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Joshua Tree Sunrise
© Kerry Drager
All Rights Reserved
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Pictures of Beautiful Sunrises and More!
One of outdoor photography's most valuable accessories is something most of us already own - an alarm clock. Dawn photography, in fact, can be a spectacular wake-up call. After all, there's nothing quite so satisfying as starting out the day with some beautiful images!Among the benefits of getting up and getting out first thing in the morning: - The wonderful light of "daybreak" - that otherworldly interval between darkness and daylight. Expect scenes of soft light and pastel tones, skies of deep blue or purple, and, at times, downright surreal colors. - The potentially brilliant sky of sunrise. Shooting tip: For the best exposure, take a meter reading off a middle-tone area of the sky - not the brightest, not the darkest spot - lock in those settings, re-compose your photo, and fire away.
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- Once the sun comes up, just about any subject will glow in the warm light - landscapes, cityscapes, intimate details, etc.- With the low-angled sun, expect great opportunities for capturing strong graphic-design elements: i.e., silhouettes and shadows. - There's still more: early-morning freshness, few people walking into your scene, and plenty of parking (a particular delight if you're in a tourist area). Plus, there are increased chances for water reflections and, depending on the time of year, moody fog.
Plan to Get Up In the Dark to Catch those Pictures of Beautiful Sunrises!
Many daybreak sessions actually begin the day before - with a search for potential subjects. Midday scouting sessions involve previsualization - imagining what a scene might look like in the fine light of dawn.Of course, it's easier to prepare for sunset, because you can arrive in daylight and then track the sun's progress. It's another story for first-light-of-day sessions, when you must get there early enough to check your surroundings and set up your gear in order to catch the beginning of daybreak. Yes, this means arriving on the scene when it's still dark. The equipment part of the process should take place the night before, when you pack your gear for the morning shoot. Sure, you can do it in the morning ... but, believe me, it's verrrry easy to leave behind a key piece of gear when you're still half-asleep.
In the field, be ready to capture the drama at different times as the conditions and colors constantly change. In the pre-sunrise period, for instance, darkness gradually turns into soft light and beautiful tones. But as the sun clears the horizon, things happen fast, and successful sunrise shooters must operate quickly. That's where your pre-shoot planning really comes into play.Lastly ... For more examples, don't miss BetterPhoto's "Morning Light Photography and Pictures of Beautiful Sunrises" gallery.
About Author / Instructor / Photographer, Kerry Drager
The content manager and an instructor for BetterPhoto.com, Kerry Drager is also the author of Scenic Photography 101. In addition, he teaches two online photography courses at BetterPhoto: Creative Light & Composition and Creative Close-ups. Kerry's Pro BetterPholio Web site offers an assortment of galleries and illustrated how-to articles on photography. In addition, kerrydrager.com was featured in Shutterbug magazine. His work has appeared in Outdoor Photographer and other major magazines; Hallmark cards and Sierra Club Calendars; and in advertising campaigns for American Express and Sinar Bron Imaging. He is also the photographer of the photo-essay books The Golden Dream: California from Gold Rush to Statehood and California Desert, and is a contributing photographer for the books Daybreak 2000 and Portrait of California. He lives with his wife, Mary, in the country near Sacramento, California, with their six Newfoundland dogs, six cats, two horses, and a mixed terrier.
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