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Why You Should Photograph in 'Golden Hour'

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  1. What is ‘Golden Hour’?
  2. Why You Should Photograph in ‘Golden Hour’
  3. What is ‘Blue Hour’?
  4. Why You Should Photograph in Blue Hour
  5. What is Milky Way Season? Scheduled for December 16, 2024

In a previous article, we discussed what the “golden hour” is.  Now it’s time to talk about why you, as a photographer or an aspiring photographer, should pull out your camera and start photographing subject matter during the golden hour.

If you missed my previous article or need to catch up on what the golden hour is, check out this article before continuing as it will clear up a lot of confusion for you.

Professional landscape photographer Audrey Cramer photographing the Temple of the Sun in Cathedral Valley at sunset

So, if you’re not already aware, the golden hour is considered the best possible light you can get for most kinds of landscape photography or other forms of natural light photography.  It’s soft and diffuse.  Shadows are softer and even disappear if done right.  It flatters most subjects and makes them look their best under the natural light of the sun.

Don’t take my word for it, check out these photos which I shot during the golden hour and tell me what you think.

No, that sunflower is not a mistake.  It’s a deliberate addition to show you what subjects other than landscapes can look like in the golden hour.

Now compare these photos above to the few I’ve dug out of the past.  I don’t photograph much outside golden hour conditions lately so I really had to dig.  Compare the lighting conditions of these following photos to the conditions in the photos above and see if there isn’t a difference in the quality of light for you to see.

Cramer Imaging's professional quality nature photograph of a sun-bleached stump in weeds in Craters of the Moon National Monument
Cramer Imaging's professional quality nature photograph of a rocky cliff face in the mountains in Caribou National Forest, Bannock, Idaho
Photograph of John Deer tractors harvesting potatoes from a potato field in Aberdeen Idaho as taken by Cramer Imaging
landscape photograph of the old abandoned power house at the dam in American Falls, Power, Idaho by Cramer Imaging
Landscape photograph of farm equipment pivot line in Ririe, Idaho by Cramer Imaging
Scenic landscape photograph of the Snake River and trees near Harriman State Park, Idaho by Cramer Imaging
Landscape photograph of a Snake River inlet in Thousand Springs State Park near Hagerman, Idaho
Cramer Imaging's professional quality nature photograph of a white mountain goat climbing a rock pile with autumn leaves in Rigby, Idaho

I shot all of these photos in the second group in direct sunlight.  There might have been a few clouds overhead but, from studying them, it becomes obvious there is a difference in the light quality.  Some of these photos I’m proud of.  Some of them, well, I was still learning.  I told you I had to dig deep.

Landscape photographer Audrey Cramer doing an early morning shoot at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

When comparing the previous group of photos to the first, there is simply no comparison.  The top group looks far better.  This is because I photographed them in the best light: golden hour.  The second group was not.

Behind-the-scenes photo of landscape photographer Audrey Cramer crouched down in the weeds for a photo

The benefits of golden hour are not restricted to landscape photography and nature photography either.  Wedding and portrait photographers can greatly benefit from the soft and dulcet colors which golden light bestows upon the land.  I’m not a wedding or portrait photographer otherwise I would show you some examples there.  However, the flower and animal photos ought to say quite a bit for smaller and closer subjects than distant mountains.

Behind the scenes at Cramer Imaging with Audrey photographing Bryce Canyon Utah at sunrise

When you can take photos like these below, why would you choose to photograph at any other time of day?  Ok, there’s blue hour, but that that’s for a different article.

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