Sunset is a magical time of the day in every part of the world. With the right tools and know-how, anyone can take stunning sunset photos. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this beautiful time of day.
Video | How to take the perfect sunset photo
First, let’s start with our video on “how to take the perfect sunset photo.
This rest of this article will focus on landscape photography during sunset. See the following articles for more information on sunset portrait photography:
- Sunset Portrait Photography | Minute Photography
- Learn 5 Tips for Capturing Perfect Sunset Silhouettes
- 10 Golden Hour Photography Tips For Better Photography
- Beach Photography Tips From Professionals
Tip 1 | Make Sure You Understand 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.
Tip 2 | Find the Right Timing For Colorful 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.
Tip 3 | Mind the 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.
Tip 4 | Shoot Different focal lengths
The best sunset photo is usually not the very first idea that you have. While sunset passes quickly, be sure to try a variety of focal lengths and compositions. Maybe the best photo is zoomed in at 200mm. Maybe it’s a wide angle at 16mm. Experiment for the best results.
Tip 5 | Use Custom White Balance (Not Auto)
Using a custom white balance will give you full control over the colors in the scene. Want deep oranges and reds? Consider using higher Kelvins of 6000 and above. Want a cooler, blue look? Move the custom white balance down to 3500 and below. Leaving this up to “auto” will give you mixed results. Take your time and find the right one for you. Of course, shoot in RAW so that you can change your mind in post if you want.
Tip 6 | Consider a Tripod
As the sun goes down, you’ll need to drop your shutter speed. To keep your images sharp, use a tripod. The tripod will also allow you to experiment with creative “shutter drags” to show movement in water and other elements in the scene.
Conclusion
Take your sunset images from ordinary to extraordinary with just a few simple tips on exposure, color, & composition! 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.
If you’re interested in learning more about photography then be sure to check out Photography 101, in SLR Lounge Premium.
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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 ;)