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    CLASS # 4

Shooting Great Sunset Photos

If you like taking sunset photos, you’re not alone. Many photographers I know love to take shots of sunsets. Perhaps its because they imbue a sense of peace in us. Perhaps they’re a challenge to take given the small time window during which the sun sets. You need to be very attentive and fire off many shots during the few seconds the sun goes down. It is also useful to apply multiple exposure settings in these kind of shots.

Tip 1: Get a Full View

When shooting sunsets, it’s important to position yourself so that you get a full view of the sunset. An example is to perch yourself on a high point. Another good idea is to catch the sun reflecting off water. I also like to photograph the sun setting between the leaves of trees. Think about different, creative ways of viewing a sunset. It will help enhance the beauty of your shots.

Tip 2: Keep Shooting

Here’s another tip for shooting sunset photos. Keep shooting! This is very important because there is only a small time window during which the sun sets. Get in as many shots as you can and select the best. With practice, your sunset photos will start looking better and better. 

Tip 3: Clouds

When shooting sunset photos, clouds make a nice backdrop. Clouds add color and texture to an otherwise uninteresting photo. Try to look for cloudy skies to add more variety and texture to your photos.

Tip 4: Shooting Off-Center

Another tip I recommend is to shoot the sun off-center. It’s not essential to keep the sun right in the center of the photo. You can position the horizon at bottom of the frame, so that you can highlight the sky, or perhaps focus on a subject in the foreground. Try this, you can get many interesting silhouette effects.  

Tip 5: Use Multiple Exposure Settings

A good thing to try is to use multiple exposure settings. I use a technique called bracketing (which simply means shooting the same picture at different exposures) to get the best shot. If the picture is too bright, underexpose it and vice versa. To bring out details of a person in the foreground, try using the fill flash or night mode. Experimenting with exposure is very important for getting the best looking sunset photos.
 

Tip 6: Zoom In

Always bring along a telephoto lens when shooting sunsets. That way, if you suddenly have an urge to make the sun larger and more impressive, you can simply zoom in. Some of the best shots of sunsets I’ve seen are done with long focal lengths in this manner.