Settings Breakdown
f/8-11 for general sharpness. Use f/16 when shooting into the sun to create dramatic sunstars from the aperture blades.
Use Daylight or a fixed Kelvin setting to preserve the warm golden tones. Auto white balance often neutralizes the beautiful warmth you're trying to capture.
Underexpose to protect highlights in the bright sky. The sun and clouds hold detail instead of blowing out to pure white.
Start at base ISO. As light fades during sunset, you may need to increase slightly. With tripod, you can stay at ISO 100 regardless of shutter speed.
Graduated neutral density filters darken the bright sky while leaving the foreground unaffected. Soft edge blends naturally across uneven horizons.
Matrix metering evaluates the entire scene. The bright sky will cause underexposure of foreground — dial in negative exposure compensation anyway to protect highlights.
Pro Tips
Arrive 30 Minutes Early
Scout your location and set up before the good light arrives. Golden hour is fleeting — you don't want to be fumbling with gear when the sky explodes with color.
Stay After Sunset
The best color often happens 10-20 minutes after the sun dips below the horizon. Clouds light up from below in brilliant oranges and pinks.
Bracket Your Exposures
Take 3-5 exposures at different settings (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2 EV). This gives you options for HDR blending and ensures you capture the full dynamic range.
Include Silhouettes
Trees, buildings, and people make powerful silhouettes against the colorful sky. Expose for the sky and let foreground go dark for dramatic effect.
Look Behind You
While everyone photographs the sunset, turn around. The warm light illuminating landscapes, buildings, and mountains opposite the sun can be equally stunning.
Clouds Are Your Friend
Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic golden hour images. Clouds catch and reflect light, adding texture and depth that clear skies lack.