Sun

Finding the place to shoot

This is not necessarily obvious and it can take time, but it will guarantee a more impressive photo. But it's absolutely not essential to take beautiful pictures of sunset. For that, you just need a beautiful sunset... and a camera.

The technique of shooting

In manual mode, an aperture is selected from f / 11 to f / 16 to have a good depth of field (large area of ​​sharpness) and an ISO of 100 in order to have the best possible image quality.

The goal is to underexpose to saturate the colors. This can be achieved by increasing the speed (for example from 1/200 s to 1/400 s).

To have detailed in the dark parts, you have to put more light into the sensor. To bring in light, we will use a slower speed. But we're going to be faced with a problem. We're gonna have a blur. So, it will be necessary to use a tripod. In general, for photos of landscapes a little pushed, it is an absolutely indispensable accessory.

The graduated photo filter

The problem is that by increasing the light, we will have the detail in the dark areas (often below) but we will overexpose the illuminated areas (often at the top). The solution is to use a graduated filter. You have understood, you must stop the light at the top of the image and leave the bottom of the image as it is. It is necessary to take a filter called GND (Gradient Neutral Density).

Blue / Golden hour

The periods named blue hour or golden hour correspond to positions of the Sun around the sunrise or sunset.

• Blue hour: altitude between -6° and -4°
• Golden hour: altitude between -4° and 6°

Dawn and Dusk

The periods named dawn and dusk correspond to positions of the Sun before sunrise (Dawn) or after sunset (Dusk). During these periods, the rays of the Sun bring a glow in the sky. These 2 periods are divided into 3 according to the amount of light that the sun's rays will bring:

• Civil twilight: The center of the sun is between 0° and -6°
• Nautical twilight: The center of the sun is between -6° and -12°
• Astronomical twilight: The center of the sun is between -12° and -18°

Use

1. Set the aperture, ISO and possibly the value of your ND filter

In the bottom area

2. You get:

• Shutter speed for different periods

The application will calculate the optimal exposure for the different periods of the day according to the current altitude of the Sun. These exposures are described in the table below.

3. You can transfer this data to the equivalent exposure calculation tool

Position

To prepare your shots, you can consult the position of the Sun, either currently or for another date.

Use

1. Set the date

2. Choose the viewing mode (fixed or compass)

In the bottom area

3. You get:

• The position of the sun in the sky
• The position of the sunrise and sunset

4. The sunrise and sunset times for the day and the following 2 days

Solar eclipse

The observation of lunar eclipses is harmless to the naked eye, but solar eclipses are not. You must take the necessary precautions to avoid damaging your vision. You should also use a "sun filter" to avoid damaging the camera's image sensor as well as to get the correct exposure.

A solar eclipse occurs when the shadow of the moon covers the Earth. This can only happen at the new moon, when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. There are at least two eclipses a year that occur when the geometry is perfectly aligned, so that part of the moon's shadow falls on the surface of the Earth and there is a solar eclipse in this region.

Use

1. Set the aperture, ISO and possibly the value of your ND filter by turning the wheel or by clicking to enter the value

2. Choose the shutter speed without atmospheric attenuation or with

5. Adjust the brightness level (exposure value at ISO 100) of each phase

In the bottom area

3. You get:

• Shutter speed for the different phases

4. You can transfer this data to the equivalent exposure calculation tool