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Sunset Photography |
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Last Update: 26 July 2009 |
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Everyone likes a sunset. There is no escaping
that fact and it is one of those type of Just like sunrises, sunsets are a bit unpredictable. They are very much dependant on the atmospheric conditions and so glowing red skies can not be guarantee how a sunset will develop. As is the case with shooting sunrises,
preparation is all important and will help the
The tripod is an essential piece of kit as
light levels will be decreasing. To keep yourself mobile and able to
travel light a light weight travel series model is handy (but
For the DSLR user this may be an instance where using live view may be more preferable to using to optical viewfinder. With the camera on a tripod it should be easier to view the image on the LCD screen along with the exposure information. Image stabilisation whether it is in the camera body or on the lens should be switched off.
The camera's white balance should be set to
'Daylight' rather than auto in order to Depending on the content of the sunset scene and the results envisioned, the aperture needs to be adjusted accordingly. However, if everything within the scene is a significant distance from the camera then the aperture set may not be critical. If this is the case the aperture can be set to give optimal sharpness from the lens. This may be in the region of f/8 to f/11 for 35mm or APS-C cameras and perhaps no more than f/5.6 for compact cameras using small imaging sensors. The reason for this is that with the small sensors and even smaller pixels diffuse comes into effect earlier as an aperture is closed down resulting in a softening of the image. The shutter speed will be set accordingly.
Be prepared for disappointment! If one evening there is a great sunset don't to be replicated the following day. There is probably a science to determining the likelihood of a great sunset based on an understanding of atmospheric conditions but I must confess my ignorance of it. EA. There are a number of ways to shoot a sunset but it mainly comes down to whether you shoot it directly and or not. Shooting Directly Shooting the setting sun directly may initially seem exciting but it could lead to some dull and uninspiring photos. A clear sky devoid of clouds may look great when the sun is high in the sky but it can lead to uninteresting shots. It all depends on what else is in the scene and how much of the scene is taken up with the sky. A silhouetted mountain arrange or cityscape can add interest to scene and provide a context. Cloud formations are what can add drama to a
scene. Their usual gray look becomes
There are times when just about everything is bathed in dramatically striking orangey red light. "This is not the kind of sunset I have ever seen in London or other parts of the UK but have seen in countries like Thailand." Shooting Indirectly It is whether noting when taking photos under conditions when the light cast by the sun is very strong that care must be taking to avoid clipping of the colours. This can easily be checked for on most (if not all) modern DSLR by viewing the RGB histogram. At the stage the sun is under the horizon all is not over. There is a bit more light display to come before the dark skies take over. It's a time to do some good night photography as this often works best when there is still some colour in the sky.
Just about all that has been described can be photographed with many compact cameras. Camera phones can also capture respectable looking photos but they have great limitations with lower dynamic range and no optical magnification. Many provide some control over white balance, exposure compensation, and can force focus to infinity. At the end of the day it is all about capturing a moment in time that will do justice to what you have seen and perhaps evoke good memories in those who later view it.
Travel:
Sunrise Photography
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subject matter that someone
with a camera, whether an amateur or professional, will want to
capture. 
shoot run more
smoothly. Determining a decent location can easily make or break a
shot. It is always good to have some predetermined image in mind of
the kind of scene that is to be captured. It goes without saying
that an appreciation of the sun setting times is necessary and the
approximate direction in which the sun will set. Getting to the
location in good time is essential to success as the sun vanishes
below the horizon very promptly. 
A digital SLR is not essential for sunset
photography as a compact digital camera is just as capable depending
on what you are trying to achieve. It is however important for the
compact camera to either provide manual exposure adjustment or
exposure compensation. The ability to adjust the method of metering
may also be handy. 
they
can be expensive). Compact cameras only require a light weight
tripod but the tripod has to be sturdy. 
ensure that the colours are
registered correctly. With auto white balance there is the chance
the camera will try and remove what it sees as excessive colour bias
or cast. 
Aperture priority may be the operating mode of
choice with exposure compensation applied when necessary.
Alternatively, manual exposure mode can be chosen with the aperture
set for optimum sharpness and the shutter speed adjusted to give the
required exposure. 
can be spent finalizing preparations. Once the sun
starts to set (say from about 5 degrees above the horizon) this is
perhaps only about 15 minutes before the sky is completely dark.
transformed with gradations of
shades of oranges and reds. Clouds appearing near to the horizon can
look rather opaque resulting in some of the sunlight being obscured.
The top edges of the clouds may pickup some light which can strongly
contrast with what is an almost silhouetted formation. Depending on
the position of the sun the sky will take various shades with the
warmest shades closest to the sun and those furthest away coolest
and resembling blue. 
Even if shooting in RAW mode it is worth
bracketing exposures to ensure that the best image is captured. Get
the best possible image possible in camera so that less work will be
required in post processing. 
