, but patience and effort make great works.
Beautiful sunset scene in Agra and Jaipur, India captured by travel photographer Jones Silva Creatives.
Sunsets are also Master Skyscape Painters
The Sunset is the most common among the two since this is the rush hour, the time when people get off or go to work. They go outside and see the sky’s twilight, they reach for their smartphones and then simply take a snap of it.
The Sun is sinking and the moon is making its appearance. Sunsets can turn monotonous and dull sceneries into something magical and glorious. Sunsets are also master skyscape painters, they paint the sky with soothing vivid colors as it melts the day away and prepares to embrace the cool comfort of darkness.
Sunsets are easily predictable and timed but it takes snappy actions to take a beautiful one. It’s a race against the sun before it completely drowns itself into the horizon. Take the best shot before light becomes insufficient. Unlike Sunrises, Sunsets can gather a lot of distractions and unnecessary objects into the frame as the people around are also doing the same thing as you, taking photos of the sunset at the moment. Although it can be a hindrance, certain advantages can be easily overlooked. It depends on your perception, creativity and light to landscape composition. Don’t always focus on the sun, scan the landscape and surroundings first, and then survey the right angle.
Cloud Painting in the Twilight
The sky is never the same in any given time, even more so different in each location. The weather changes by the hour. There are perfect cloudless blue skies, and there are also cloudy skies. Sunrises/Sunsets look gorgeous in a vast cloudless sky but clouds also can add the art in Sunrise/Sunset photos. They are the ones that set them apart from the rest.
When the twilight starts blending in, the clouds spread out its rays painting the sky with an array of colors like purple, pink, scarlet and others. The sky is like a canvas, the sun is the painter, the twilight is the paintbrush, the clouds are the color catalysts and at the same time adds textures and uniqueness to the overall product. Having cloudy weather doesn’t mean it’s not the perfect time to shoot Sunrises and Sunsets, in fact, it’s a partial opportunity for creativity. For example, don’t lose hope if it’s a rainy day, but you never know it’ll let up before sunset. A sunset after raining actually can produce more vivid colors in the sky since due to the atmosphere having abundant precipitation, it reflects more light.A perfect sunrise/sunset shot is when it illuminates more colors than just an ordinary clear sky.
Romance in the Sunset
People often discern the sunset as romantic. Why is that? It’s because we are cultured into it. Romantic sunsets are told in books and movies we love. It’s also a part of the day when we can finally sit back and relax, spend some leisure time. In special cases, together with your loved one while you sit back and relax together, you two watch as the sky gradually paints itself into something magical making your time together turn into magical as well. This is also similar to watching fireworks with your loved one, sharing a magical moment. A romantic setting is when sharing a magical or special moment with someone you care about. This is why prenuptial shoots are common to have sunsets as background. Although the same can be done in sunrises, sunsets are most common since it’s the time when people have time and some people prefer to avoid the hassle of willing themselves back into consciousness at a sordid time.
When shooting portraits at Sunset or Sunrise as a background, the use of a flash speedlite can balance out the lighting between the subject and the background as all the light is all being focused on the sunrise or sunset background while the foreground is darker making the subject a silhouette. Silhouette shots are by all means also great but if you want to shine on your subject as well, a flash is a simple remedy.
Engagement Photography by Jones Silva Creatives
Capturing the Golden Hour
Whether you’re capturing the golden hour in still or in motion, the magic, the glorious moment is there to be remembered. The romance in the sunset atmosphere setting up the tone to a memorable night. The radiant warmth of hope called up in you by the eminence of the sunrise. The twilight and clouds paint a one of a kind unique scenery. Both Sunrise and Sunsets have their own pluses and minuses, but one thing is for certain, they both represent the two magical moments in a day.
