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Today's Light

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Light Quality
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Today's Light Phases

24-hour overview — colored segments show each phase duration
12am 6am 12pm 6pm 12am
Night
Twilight / Blue Hour
Golden Hour
Daylight
Blue Hour Morning
— to —
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Sunrise Official
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Azimuth: —
Golden Hour Morning
— to —
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Solar Noon Peak Sun
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Max elevation: —
Golden Hour Evening
— to —
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Sunset Official
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Azimuth: —
Blue Hour Evening
— to —
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Daylight Total
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Definitions: Golden hour is when the sun is 6° below to 6° above the horizon. Blue hour is when the sun is 4° to 6° below the horizon. Times are calculated for your exact location and date.

Sun Path Diagram

Interactive sun position throughout the day

N E S W
0° 30° 60° 90°

Current Sun Position

Elevation —
Azimuth —
Direction —
12am 6am 12pm 6pm 12am

Key Events

This Week's Light

Sunrise, sunset, and daylight length for the next seven days

Shooting Direction Guide

Optimal camera positioning for different times of day

Golden Hour (Morning)

Face: East to Southeast

Subject placement: Light source behind you for front-lit subjects, or position subject between you and sun for backlit silhouettes and rim lighting.

Best for: Warm, soft portraits; landscapes with long shadows; architectural details.

Midday (Harsh Light)

Face: North (in Northern Hemisphere) for open shade

Subject placement: Move into shade or use diffusers. Overhead sun creates unflattering shadows on faces.

Best for: Abstract shadows, minimalist architecture, underwater photography, or use fill flash for portraits.

Golden Hour (Evening)

Face: West to Southwest

Subject placement: Same as morning golden hour. Evening light often has warmer, redder tones.

Best for: Dramatic landscapes, portraits with warm skin tones, cityscapes as lights turn on.

Blue Hour

Face: Any direction — ambient light is even and diffused

Subject placement: City lights, water reflections, and artificial lighting become key subjects. Use tripod.

Best for: Cityscapes with twilight sky, neon signs, light trails, long exposures.

Pro tip: Arrive at your location 30-45 minutes before golden hour to scout compositions. The best light often lasts only 15-20 minutes at the peak of golden hour.

Camera Settings by Light

Recommended settings for each lighting condition

Golden Hour Portrait

Mode Aperture Priority
Aperture f/1.8 – f/2.8
ISO 100 – 400
White Balance Daylight / 5500K
Metering Spot on face
Focus Single + Eye AF

Golden Hour Landscape

Mode Aperture Priority
Aperture f/8 – f/11
ISO 100 (base)
White Balance Daylight
Metering Matrix / Evaluative
Extra Tripod, GND filter

Blue Hour Cityscape

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8 – f/11
Shutter 2 – 30 sec
ISO 100 – 400
White Balance Tungsten / 3200K
Extra Tripod essential

Sunrise/Sunset Silhouette

Mode Manual
Aperture f/8 – f/16
Exposure Meter for sky
ISO 100
White Balance Daylight
Focus Subject edge

Backlit Portrait

Mode Manual
Aperture f/2 – f/4
Exposure +1 to +2 EV
ISO 200 – 800
Metering Spot on face
Extra Reflector helpful

Sun Starburst

Mode Aperture Priority
Aperture f/16 – f/22
ISO 100
Timing Sun partially blocked
Focus Hyperfocal
Extra Lens hood off

Long Exposure Water

Mode Manual
Aperture f/11 – f/16
Shutter 1 – 30 sec
ISO 100 (base)
Filter ND 6–10 stop
Extra Tripod, remote

Window Light Portrait

Mode Aperture Priority
Aperture f/2 – f/4
ISO 400 – 1600
White Balance Daylight / Auto
Position 45° to window
Extra Reflector for fill

Gear for this light

Sturdy tripod

Blue hour and long exposures run 2–30 seconds. A locked-down camera is a must.

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ND1000 (10 stop)

Keeps water and clouds moving during golden hour without blowing the sky.

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5-in-1 reflector

Fills faces in backlit portraits without losing the rim light from the sun.

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Quick Reference

Exposure for sunset? Meter on sky, subject goes dark
Backlit haze/flare? Use lens hood or hand shade
Sky blown out? GND filter or bracket exposures
Subject too dark? Reflector, fill flash, or expose +1/2 EV
Best starburst lens? More aperture blades = more rays
White balance for warmth? Daylight keeps warm tones; auto cools them
Blue hour tripod? Essential — exposures are 2-30+ seconds
File format? RAW — preserve highlight/shadow detail