5 Tips for Better Sunset Photography

5 Tips for Better Sunset Photography Posted: 19 May 2013 07:58 PM PDT Let’s wrap up our discussion of sunset photography with some tips that don’t warrant their own articles but are still valuable additions to your shooting arsenal. “Winter Sunset” captured by Jack McCallum. (Click image to see more from Jack McCallum.) Tip #1: Be Prepared Sunset times vary. The time is dependent on where you live, the time of year, and so on. The good news is there’s an app for that! And it is free. Download a good sunset times app so you can plan and be prepared. You should shoot EVERY sunset you can–at least until you have mastered all of the techniques we’ve been covering. Tip #2: Keep Your Camera Level We covered getting a level horizon in a previous article, but nowhere is it more important than in sunset photography. Use the leveling bubble on your camera or tripod to be sure. If you don’t have a level, go to the local hardware store and get one. They are only a couple bucks and are well worth the cost. Tip #3: Compose Carefully On the topic of horizons, make sure you don’t have the horizon line at the level of your subject’s neck (or their head). Cutting off a person’s head is never a good idea. Place the horizon either lower or higher. Ideally you do not want the horizon to intersect your model at all. If that is not feasible, have it crossing at the stomach or legs. It is slightly off the topic of sunset photography horizons, but on the subject of background elements cutting into your models, watch out for tree branches sticking out of their heads, too. The sunset icon on your camera is nothing more than an automatic setting. Your camera will try to guess at what the best shutter speed and aperture combination should be. We’ve previously talked about automatic settings–remember, your camera is a machine! It is NOT AT ALL CREATIVE! It will not EVER be a replacement for your creativity! Stay away from the sunset icon. Learn to shoot your sunsets on manual. That’s where the contest winners will come from! “Sugarloaf” captured by James T. Workman II. (Click image to see more from James T. Workman II.) Tip #4: Use Manual Mode Tip #5: Choose the Right Lens If you want a large sun in your sunset photography, use a telephoto lens. If you want a smaller one, use a wide angle lens. Be extremely cautious when looking at the sun through your camera lenses. Lenses can magnify the light’s intensity and cause damage to your eyes! Get yourself a free photo app so you can plan your sunset photos and get out there! Reading photo tips is all well and good, but you don’t learn just by reading. You have to actually get out there and shoot some sunsets. Or landscapes or portraits or whatever. It’s not hard. Try using these photo tips and you will quickly master sunset photography! About the Author: Dan Eitreim writes for ontargetphototraining dot com. He has been a professional photographer in Southern California for over 20 years. His philosophy is that learning photography is easy if you know a few tried and true strategies. For Further Training on Sunset Photography: As the sun nears the horizon – either at sunset or at sunrise – the light begins to dramatically transform the landscape before you. To capture this kind of light requires some skilled knowledge to overcome the limitations of your camera. That is what this eBook is for – a detailed guide on how to successfully translate what your eyes see during one of the most challenging times of day. It can be found here: Sunrise & Sunset Photography Guide