Early on in my college photography class I learned about the “golden hours.” Otherwise known as the first hour after dawn and the last hour before dusk. Photographers taking shots in the great outdoors are taught to shoot during these times to capture color that is unrivaled.
These days I try to time my outdoor photo shoots so they coincide with sunset. The warm glow and saturated colors this particular “golden hour” imparts can’t be captured at any other time of the day. I recognized this the first time I went to the beach to take shots of the sunset. I grew up in Hawaii so I had access to some amazing backdrops to begin with. But, no matter how fabulous the beach looks at noon, the lighting that comes from the “golden hours” is spectacular and can transform an ordinary horizon shot into an extraordinary one. What’s more, every sunrise and sunset is different. Which is not to say that every sunrise and sunset is going to yield a better shot than the next. (I learned this the hard way after taking my daughter to the beach six days in a row to capture the sunset. When I developed my shots I found the ones I took on the first day were far superior—-lighting wise–than the ones taken on subsequent days.
Once you learn how to take advantage of the sun’s effect on objects during the “golden hours” the more frameworthy images you will be able to capture. For example, clouds that accompany a sunrise on the eastern horizon or a sunset on the western may enhance your shot. Observe how the light bathes the landscape as it sinks below the horizon. The gold, yellow, red and orange tones that paint the sky is often enough to fill your viewfinder with a winning shot. Another great shot is the sun itself as it dipping towards the horizon.
If you are shooting a particular subject during sunset try silhouetting. It will greatly enhance the impact of the photograph. For example, a towering palm tree is going to render a better silhouette than a building that will likely appear as a large black blob. Also, remember to keep in mind where you place the sun in relation to your main subject. Avoid trying to capture a shot where both appear in the center of your frame. Rather, try to use the rule of thirds as often as possible.