The secret to great sunset and sunrise photos is timing and exposure. Shoot during the golden and blue hours, keep your ISO low, use an aperture around f/8 to f/11 on a tripod, and expose for the bright sky rather than the dark land. Get those right and the camera does the rest.
These are some of the most rewarding photos to take, but the rapidly changing light catches a lot of people out.
I will walk you through the timing, settings and composition that turn a pretty view into a photograph worth printing.
Golden Hour and Blue Hour
The magic happens in two short windows either side of the sun crossing the horizon.
Golden hour
The 'hour' after sunrise and before sunset bathes everything in warm, soft, golden light. Shadows are long and gentle, and colours glow. It is the most flattering light of the whole day.
Blue hour
The period just before sunrise and just after sunset, when the sun is below the horizon, fills the sky with deep, cool blues. It is wonderful for cityscapes and calm, moody scenes. Together these two windows give you a rich hour of shooting, not just the moment of sunset itself.
Camera Settings for Sunrise and Sunset
Here is a reliable starting point for that fast-changing light.
- ISO 100 or 200 for clean, noise-free files.
- Aperture f/8 to f/11 to keep the whole scene sharp.
- A tripod, because shutter speeds drop quickly as the light fades.
- RAW format, to capture the full range of colour and recover detail later.
Set your white balance to a warmer cloudy or shade preset to enhance the colours, or simply shoot RAW and perfect the warmth at home. Keep checking the back of your screen, as the right exposure shifts minute by minute.
Getting the Exposure Right
The big challenge is the huge difference in brightness between the glowing sky and the dark land.
If you let the camera average it out, you often get a washed-out sky or a black foreground. The usual fix is to expose for the brightest part of the sky, then lift the shadows in editing.
For a balanced result in one frame, a graduated neutral density filter darkens the sky while leaving the land bright. Alternatively, take two frames at different exposures and blend them later. Watch your histogram to keep detail in those bright highlights.
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Composition for Striking Skies
A glowing sky alone rarely makes a strong photo. It needs structure and a sense of place.
Place your horizon with intent
If the sky is the star, put the horizon low to give it room. If the foreground or a reflection is stronger, raise the horizon. Avoid splitting the frame dead centre unless you are shooting a mirror-like reflection.
Add a focal point
A tree, a lone figure, a pier or a boat gives the eye somewhere to rest and adds scale. Silhouettes work beautifully against a bright sky, so look for bold, recognisable shapes.
Plan Ahead With Apps
The best light is brief, so a little planning makes all the difference between catching it and missing it.
Free and low-cost apps such as PhotoPills and The Photographer's Ephemeris show you exactly where and when the sun will rise and set at any location, so you can line it up with a landmark.
Check the weather too. A totally clear sky can be a little plain, while some high cloud catches the colour and creates the most dramatic skies. Arrive early, set up in good time, and be ready before the colour peaks.
“Beauty can be seen in all things; seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.”
Don't Pack Up Too Soon
The most common mistake is leaving the moment the sun dips below the horizon.
Often the very best colour arrives ten or fifteen minutes after sunset, or before sunrise, when the sky lights up from below during the blue hour. Pack up too early and you miss the finest light of all.
Stay put, keep shooting as the colours shift, and enjoy the calm. Some of my favourite frames have come long after I was tempted to call it a day. Learning to read the light as it changes is the real skill here.
Sunset Photography FAQ
What settings are best for a sunset?
ISO 100, an aperture of f/8 to f/11, and a tripod. Expose for the bright sky and lift the foreground later, or use a graduated filter.
How do I stop my sunset looking washed out?
Expose for the brightest part of the sky rather than the land, and check your histogram so the highlights keep detail.
Do I need filters for sunsets?
They help. A graduated neutral density filter balances a bright sky against a dark foreground in a single frame.
What is the best time to arrive?
At least half an hour early, so you can set up and catch both the build-up and the after-glow of the blue hour.
Can I photograph sunsets on my phone?
Yes. Tap to set the exposure on the sky, keep the phone steady, and shoot in your phone's RAW or pro mode if it has one.
Final Thoughts
Sunrise and sunset reward the photographer who plans ahead, exposes for the sky, and lingers a little longer than feels natural. The light changes fast, but that is exactly what makes catching it so satisfying.
Pick a clear-ish evening this week, find a spot with a good foreground, and stay until well after the sun has gone. If you would like a friendly, structured way to build your landscape and light skills, our Landscape Photography Course guides you through it at your own pace.
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