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For anyone who is considering getting serious about landscape photography, understanding the importance of the so-called “golden hour” is vital. This short, magical window in time can produce stunning results and the thrill of the chase is half the fun! The golden hour is related to one of the most basic considerations of photography: light. Learning to use it to its full creative advantage is paramount to capturing not only a technically good image, but also one with ambience. If you want to really delve into the nuts and bolts of the subject, an online photography course will afford you an excellent foundation. But as well as that, you need to get out and practice whenever you can, because nothing takes the place of experience out in the field. You will learn much more in-depth about lighting in an online photography course, but here’s a brief introduction to the golden hour. The Creative Magic of the Golden Hour The term refers to the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, and why it’s so important to professional photographers is that, when used correctly, it provides a truly magical atmosphere. It is an even, very soft golden light and because of that, there are less chances to overexpose or underexpose particular parts of a scene. The result: spectacular, well-exposed images with a gorgeous ambience. (That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t learn as much as you can about manipulating exposure for different effects, something that you’d cover in an online photography course.) Properties of the Light It’s softer: Because at these times of the day the light comes in from an angle, it is lovely and diffuse, which gives it that soft, almost ethereal glow that’s simply not present in images that rely on direct overhead light (as in the middle of the day). If you’re adding a human element in the image it also lends itself to very flattering skin tones. It’s directional: This means that it casts longer shadows and opens up a wealth of creative opportunities, including things like sunbursts and backlit silhouettes. It’s warm: Hence the wonderful hues that cover the gamut of yellows, oranges and reds. Use it to your Advantage You won’t be able to use this light to its full advantage straight away, simply because it takes a lot of practice to understand how it affects a finished image. As a beginner though, there are some things to know that will give you a bit of a head start. It’s fast, so you must be fast: The light changes quickly and you have to work fast to utilise it, so it always pays to be as prepared as possible. Set your exposures and speed beforehand and get there early enough to study a scene and decide what you want to achieve. It’s a very short window so you need to be ready when it’s open to you. Take as many images as you can: This is no time to be stingy or hesitant! You’ll never really know until the editing stage, when you see the images on screen, which ones have truly captured the magic. So take as many as you can in the time you have. Shoot in RAW: This is one time in particular that (assuming you’re shooting in digital) you need to preserve as much information as you possibly can in order to give you the best chance of a good exposure. Shooting in the golden hour can help you achieve memorable, professional quality images. An online photography course will teach you more about how to capitalise on this subject, but you’ll also gain a great deal of knowledge from getting out there and experimenting for yourself. Author Plate Adam Harper is a Photography Consultant at Masters of Photography. If you’re looking for the best online photography course they offer Masterclasses with some of the world’s greatest photographers. Suitable for all levels, the courses provide lifetime access to easy to follow classes, allowing participants to learn valuable tips and tricks and take big steps to improve their photography. The online community affords the opportunity to find inspiration from both the Masters and fellow students
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