How to Photograph a Sunset

I like taking pictures around sunset. The light is great for photography and you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night like you do with sunrise pictures. Each sunset is unique and dependent on atmospheric conditions, geographical location and the exact moment of time the picture is taken. The adage is that the best pictures are taken at dusk and dawn. The reason this is true is because of the quality of light and types of shadows you get at these specific times. If photography is all about the moment as Henri Cartier Bresson suggests, then there is only one really correct moment for a sunset. This may be true, but the light 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after are great for hundreds of other moments. So get your camera gear and get to someplace where you can see a sunset.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Camera
• Tripod
• Patience
• A scenic view

1. Play with the Shadows Scout locations for a possible sunset picture. You do not want to arrive at a location without having any idea of what you want to do. The sun sets pretty fast when you are hiking around a spot trying to figure out the best location. Go there any time, but make sure you know where the sun is going to set. Look at the location and try to compose different shots from different angles. Find out the time of sunset in your location from the TV or Internet. Get there at least 30 minutes ahead. Take advantage of the light right before the sunset. This is a perfect time to play with shadows. They are long and provide interesting counterpoints to the golden light.
2. Hawaii Sunset When the sunset starts to happen you can start to get the sky in your picture. Remember, the setting sun is still quite strong so avoid looking directly at the sun. Keep in mind the basics of composition and try to have your picture tell a story. Would this image be nearly as effective without the boat and the man? Also remember as the light fades to minimize the shadow areas because they will contain little detail.
3. The Moment The moment of sunset can be quite dramatic. This was taken in Hawaii which is the land of beautiful, but boring sunsets. The skies are usually clear in Hawaii at sunset and you can see the sun drop into the Pacific every night much like in this picture. It is the sunlight reflecting off the clouds that provides the dramatic swirls of color. Pacific beaches are beautiful places for sunsets, and yes, there are sometimes low clouds in Hawaii. The closer you are to the equator, the quicker the sun sets. Sometimes it is dramatic, sometimes it isn’t.
4. Winter Sunset Different times of the year produce different colors and images. In the East, we are closer to the sun in the summer and farther away in the winter. This picture was taken in December. The color of sunsets in the winter is less yellow or golden. Each climate and location on the globe produces different results at different times of the year.
5. After Sunset The light after sunset is really beautiful and for a little while you can still photograph the sky. As the light fades, you will need to use slower shutter speeds and open the aperture reducing your depth of field. A tripod is really handy and will enable you to use slower shutter speeds and shoot longer in the fading light.
6. Creating a Mood Sometimes it is fine to use the shadows at sunset if they help to tell a story. The skyline and palm tree in this picture, along with the extreme golden color, give the impression of an oasis in a Moorish desert. The reality is not far off; it was taken at a hotel in Rancho Mirage, California. The import thing is that the image creates a mood or tells a story evoking some interaction from the viewer.

Tips & Warnings

• As the light fades, use a higher ISO setting to be able to capture images in the fading light.
• Use the widest lens aperture, since depth of focus is usually not required for most compositions.
• The setting sun is still quite strong, so avoid looking directly at the sun and use you camera’s display screen instead of the eyepiece.