Time for dreamers. Blue hour. Ambulance "golden hour" What does golden hour mean?

"You have to be bold to see the hidden."
M. Maeterlink. "Blue bird"

Probably everyone remembers this beautiful fairy tale by Maeterlinck. Tyltil really wanted to find bluebird and help the sorceress's granddaughter to recover. But alas. All searches were in vain. And suddenly something incredible happened!

The most ordinary gray dove, which lived in his cage, suddenly turned into a blue beauty. Tyltil could not believe his eyes, but it was so. The poor girl, having received the blue bird, immediately recovered. And the turtle-dove suddenly flew away ...

You, I hope, remember that the action with the turtledove took place at dawn.
Something tells me that the magic "blue hour" has played a role here, which attracts photographers from all over the world with some kind of fairytale magic.

At certain times of the day, everything is colored with magical blue paints, even ultramarine. But this magic does not last long. So a simple turtledove turned into a magic one, and then flew away, did not want to disappoint the children with her routine.

I wonder when he happens, this magical moment, which is able to create a fairy tale? Let's talk about this.
And look at the work of contemporary photographers from different countrieswho are trying to catch this bluebird
happiness "and they do it well.

Blue Hour happens twice a day. This is one of the few phenomena that has taken care of the same about "owls"
and about "larks". It happens in the morning before dawn and in the evening after sunset.

But keep in mind that its duration is not matches the name. This magic time can last for several minutes, or even an hour. It all depends on the calendar time of the year and where you are located.

For example, in Moscow, the evening "blue hour" in June this year will last for about an hour every day, and in Odessa and Bischofszell only about 40 minutes. To determine the duration of the "blue hour" in a particular area of \u200b\u200bthe globe, you can use online service from this link:

This period of time, when the city did not manage to be illuminated by the rays of the morning sun, or, on the contrary, did not plunge into complete darkness after sunset, is able to give any architectural structure, especially illuminated, mystery and expressiveness. But not only the city is interesting at this hour.

Landscapes, water, and even portraits acquire a touch of fantastic mystery. True, portrait photography is difficult at this time and requires additional lighting.

The shutter speed when shooting, as a rule, should be long, and the aperture value is selected experimentally. The main thing is to achieve such an effect in which there is sufficient sharpness in the frame and the sky is not burnt out. If there are light sources in the frame, then the value must be chosen such that it will preserve the charming blue background..

What rules should a beginner bluebird catcher follow?

Rule 1 - it is imperative to shoot from a tripod; you can replace it with any hard surface, for example, an embankment parapet.

Rule 2 - It's better to shoot with a self-timer or a remote control to minimize camera shake.

Rule 3 - Shoot at low ISOs, only 200 or 100, this will help reduce noise in the photo.

Most importantly, you need to prepare for filming in advance. Try to choose the point from which you will shoot, set up the camera, decide on the composition.

And wait. Patiently. And experiment again and again until you catch that ghostly moment of boundless happiness.

And now let's get acquainted with the work of our contemporaries - photographers who were able to reach the wing of a blue bird and delight us with their masterpieces.

Daniel Cheong

Daniel Cheong

- I am a "rooftopper", I find the city most appealing when it is shot from the highest vantage
points, and specially at the "Blue Hour".
- I am a roofer, I find the city most attractive when it is shot from the highest points, on purpose
at Blue Hour.
Daniel became famous for his series of photographs "Dubai. Fog".

Dubai. Daniel cheong

Hong Kong. Daniel cheong

Oman. Near East. Daniel cheong

Jonathan Fleming
San Francisco
Jonathan Fleming is a photographer based in San Francisco. And, of course, he must have captured the famous Golden Gate Bridge at blue hour.

Jonathan Fleming

A very interesting series of photographs by Jonathan Fleming entitled: "52 Weeks Of Suki".
I chose from this series of pictures that were taken at "blue hour".
ks Of Suki2 Weeks Of Suki 52 Weeks Of Suki

Jonathan Fleming

Jonathan Fleming

Photographer Alexander Ermolitsky.

Russia. Moscow.
Alexander Ermolitsky.

A. Ermolitsky. Moscow. Izmailovsky Kremlin.

A. Ermolitsky. Moscow. Krutitskoe Patriarchal Compound.

A. Ermolitsky. Moscow. Evening Moscow State University.

A. Ermolitsky. Russia. Altai Republic, North Chuisky ridge. "It's cold and lonely."

It is interesting that in the photograph "Cold and lonely" 2 frames are combined.
The tree and mountains are filmed in the morning twilight, and the night sky is a few hours before sunrise.

Garry Schlatter
Australia
Garry Schlatter - "Vision and imaginationision"
"The beauty of creation invokes such a curiosity in me that I can" t help but explore new and exciting places to capture those moments
of unimaginable perfection. I seem to be drawn most to Landscape and Seascape genres of shooting but do not stop exploring other
areas of photography as well. "
“The beauty of creation makes me so curious that I can't help but explore new interesting places, wanting to capture moments of unimaginable perfection. Although it seems that I pay more attention to shooting landscapes and seascapes, I continue to explore other areas photos "

Pier - Mapourika Lake, New Zealand. Garry schlatter

Garry schlatter

Brisbane Panorama... Garry schlatter

Garry schlatter

Good luck to everyone in your search for amazing snapshots during working hours - the time of dreamers called "Blue Hour"!

The "30 Day Photo" page on

All photographers strive to make their work stand out in some way. Obviously, there is no shortage of photographers on the planet, so I think that anyone who calls himself a photographer is delusional, thinking that he is the only one using any method or technique; we all just want our work to reflect our personality, in some way. We want our work to be magical.

Which is not that difficult, right?

Not at all. Perhaps I felt like this sometimes. You've read advice for advice, articles; Maybe even enrolled in a photography school, looking for that one elusive thing to really take your work to a higher level.

But no matter how much good advice you will get as to how you improve your wire-shooting technique, how to sharpen your photographs in post-production, how to compose a portrait - a group portrait, it must be remembered that photography is all about light. And the quality of light is the only thing that can make the difference between OK photography and stunning photography.

If these are stunning photographs then you should familiarize yourself with what photographers call the golden hour.

Walk on the golden sand

"Golden Hour" Definition

In very informal terms, “golden hour” is simply the first hour after sunrise, and the last hour before sunset. Of course, when exactly this happens will depend on where you live and will vary with the season.

What makes it magical?

And the reason - there are several reasons, in fact - why the "golden hour" is also known as the magic hour. During each golden hour (morning and evening), you will find that the sun is low above the horizon, and when the light source is larger and closer to the main subject, it produces soft diffused light. Soft light is preferable for almost any subject, as it creates harsh shadows and tends to have a very dynamic range, meaning you don't lose any detail in deep shadows or bloated details. The shadows themselves, however, are a bad thing; long shadows created by the sun at this time of day can help add texture, depth, and ultimately interest to your product. And let's not forget that warm golden hue. You cannot afford any of these benefits when shooting in the oppressive midday sun.

What kind of photography is it suitable for?

The answer is short: for anyone. Landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, even macro and generally for still life photography. Almost everything seems to look its best when exposed to the warm golden hour. And you are not limited to working exclusively outdoors. You can get beautiful natural interior lighting by letting some of this magic through a large window.

Shoot quickly. We’re not in a hurry to miss out on some good technique, but remember that you’ve got a relatively small window in which to use such great light.
Calculate your golden hour. You can maximize the effectiveness of your golden hour by planning ahead. Know your purpose, have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat kind of subjects you want to shoot, and calculate exactly when the golden hour occurs where you live. This handy golden hour calculator will do all the math for you.
Use an open aperture. If you tend to shoot wide open, the golden hour is a great opportunity to do so. You will be in awe of the beautiful bokeh lights created at this time of day.
Stay with him. Changes in lighting during the golden hour are fairly rapid; the landscape you captured when it first arrived at your location is likely to be significantly different 10 minutes later. So keep shooting for a full hour and be sure to shoot as many variations as possible.
Adjust the white balance. Automatic white balance is yours the best choice when shooting the golden hour. By setting the white balance to cloudy, you risk neutralizing the wonderful golden glow.

Shooting during the golden hour can be awkward; You may have to sacrifice your comfy bed to shoot early, or peel yourself away from your usual couch spot to shoot in the evening. But you will be dearly rewarded as the impact of shooting at magical times of day can be truly transformative. Go ahead and try it yourself. Prepare to be surprised.

By the term "golden hour" professional photographers call the time of day with the most favorable lighting. Light is a very important aspect of photography. You can capture the most stunning landscape or model of a model, but without the right lighting, you get a flat, dull and expressionless picture.

When shooting outdoors, artificial lighting cannot be used to illuminate the subject and must rely on natural light. This is why it is important to choose the right time for outdoor photography. Fortunately, professionals and amateur photographers have found the perfect solution to this problem since the first camera was introduced - the so-called "golden hour".

What is the "golden hour"

"Golden hour", it is also called "magic hour" - the first hour before sunrise and the last before sunset, although the exact length of this time period depends on the season. During this time, the sun is low in the sky, giving a soft, diffused light that is more favorable than the harsh daylight that many of us are used to shooting. Diffuse light reduces contrast and makes the photo more pleasing, while long shadows help bring out details, adding texture and depth. In addition, at dusk and dawn there are usually much less peopleallowing you to shoot in a more relaxed environment.

When does the golden hour rule apply?

The golden hour rule can be used for any outdoor shooting. Apart from landscapes and cityscapes, this rule is great for portraits, plants, and even cars. Professional photographers firmly believe in this rule, some even adhere to it so strictly that they refuse to shoot at any other time of the day. You don't have to be so principled, but remember that the advice of the experts is worth listening to, as a rule, these people know what they are doing.

How to define "golden hour"

The easiest and fastest way to calculate the most favorable hours for shooting is to use the Golden Hour Calculator. This program determines the golden hour using more sophisticated algorithms than those described above, but it is simple to use and offers very accurate data. If you prefer to determine the "golden hour" yourself, pay attention to the local sunrise-sunset time, for this you can use the online calculator. Then you need to make simple calculations: the first "golden hour" begins before sunrise and lasts almost an hour, the second - about an hour before sunset and ends almost immediately after it.

IPhone photographers can take advantage of the awesome Golden Hour One app.

Once you've chosen the shooting time and subject, take your time to grab your camera and run for great shots. Before doing this, look at a few tips to help you shoot flawlessly and make the most of your time.

Use a tripod

It will be quite dark outside in the period closer to dawn or dusk, but it would be quite a shame to miss out on the incredible shades and textures while waiting for the street to become lighter. Mount the camera on a tripod, select a low camera sensitivity and use.

Take time to install your camera

The "golden hour" starts quite unexpectedly, so you should prepare for the shooting well in advance. Come to the location with a spare time, even if you have to wake up in the middle of the night.

The term "golden watch" is used by professional photographers to describe the time of day with the best lighting. Let's take a closer look at this concept.

If you try to name one of the most important components of photography, then it will certainly be lighting. You can find a gorgeous landscape or an incredibly beautiful model, but without the right lighting, you end up with a flat and uninteresting picture.

This is especially true for street photography, since it is extremely difficult or almost impossible to illuminate an object with artificial lighting and you have to rely entirely on natural light.

Therefore, it is necessary to determine the best time of day in terms of lighting. Fortunately, professionals and amateur photographers have been asking this question since the advent of the camera, and a solution has been found. The time of day with the best lighting was called the "golden clock".

What is "Golden Hour"

The golden hour, also sometimes called the "magic hour", is roughly the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. The length of this time varies depending on the season. During this time, the sun hangs low over the horizon, emitting soft, diffused light - much more suitable for shooting than the harsh midday light, which, however, many of us prefer to use for our photographs.

During the golden hour, lighting is soft, diffuse and warm.

By using golden hour lighting, you will get fewer contrasts in your photo, reduce the likelihood of "losing" some objects in deep shadow, and "overexposing" brightly lit parts. The warm tones of the golden hour bring a pleasant feel to the composition, while the long shadows bring out the smallest details, adding texture and dimension to the image.

Photographing at sunrise and sunset will result in relatively few people around, allowing you to work in peace.

When to use the golden hour

The concept of the golden hour is applicable to any type of street photography - from the obvious things like landscapes and urban scenes, to portraits, shots of flowers and plants, and even still lifes involving cars.

Professional photographers simply idolize this time of day, and some of them refuse to shoot any other time. You, of course, should not take this as a dogma, but, at least, you should listen, because it is not for nothing that these people are called professionals.

Definition of the golden hour

The fastest and easiest way to calculate the time of the golden hour is to use the golden hour calculator. This calculator is based on a more complex algorithm for calculating the golden hour than we described above. However, you can get accurate results with ease.

Identifying the golden hour where you intend to shoot will help you plan your work.

An alternative way to determine the golden hour is to determine the times of sunrise and sunset. The easiest way is to use the online sunrises and sunsets calculator.

So, you have decided on the subject of photography and prepared the appropriate equipment for this. Read some tips before pressing the shutter button.

Use a tripod.Typically, the lighting just after sunrise and before sunset is not bright. However, don't wait for a brighter light as it will miss out on the fantastic colors and textures of objects. Just mount the camera on a tripod, lower the ISO and shoot at slow shutter speeds.

Allow enough time for preparatory settings.Gold watches usually start very unexpectedly, so it is very important to be fully prepared. Arrive at the location well in advance (even in the middle of the night if required) and make all the necessary adjustments.

Don't stop filming.During the golden hour, the lighting changes rapidly, and your composition will look completely different in a few minutes. So make the most of this hour - shoot continuously to get the full range of effects.

Stock up on hot drinks and a flashlight.Sunrises and sunsets are very cold. It sounds obvious enough, but believe me, sometimes it is forgotten. A flashlight will help you see what you are actually doing and where you are going, and hot drinks will warm you while waiting for a suitable shot.

Shooting during the golden hour brings additional color, texture and depth to the image.

Without a doubt, shooting during the golden hours made a breakthrough in my street photography. Of course, this means that you will be using the camera at a time that you used to spend in bed, but the result is worth the sacrifice. Try it yourself and you will see how your photos will change.

Do you want to learn how to shoot professionally during golden hour, as well as in the dark? Then click on the picture below and take advantage of our promotional offer!