A better eye 4 of 8: The golden hour, planned
1 h Calm
The last hour before sunset makes everything better. Plan the spot, arrive early, and shoot the same scene every ten minutes as the light changes.
Het gouden uur begint niet op het moment dat de zon laag staat, maar een uur eerder, als je nog op tijd bent om een plek te kiezen. Wie om vijf voor zonsondergang aankomt, staat te haasten en mist het moment waarop het licht nog net genoeg hoek heeft om een gewone boom in iets anders te veranderen. De meeste mensen ontdekken dat de keuze van de plek meer uitmaakt dan de camera-instelling: een wateroppervlak op de voorgrond, een silhouet dat ergens naartoe wijst, iets wat het oog ergens houdt.
Wie elke tien minuten hetzelfde beeld maakt, ziet achteraf pas hoe snel het gaat. Dezelfde tak, dezelfde horizon, maar het licht schuift van geel naar oranje naar iets roodachtigs dat geen filter nadoet. En dan verdwijnt de zon en lijkt alles voorbij, maar vijftien minuten later kleurt de lucht nog een keer blauw, stiller en gelijkmatiger dan alles ervoor.
Check tonight's sunset time and pick a spot with a clear view west and something in front of it: a tree, water, a person.
Suggestion: Arrive forty minutes before sunset.Shoot the scene towards the sun and away from it, every ten minutes.
Suggestion: Expose for the highlights when shooting into the sun.Use a person or object as a silhouette against the sky.
Suggestion: Underexpose a stop for a clean silhouette.Stay fifteen minutes after the sun is gone. The blue hour is a second show.
Suggestion: Bump ISO or use a wall to steady the camera.At home, line the frames up in order. Watch the light move.
Suggestion: This is the sequence you will now see coming.Next
A better eye 5 of 8: People without posing
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