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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Taking Sunset and Sunrise Photos

Photography Question 

BetterPhoto Member 		 

Shooting Sunsets


I have a Nikon N-80 with sb-80 flash. Can I take pictures of the sunset using auto, or will the pictures not turn out? And how do I take sunset pictures?


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October 01, 2004

 

Samuel Smith 		  Robin,
Full auto should give you great sunset pictures, Don't focus directly on the sun. Manual focus is for tweaking.


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October 01, 2004

 

Bob Cammarata 		  If the "auto" you are referring to is auto-EXPOSURE ... try to lock the exposure setting onto a blue portion of the sky to the right or left of the sun (without the sun in the viewfinder).
Then, using that setting, re-compose to include the sun in the frame if you want. (This is best accomplished in full-manual mode, though.)


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October 01, 2004

 

Mary L. Lemley 		 
 
 
Hi! While I have never been a professional photographer, I have been taking sunsets for more years than I can count, with a Canon AE-1 manual focus camera. Using Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority works also. Bracketing is one way to actually see end results, and snap until the sun goes down. Also if it's colorful, make sure you check out the eastern sky as well - if there are some clouds, it's equally beautiful with color! Mary L.


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October 05, 2004

 

Jeanne Hansen 		  Hi Robin, I too love shooting sunsets. I use aperture priority and Fuji Velvia for sunsets, and I wait until after the sun dips below the horizon to start shooting. I shoot for 30 to 60 minutes until it's so dark I can't see the camera settings. The most delicious surprise when I get my film developed is that very often, the last picture of the evening is the best. This works best if the sky is either clear or only has wispy clouds. Have fun!


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October 05, 2004

 

Tracy Finnegan 		 
 
 
Shooting sunsets or sunrises for that matter can be quite fun. If you do use the auto features on your camera, watch where you place the sun in the photo. If placed in the center of the photo, the settings will darken the photo and you can get quite "moody" images with very neat effects, even though it is actually quite light out. More shadows will also occur. If the sun is off to the side, the photo will turn out lighter and the effects less dramatic. Compare the photos attached and see how the lighting changes when in reality these photos were all taken within minutes of each other. Have fun playing with your own camera and the available settings and then start creating new and wonderful images! You might me surprised at what turns out.


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November 03, 2004

 
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