The “Magic Hour” For Outdoor Photography

You will see many amazing shots done outdoors with pleasing shadows, very rich colors and a generally subtle warm tone. There are two times of day that is unarguably the best light for shooting anything, anything at all. The Magic hour (also known as the Golden Hour) is the first hour of the day at sunrise, and the last hour of the day until sunset.

If you are an adventurous shooter, like myself, you may want to push the envelope a little. Just as the sun goes below the horizon (and just before it comes up) there is a supreme 15–30 minutes of light that is extremely soft, yet surprisingly vivid. If you are someone who has an affinity for shooting automobiles this is an especially important time of day for you. When white balanced properly, you can make a great after sunset shot look like it was produced in the studio. Even though this light is amazing, there generally isn’t a lot of it so make sure you practice a little self discipline and bring your tripod.

The following image was produced by George Menge. Capture was as the sun was going below the horizon on a slightly overcast day. ƒ8, 1 second, ISO 100, Nikon D80, Erie Canal Guard Gate 2, Waterford NY.

Our specific example is on a slightly overcast day resulting in extremely soft shadows. On a sunny day the light will be golden yellow with very long shadows. The light at this time of day is always more diffuse. Highlights on automobiles are always much more pleasing during these hours.

Special note: It has come to my attention that the tugboat pictured here, Frances Turecamo, as well as the barge it tows are both in severe jeopardy. The tug and its barge are nothing short of historical landmarks and need help to be protected. The article was brought to my attention by Fred of Tug 44, an independent niche documentary photographer and tugboat enthusiast.

Happy Shooting!

Image © George Menge

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