The sunset is one of the most beautiful landscapes that deserve to be immortalized in photos. However, the success of the shot depends on several factors. It is not the kind of photo that you take at random, but that you prepare meticulously. Find the essential points to remember for a rendering worthy of a pro. If for once you want to be in front of the lens, don’t be afraid of a photo shoot with our guide. 

The weather conditions must be optimal

Paying tribute to the golden hour means capturing the setting sun as it unfolds its most beautiful golden hues. So, you might think that a completely clear sky is essential, but it’s not. The presence of a few clouds is even highly desirable to obtain an artistic rendering that inevitably attracts the eye. Indeed, clouds reflect the glow perfectly.

With a clear sky, it will therefore be necessary to focus more on the foreground or on details that dress up the sky: plane, bird, balloon ….

The place must lend itself to a nice sunset photo

It is tempting to go to the beach to immortalize the descent of the sun behind the horizon. Indeed, you will probably manage to take a nice picture of the sea and the sky melting in tones oscillating between red and orange. But to be honest, there are an infinite number of similar photos and yours will have a hard time standing out.

So go to a place with at least one interesting foreground or background, although ideally you want both: a seagull on the beach or in flight, mountains looming far behind a lone tree, a boat, a metropolis with lights in the distance… you really need something strong and exceptional.

Long exposure can help you get a great shot

This technique blurs the moving parts of the image, which guarantees an excellent quality image. For example, the surface of moving water will appear more vaporous, which will create a more enchanting effect. In addition, long exposure is suitable for all light conditions. Don’t hesitate to lower the ISO sensitivity to reduce noise and increase the depth of your field.

The use of a tripod is highly recommended. By stabilizing your camera, you ensure a perfect framing for a perfectly successful shot.

Think about post-processing

The use of a retouching software is simply essential, even if you use different filters and settings at the time of shooting. This step will allow you to rework the contrast and especially to adjust the saturation. You will be able to make the purple more dynamic on certain parts of the photo and reduce the saturation of the orange to avoid ending up with a color that is too fluorescent. Take advantage of this to enhance strong elements such as a plant, an animal, a human figure and anything else that can give your photo more personality.

Immortalizing a sunset is an art that requires organization and patience. Take your time and above all enjoy the show that is offered to you!

The sunsets will have no more secrets for you! Learn now how to take pictures of your pet.