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Sunset photography is fun, rewarding, and often breathtakingly beautiful – but creating stunning sunset shots can be tough, especially for beginners. The bright skies and dark foregrounds lead to exposure problems, while the limited lighting can encourage blur due to camera shake.
That’s where this article comes in handy! Below, I share 15 easy-to-follow tips that’ll instantly improve your sunset images, including:
So if you’re ready to become a sunset photography master, then let’s dive right in.
While you can sometimes capture beautiful sunset shots without any forethought, the best shots usually come from real planning.
So scope out places that might be good for sunsets the day or two before your shoot. Look for interesting locations – locations where you can photograph the sun all the way down to the horizon line, and where there will be opportunities for shots that include foreground elements and silhouettes.
The sunset window is often rather short, which is why you want to think about these elements before the sunset begins. Otherwise, you might miss the best shots.
Find out when the sun will set, then arrive at least half an hour beforehand. While you can capture incredible shots of the sun sinking below the horizon, you’ll often encounter plenty of magic in the lead-up to the sunset.
And keep an eye on the weather. There are a variety of different types of sunsets that produce a range of different types of lights and patterns in the sky. Don’t just head out on clear days, because while these can produce some wonderful colors, it’s usually the days with (partial) clouds when the real action happens.
(Also, dust and smoke in the air can produce amazing results, too.)
Consider the equipment you might need. Take a tripod, lenses with a range of focal lengths, and extra batteries. That way, when the sky turns beautiful, you’ll be ready!