All you have to do is check out social media to see how much we love a sunset.
Stunning images of a spectacular red and orange and sometimes apocalyptic looking sky have been captured by professional photographers and amateur snappers alike.
The best time to take photos is the golden hour, often referred to as the magic hour by photographers as it offers the best natural light. Knowing exactly when the golden hour is, however, can be a challenge as it is not a set time every day.
Cue photo printing specialist Inkifi has created a handy new tool to help you capture the perfect dramatic and vivid shot.
The Golden Hour Index covers 20 cities across the UK, including Nottingham.
The golden hour is the period right after sunrise – just as beautiful, but most people still sleep at this hour – and just before sunset. At these times the sun is very low in the sky and its light behaves differently.
Because the rays of light are scattered through a larger volume of the atmosphere, you can often see bright orange, pink, or red skies. The light itself is also much softer, reducing glare and adding a more golden glow to your images.
Because the sun is lower in the sky at the golden hour, you can also make the most of the long shadows of buildings, people, or other objects you are photographing. These extended shadows create dramatic images as their silhouettes expand in unusual lengths.
Just go to inkifi.com/the-golden-hour-index/ and fill in the date and place.
For example, on Saturday June 12th, Nottingham’s golden hour is sunrise 4.40 a.m. to 5.40 a.m. and sunset 8.29 p.m. to 9.29 p.m.
Inkifi experts have also provided some top tips for capturing the best Golden Hour content:
-
Be prepared – the golden hour only lasts an hour, so you need to be prepared to make sure you get the shot during this time. Explore locations in advance and plan your trip.
-
Be early – arriving early means you get to your location first and can slap anyone with the same idea as you to the place with the best backdrop.
-
Check the weather – getting up at 4 a.m. and going to your filming location to see it is overcast isn’t a great way to start the day. Clear weather is always the best choice for beautiful golden hour conditions.