Tips & Tricks
How To Take The Perfect Sunset Photo
Want to know how to capture beautiful sunset images? We’ve got you covered. Take your sunset images from ordinary to extraordinary with just a few simple tips on exposure, color, & composition!
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Understanding Exposure
Your exposure will be determined by where the sun is in the sky – the higher the sun, the brighter the sky. The best way to expose for your sunset is by using your histogram, which shows you the overall luminosity or brightness in the scene. The histogram will become your best friend when it comes to understanding exposure while shooting landscape photography.
Colourful Sunsets
The longer you wait for the sun to set, the more vibrant the colors will be. When the sun gets low in the sky, we witness an effect called scattering. Some of the sun’s rays travel a further distance and hit more atmospheric particles causing rich & colorful sunsets comprised of a variety of colors. The combination of patience and the right exposure settings will result in a gloriously painted sky.
Composition of the Sun
Whatever you do, try to stay clear of bullseye-ing your sun! Think of it like any other subject in portrait photography and use the rule of thirds, or other compositional theories to help add interest to the final image. Take a step back and ask yourself what the most exciting part of the image is, and focus on creatively capturing that.
Conclusion
Understanding these 3 key components of how to capture the perfect sunset image will take your photos to new heights. When you master the technical aspects of exposure, then you can move on to the artistic aspects of photography.
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Understanding Exposure
Your exposure will be determined by where the sun is in the sky – the higher the sun, the brighter the sky. The best way to expose for your sunset is by using your histogram, which shows you the overall luminosity or brightness in the scene. The histogram will become your best friend when it comes to understanding exposure while shooting landscape photography.
Colourful Sunsets
The longer you wait for the sun to set, the more vibrant the colors will be. When the sun gets low in the sky, we witness an effect called scattering. Some of the sun’s rays travel a further distance and hit more atmospheric particles causing rich & colorful sunsets comprised of a variety of colors. The combination of patience and the right exposure settings will result in a gloriously painted sky.
Composition of the Sun
Whatever you do, try to stay clear of bullseye-ing your sun! Think of it like any other subject in portrait photography and use the rule of thirds, or other compositional theories to help add interest to the final image. Take a step back and ask yourself what the most exciting part of the image is, and focus on creatively capturing that.
Conclusion
Understanding these 3 key components of how to capture the perfect sunset image will take your photos to new heights. When you master the technical aspects of exposure, then you can move on to the artistic aspects of photography.
Join PremiumIf you’re interested in learning more about photography then be sure to check out Photography 101, the best way to learn photography! Gain access to this workshop and so much more by purchasing a Premium Subscription to SLR Lounge!
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Maybe I’m just hopeless,! I understood the explanation of the histogram but don’t know what to do with the information. Does a histogram of a certain shape mean I have a good exposure, etc.?
What I do for sunrises and sunsets is change my exposure compensation to -2/3. That is one thing that I often forget to reset on my DSLR once I’ve finished with my photo series; on my film cameras, it’s easy to look at the ISO dial; with my 5D, it requires a menu button.
Clouds do make sunrise and sunset photos pop. I had a year long project where I photographed the sunrise over Columbia, SC from the Lake Murray dam on the solstices and equinoxes. That was the year I shot B&W film exclusively. For the winter equinox, there was a 45 MPH wind blowing off the lake and there was not a cloud in the sky; that series was boring.
Below is a link to a color photo from the vantage point of the dam:
https://flic.kr/p/dGoufe
Shiv this was so great! I love watching you on-camera, you are such a natural… and much easier on the eyes than myself ;)
Very solid write up.
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed the video too :)
[Shivani Reddy has deleted this comment]
You have better brows, I can admit that ;)
If you are taking photos with families, sometimes its a good idea to stick around just after sunset. The sky becomes saturated making your off camera flash (OCF) really pop.
Great point, William. We time our engagement sessions to end just at/after sunset like you suggest. Really solid idea.
We were actually thinking of doing a follow up video adding in subjects during sunset shots! Ahead of the curve, my friend!
Not sure if URLs work here but here’s a sample from Clearwater beach near where I work. Friend of mine from work on his last week before moving to midwest. https://irwinphotographics.smugmug.com/Portraits/Shawlee/i-T69rbqq/A
One of the reasons I purchased a camera, was for sunsets and sunrises. Don’t get me wrong, there is a never ending stream of things in life to take pictures of, and more…
But, at the end of the day (all pun intended) – sunsets and sunrises kick ass…
these are great tips.
as for what I do now, the colors through the clouds / sky are more my main focal point vs. landmarks or sun’s position – leaving me at fault, as I might position the sun in the center of the photo, or a tree sticks out like a sore thumb… I also have a tendency to purposefully underexpose for vividness. I think a properly exposed image is, well, boring.
all I am saying is, I look to capture the emotion / color over composition – a professional photographer would say ick (and they have) but for anyone else, they emote…
I love that Robert! Finding emotion in nature is a brilliant way to creatively think about your subject material. A little underexposure never hurt nobody ;)