Here is an example of a shot taken during civil twilight about a half hour before the dawn. The light had changed so quickly that shots taken an hour before during nautical twilight were nearly black with shapeless buildings.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Waiting for the Dawn
Here is an example of a shot taken during civil twilight about a half hour before the dawn. The light had changed so quickly that shots taken an hour before during nautical twilight were nearly black with shapeless buildings.
The Mystery of Photographers Twilight
Photography is all about light – that’s why the so-called times of twilight, around sunrise and sunset, often are the best period for exquisite fine art photography. Colors may appear dreamlike and ethereal, capturing the viewers’ imagination with a sense of majesty.
But, is it as simple of checking the sunset time for the day and showing up a couple of minutes early? Let’s look at some astronomical observations to better answer this question.
The true definition of sunrise and sunset is when the upper edge of the disk of the Sun is on the horizon and one has a clear and unobstructed view. Moonrise and moonset and similarly defined but remember that these may occur at any time during the day, so it is often possible for the moon to be viewed during daylight or have a moonless night.
Twilight is the interval of time before sunrise and after sunset, when natural light provided by the earth’s upper atmosphere is reflected to the surface.
Civil twilight begins in the morning and ends in the evening when the center of the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. During this time, objects on the ground are clearly seen and the horizon is sharp. Under clear atmospheric condition, the brightest stars are visible.
Color photography is outstanding during this time with fantastic hues and fine peaking saturation. Time is limited, however, and civil twilight may only last from 30 to 45 minutes depending on location, before transitioning into nautical twilight.
Nautical twilight begins in the morning and ends in the evening when the center of the Sun is 12 degrees below the horizon. Ground objects, such as ships, may be discerned but fine details are not; similarly, the horizon is hazy and often misty.
Astronomical twilight begins in the morning and ends in the evening when the center of the Sun is 18 degrees below the horizon -- generally an hour and a half sunrise or on the other hand, after sunset. This is the period when the sun is just barely contributing to the sky’s lighting. There is a very faint amount of light and this is when morning photographers often scout the area to prepare for the sunrise.
Preparation is essential and the best, most creative photographers often use a journal to chronicle the exact times and f-stops used when capturing their favorite sun shots.
Changes occur rapidly and you may see as much as four changes in f-stop over the period of just several minutes.
Practice and preparation will pay off and soon you will be composing brilliant sunsets and dazzling sunrises!
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