How to make the most out of Golden-hour?

Golden hour is the time when the light in the sky is magical. It is the first and last hour of sunshine in the day i.e. first hour of light after sunrise and the last hour of light before the sunset. This time is considered to be appropriate for all kinds of photography. Be it landscape, portrait, food or anything. Photography experts say that golden-hour is THE time for photography. The light during these two hours is soft, warm, diffused and still bright. It isn't harsh like the bright light during day time. The advantage of shooting at the golden hour is the quality of light that is present there. A golden tint which then turns into yellow, then to orange and finally red. These change in colors when photographed looks very creative and attractive.

Here are some tips for you to make the most out of Golden-hour:

1. Be there before the sun:

Whether you are shooting during the sunrise or during the sunset, reach there well in advance.So that you get enough time to set your camera for the shoot. Make all necessary adjustments and arrangements required for the shoot. Spot a location from where you would want to capture photographs.

2. List down the shots that you would want to take:

Preparing in advance as to what type of shots you would like to take always work as a checklist. Plus, it eliminates all type of last minute hassle. Scribbing down a list of intended shots will help you make the most out of golden hour plus it will not let you run out of ideas.

3. Choose your gear wisely:

When you are heading out to photograph during golden-hour,make sure you carry all essential gear that you may require. Like a tripod, because you'll be shooting in slow shutter and your camera has to be super steady to capture a sharp and clear shot. Make a check list of gear that your require at the shoot.

4. Carry some additional lenses to maximize creativity:

Experiment with different lenses to maximize creativity and visual diversity. Shooting at different focal lengths or compression might give you awesome results than shooting with simple settings. You might ultimately end up with some stunning pictures.

5. Look for silhouettes

This is the perfect time for silhouettes. See if you get something that can become a great silhouette subject for you picture. The light at this time is colorful and if you are able to spot a subject, then you might end up with a great looking silhouette. Look for some simple and easily recognizable subjects and shapes like, trees, mountains, fishing boats, ship etc. The golden-yellowish-orange sky during sunrise or the pink and orange clouds after sunset on a cloudy one, make great backdrops for silhouettes.