Tips for shooting at the Twilight

You all have heard of the Golden-Hour. The first and last hour of sunlight in a day is referred as the Golden Hour. The golden hour is considered to be truly divine and magical because of the light it produces. Similarly, twilight is also considered as magical as the Golden hour in the world of photography. Twilight refers to the "soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, caused by the refraction and scattering of the sun's rays from the atmosphere." The duration of twilight varies from places to places. By large it depends on the time of year and your position on earth.

If you ever get a chance to photograph during this magical time, don't miss it. Shooting at the twilight is an experience that you'll never forget. The only thing is you should be aware of what kind of settings you need. If you are unaware of how to shoot during twilight, read on. Following we have listed 5 tips for shooting at the Magic Hour called 'Twilight'.

1. Be prepared for a location:

The first and most important step to begin shooting at twilight is to prepare for the location and environment you'll be shooting in. If possible, think of a location in advance so that there is no last minute fuss. Reach at the location before the sun sets, so that you get sufficient time to set your camera.

2. You need a camera support:

Shooting in low light condition often results in long exposure photography where your camera shutter is open for too long. this is to ensure that sufficient light gets in your camera sensors to capture beautiful shots. However, to ensure clear and sharp pictures, you must use a tripod or a steady base to support your camera. The tripod will keep your camera still for a long time.

3. Turn off the 'Auto-Focus':

When shooting in low light conditions it is advisable that you turn off the autofocus setting on your camera and switch to manual focus instead. Manual focus will allow you have more control over your camera settings and exposure.

4. 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 dark blue sky after sundown on a clear day, or the pink and orange clouds after sunset on a cloudy one, make great backdrops for silhouettes.

5. Click lots of pictures:

Assume that its the last time you are seeing the twilight. Shoot in burst mode or click as many pictures as you can. Later, scan all and then select the best one.