What draws us to a beautiful sunset? What makes you want to capture that scene? Perhaps the warm colours and tones ... and then there are so many variations of sunsets, which adds that extra excitement, so let's take a look at these digital photography tips on how best to capture a glowing sunset with your digital camera ...
Timing and Composure
Get set up before the sunset starts, at least half an hour beforehand. A couple of things to consider: the exact time the sun sets, which is the moment the sun drops below the horizon. Note this could be affected bearing in mind your landscape, that is, if there are any mountains which could block the sun, before it has chance to reach the horizon. So it's worth finding the right location where you have an uninterrupted view of the sun, perhaps from a beach, edge of a lake or cliff edge ... anywhere with an uncluttered view. This will greatly emphasise the sun and the sky for a stunning sunset shot
You must also consider as the sun approaches the horizon, this is the time to start shooting, as you should see some dynamic scenes before the sun disappears. Take a couple of shots every few minutes to capture the changing light from the sun's rays once the sun nears the horizon. If you have a tripod, this will help compose your shot by keeping everything steady for your framing.
VIP
Be careful when preparing your shot not to look directly at the sun, either through your viewfinder or with a naked eye, to avoid damaging your eyes. Your digital camera will have an LCD panel, so use this to frame your shot for safety. It will help you with more accurate framing.
Can Dust Particles affect my shot ... True or False?
True ... Dust particles and humidity from clouds can have a great effect on how the light from the sun's rays will give you that dynamic sunset. When the sun is near the horizon the light has to travel its longest wavelengths. The light travels though dust particles and water vapour from the clouds, and so helps create that dramatic sky, giving those deep rich warm tones of red, orange and yellow. If you happen to be close to a town, city or desert on a humid evening, sand dust particles is perfect for scattering light - you'll be in luck to get that 'stunning' sunset.
Set the Scene for that Creative Sunset
Now you're ready to start shooting you'll need to frame your sunset. There is a rule of thirds, and to use it, make sure to keep the horizon level low (bottom third of your framed scene) filling the above two-thirds of your frame with the sky. Be creative by keeping some darker foreground in your shot as this highlights the sky, adding more appeal. You may wish to add other objects, for example trees, figures, overhanging ferns (if on a beach), birds etc, which should give you an attractive silhouette, against your glowing sky. If there happens to be low clouds around, then this will add even more dynamism to your shot - you can imagine the scene right now!
Be patient, be creative, I hope you find these digital photography tips useful, but most of all ... have fun!
