​10 essential skills for shooting beautiful sunsets

Sunrise and sunset are the most common daily scenes. Wherever you are on the planet and whatever your living conditions, canvas prints you can easily see it if you want to. Sunrise and sunset are the most beautiful moments of the day. They are also the "golden moments" captured by photographers. This is the time to photograph all the beautiful light as the sun rises or sets. It gives us a sense of connection with nature and wonder. I've been experimenting with sunset photography for years, perfecting my sunset photography skills. I'm here to share 10 essential photography tips that will help you take your sunset photos to the next level!

1. Plan ahead when shooting sunsets

Before you can shoot a sunset (or sunrise) shoot, canvas prints australia you must plan. You can find information about sunrise and sunset times based on location in the weather APP on your phone. Alternatively, you can check the weather forecast for this information. Weather conditions can have a big impact on your sunset photos. Be sure to look at the sky during the day and notice if there are clouds. If the sky is overcast, there won't be a spectacular sunset in the evening, but if the clouds are thin, it will be a good time to take great sunset photos. Clouds add texture to the sky, especially as they scatter and combine with sunlight to create a spectacular view.

2. Preparation for sunset shooting

Once you decide where to shoot the sunset, be sure to arrive an hour or two before sunset so you are ready to shoot.

When the sunset is at its most spectacular, large canvas prints it is also the best time for you to photograph. But don't stop filming immediately if the sun goes down. Generally speaking, the sunset time is very short. If you want to shoot the desired shots, please arrive on time and get ready for the shooting at any time. Giving yourself some time to prepare will also give you a better chance of producing something unique. Because sunset photography is not only about exposure, white balance, and composition rules. Also look for things within the scene that are attractive and pay attention to your surroundings.

3. Setting of sunset camera

Using the camera's automatic mode, it calculates the average of the lighter and darker areas in the photo. If the contrast is not too high, you can take a picture with a normal exposure. But at sunset, the contrast between the dark and the bright areas is great. If you put the camera in auto mode, the photo will not be exposed correctly. Therefore, you need to control and set your own exposure.

To make the beautiful colors of the sky fully visible in the sun, you need to underexpose the camera. If underexposed, darker areas will become darker. But that's ok, because the subject you're shooting is the sunset. Sunsets need to be properly exposed.

Aperture priority mode

A larger depth of field is usually required for sunset shooting. This means that all elements in the picture should be in clear focus from front to back.

The shutter speed is secondary at this point, although if you are shooting with your hands, do not shoot slower than 1/250.

The next step is to adjust the ISO to match the aperture and shutter speed to get the correct exposure. When the sun goes down, leave some space to adjust the exposure.

Ideally, you want as low an ISO as possible, because it reduces noise generation. However, if you need to choose between ISO and aperture, it is better to use a small aperture. Therefore, don't hesitate to raise the ISO number if necessary. There are now unprecedented improvements in the noise control capability of digital cameras, but you can also fix and improve them in the post-editing stage.

In aperture priority mode, set the aperture between F /11 and F /16. Let the camera determine the shutter speed, but not slower than 1/250 of a second. Because you want to take clear pictures. If the speed slows down, the camera may shake, making your image less clear.

Please set the exposure compensation to underexposure when shooting. You can also try different exposure Settings. That is, of course, if you know how to shoot in "manual mode". When the sun goes down, the aperture priority mode works fine. Because the setting sun light changes very quickly, in Aperture first mode, it is relatively easy to adjust the camera accordingly, without too much consideration.

Program mode (P)

Set the camera to program mode. This is an exposure mode that a lot of people don't use, but it can be useful when you start controlling the camera. It is the symbol for a P on the dial next to automatic mode!

One of the most important actions you can perform in Program mode is to disable automatic flash. When you are in auto mode and the camera thinks the light is low, the flash will pop up automatically. Simply setting the camera to "auto mode" will solve this problem.

Selective exposure compensation

Although the choice of exposure compensation is not ideal, it is definitely better than the automatic mode. If you're using program mode and trying other Settings, it's important to take more time to get ready. Practice regularly, and each sunset you shoot will be better than the last.

4. Set white balance

The light has many different colors. They range from cool shades of blue to warm shades of yellow. To make the color look natural, we use the "white balance" tool. It can adjust the color of the light: color temperature.

If the light is too yellow, you need to add a little blue. If the light is too blue, it will increase yellow. In many cases, using automatic white balance Settings works well. However, when you're shooting sunsets, using automatic white balance doesn't really restore the colors of the light.

When you use RAW, there is no need to immediately consider white balance (one of the many benefits of RAW). Leave it in the automatic white balance and deal with it in the late editing phase.

When shooting in Jpeg format, white balance should be set during shooting. You can set white balance to "overcast" or "shadow" mode.

By setting the white balance to "cloudy" or "shaded," you can make the camera think it needs to add a little yellow to the current scene. This is one of our tricks for taking wonderful sunset photos!

5. Shoot in RAW format

This has been mentioned several times, because shooting in RAW RAW format is actually an option you should always make, not just shooting sunsets. There are many advantages to using the raw format. For sunset photography, there are three main reasons to take original photographs.

Essentially, shooting sunsets has a lot of contrast. The difference between the bright and dark areas is large, and the camera can't bridge those large contrast levels. As we just saw, you will need to use an exposure that is not enough to make the sky properly exposed. This means that dark areas will have no details. When you take the original shot, you can restore some of these details in the edit. You can adjust the white balance for the entire color temperature range during post-editing. You'll be able to recreate the amazing colors of the sunrise or sunset at home. You can reduce the noise during post-editing to ensure a significant increase in the ISO shutter speed of the camera. Based on the above three points, shooting in RAW format gives the image the freedom to adjust contrast and color. The ability to bring out all the contrast and colors is an important aspect that sets you apart from other photography enthusiasts.

6. Use the rule of thirds when shooting sunsets

One of the most common mistakes photographers make is to place the horizon in the middle of the frame. The composition is too stiff. For a more interesting shot, call up the camera's grid lines. The focus is placed at the intersection of the two lines or on one of them. This is the most famous method of composition in photography, and we call it the rule of thirds. When shooting sunsets, place the horizon in the top or bottom third of the frame. The picture is instantly tense and interesting.

7. Shoot sunset silhouettes

When you take a sunset, your eyes and attention are focused on the background. But it's easy to forget the element right in front of you: the foreground! Unfortunately, in many cases, the foreground adds magic to sunset photography. By adding a foreground, you'll get a more attractive image. There are many ways to add interesting perspectives to sunset photos. One of my favorites is to shoot in silhouette.

Silhouettes add drama to the lens. This is an ideal way to give depth to photographs. It creates an interesting contrast between the color and the black shape. So pay attention to your foreground and create charming silhouettes!

8. Use smooth photography

You may be so absorbed in what you see that you ignore the beauty behind you. For example, the golden glow of the setting sun softly illuminates a person's face, making it ideal for portraits. The sun's light illuminates any scene behind you, shrouding everything in golden light, so it's a shame to ignore the scene behind you.

9. Post editing of sunset photography

When you take a large number of photos with different Settings, choose the one with the most specific sunset experience. The pre-shoot may not be so perfect, and that's ok! You can do this by editing and upgrading later. For example, check for imports and selections in Light room's "library module".

When shooting sunsets, always aim for the straight horizon. Nothing is more distracting than a sunset at a horizontal tilt. If you cannot successfully position it correctly in the camera, align the horizon in the post-edit program. This is the first step in editing sunset images.

The other thing to do when shooting in RAW format is to adjust the white balance.

Of course, there are other things you can do to make your sunset photos even more impressive. For example, try adjusting contrast, sharpness, saturation, and so on.

The best equipment for sunset photography

It's important to get the right equipment for sunset shots. However, knowing how to control your own equipment can make your photography stand out. Once you know what to do, you can even use your smartphone to take beautiful sunset photos. Therefore, shooting sunsets and what camera you use are not the most important issues.

FAQ for sunset photography:

1. What is the best camera for sunset photography?

You can shoot sunsets with any digital camera that has manual control. Of course, the quality of your shots will vary depending on whether you have enough money to buy a better camera. However, as long as you can control the camera Settings yourself in manual, aperture, or program mode, even cheaper cameras will work fine.

2. What is the best shot for sunset photography?

The best shots of sunsets depend largely on what kind of pictures you are taking. Usually, I prefer to shoot with a prime lens, but a zoom lens will do. It all depends on your shooting intentions, and choosing the right lens can help you solve this problem.

If you want to include sunset, use a wide-angle lens. Even though the sun is only a small part of the picture, the environment itself must be interesting enough. If you want to pay more attention to the sun itself, you'll need to zoom in or use a long lens. Pay attention to the shutter speed. The longer the lens, the faster the shutter speed needs to be, because the telephoto lens magnifies the tiny movement you make when you press the shutter. So don't forget to set a faster shutter speed when shooting with a long lens. I tend to go to extremes when shooting sunsets. Sometimes I'll use a wide-angle lens (35mm full frame) or a long lens (135mm full frame), depending on what you want to show. A good way to add variety to your lens is to shoot at different focal lengths. Use a hood. To avoid solar flares, do not shoot directly into the sun without using a hood. I recommend that you always install a hood for shooting. Because the lens has extra protection. I've hit something with my camera countless times. The hood prevents scratching of the lens glass and can be used as your lens bumper.

3. Do I need a tripod for sunset photography?

I'm a bit biased when it comes to tripod photography. I don't like to use them because they limit my ability to get the best shooting angles. I only use a tripod in very bad light. So far, I have been able to avoid using a tripod to shoot sunsets, you can refer to my practice.

The only reason a tripod is needed is to capture a sunset with a long exposure. In this case, you can combine sunset with long exposure photography to capture silky clouds and waves.

4. Do you need any special filters for sunset shooting?

No, you don't. Many photographers talk about how gradient neutral density filters can darken the sky. This is done to reduce the contrast between the lighter and darker areas, making it easier to get the correct exposure. It's a matter of course. I tend not to like sunsets with this artificial light and exposure. That's how I feel. In addition, when you shoot in raw format, you can easily adjust the dynamic range of the image in Lightroom.

Final thoughts

As you have read throughout the tutorial, it is almost impossible not to shoot in raw format. The choice of the original format is not complicated. You can find it under the image Quality Settings. A good option is to set the image quality to Raw + Jpeg. This way your camera will produce two files when it takes the same image.

The preparation for sunset photography is everything. However, panorama canvas when you come across a sunset that is very beautiful, please do not control your desire to shoot. It's certainly easier to shoot with preparation, because you've learned what works and what doesn't.

Please enjoy all the sunset moments in your life and capture and freeze beautiful moments! If you have perfect sunset photos, please share them in the discussion section.