Guide to Sunset Photography

I simply love photographing the sunset, the colours it brings is a wonder. If landscape photography is your thing, do not be afraid to include sunsets. However, shooting sunsets is not easy as it sounds; the angle of the sun and reduced lighting can make it challenging for any photographer.

Below are my tips on sunset photography:

1. Plan beforehand

Planning your location beforehand is a must! Several things to think about here:

a) What time is sunset, I would allow 30 minutes to arrive at the location you want to take pictures from and to leave 30 minutes after sunset.

b) Check Compass co-ordinates to make sure you will be facing the right way.

c) Is your location easily accessible, if not allow enough time to make your way there. Once, I wanted to see a lighthouse, and didn’t know that I couldn’t arrive at the location by car but had to walk on sand for 40 minutes.

d) Look for interesting locations, where you can play around with the surroundings, especially if you want to have silhouettes in your shot.

e) Check the weather, self-explanatory, however sunset in light rain can be nice.

f) Your equipment, make sure you have all the equipment you need, including warm clothing and refreshment. Note, the temperature can change after sunset.

g) Tidal times, if you are hoping to shoot on an island accessible by low tide, last thing you want is to get stuck.

2. Cleanliness of sensor and lens

This is the same for any type of photography, but before you leave check your sensor and lens is free from dust. When you are at your destination do keep checking and cleaning your lens. At the beach you are prone to getting sand, dust or even water spots, especially in high winds. If you shoot with a dirty sensor/lens, especially at the sun, be sure to spend lots of time in front of the computer correcting the images. This has happened to me a few times, take my advice and make sure you check, check and check again.

3. Exposure Triangle

Three things to think about here, ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

a) ISO - Depending on the finish you are looking for, my advice is to keep the ISO as low as possible. The lower the ISO the less grain (noise), resulting in a cleaner, smoother image. I set at either 100 or 200 ISO.

b) Aperture – Controlling the depth of field i.e. how much of your scenery in focus, I would advice a large number, more than f16.

c) Shutter speed – With your ISO and Aperture set, the last out of the Exposure Triangle is the shutter speed. Make sure you get this correct to get the right exposure.

4. LCD

As you are controlling the Exposure Triangle manually it is important to keep checking the images you have taken on the LCD screen to make sure you have the correct exposure. I would advise to not delete images there and then if you don’t need to as images can look different on your computer. Also, do not check your LCD screen with your sunglasses!!!

Another benefit of using the LCD screen is to protect your eyes when pointing at the sun. It is best to compose your shot using the LCD than the viewfinder.

5. Shoot RAW

In the early days, I used to shoot a lot of my images in Jpeg and regret it. I can not highly recommend this enough, shooting in RAW means that you will collect and preserve all of the image data you need, that would be lost in if shot in Jpeg.

6. Use a Tripod

As you will be fixing the setting of the Aperture and ISO the shutterspeed will vary as the sun sets, therefore having a tripod is essential in making sure you get that clear picture especially if your shutter speed gets lower then 1/60th of a second.

7. Reflections / Silhouettes

If you are used to taking landscapes with no subject matter, get out of your comfort zone and think outside the box. Look around and try and get a reflection, which will ‘reflect’ the sun and it’s colours, such as a ‘mirror’ or window. Note, if using a mirror or glass, check out for fingerprints.

Get creative with silhouettes, ask people you find at the location to model, you will be surprise at how many will say yes, (I apologise in advance if they say no). If at the beach capture a surfer with the sun in the background, or even better shoot this at the mirror, I guarantee it will be the winning shot.

8. Look behind

Whilst you are mesmerised by the sunset, do not forget to look behind you. The ‘golden light’ will create opportunities to get different style of photographs.

9. Don’t leave once the sun sets

Allow at least thirty minutes more time to take pictures after the sun sets. You will not regret this; the sky will give off different colours than before.

10. Have Fun

The most important advice I can give is to have fun, no need to feel anxious, just get out there and do it. Once you have mastered this, get onto Sunrise Photography!!!