| Everyone loves beautiful sunsets, but they can | | | | lighten or darken your image. Be sure to make |
| often be challenging to take. Here are some tips | | | | changes on copies, not the original! |
| for taking beautiful sunsets that will look great and | | | | Often a slower shutter speed will better capture |
| really stand out. | | | | the sunset; in this case, a tripod may be needed |
| Sunset Photography Rule #1: Protect your Eyes | | | | to steady your camera. |
| and Camera | | | | Sunset Photography Rule #3: Capture the Best |
| It is dangerous to your eyes and to your | | | | Compositions |
| camera's image sensor to point your camera | | | | - Use basic landscape photography techniques and |
| directly at a bright yellow sun. Using a long lens or | | | | patience to create stunning sunset pictures. |
| optical zoom will magnify the damaging effects. | | | | - Not all sunsets are created equal...well actually |
| Better to play it safe and get the better picture | | | | many are, but to get a remarkable sunset photo, |
| by waiting for the sun to sink below the horizon | | | | you need a remarkable sunset. Clouds almost |
| or wait until it's dark red. | | | | always provide for more spectacular sunsets. You |
| Sunset Photography Rule #2: Capture the Color | | | | can usually find these over large bodies of water. |
| Ever run out the door to photograph a brilliant | | | | - Let yourself watch the sunset and wait for the |
| sunset but then after uploading to your computer | | | | really great shots. |
| wonder what happened to those saturated, bright | | | | - Take your sunset photos from vantage points |
| hues? Usually the culprit is the camera's automatic | | | | that give you a composition free of clutter, such |
| white balance. While human eyes can see the | | | | as power lines and buildings (unless the building is |
| brilliant sunset yellows, oranges, magentas and | | | | serving as a focal point for your photo). |
| blues, the camera's automatic white balance tries | | | | - Add scale and context by composing your |
| to dull them down and make them look more | | | | pictures with something in the foreground like a |
| "normal."." The solutions are simple... | | | | lone pine tree, a boat or a person...The sunset will |
| - If you have manual settings, turn off the auto | | | | almost always create the silhouettes, thus adding |
| white balance, and then set the white balance to | | | | more drama to your sunset photography. |
| the warm side. | | | | - If the sky is the most dramatic part of the |
| - If you're shooting with an SLR or DSLR or your | | | | sunset, compose your picture so that two thirds |
| camera has a color lens setting, try taking some | | | | of it is filled with sky. If the reflection on water |
| pictures with the red filter attached or selected. | | | | and silhouettes is the most captivating part of the |
| - Are you using a compact that doesn't have | | | | pictures give this two thirds of your image's real |
| manual settings? Really simple solution here: set it | | | | estate. |
| to sunset mode. This works for sunrises too. | | | | - Go to the beach and you'll find some of the |
| Sunset mode automatically sets the white balance | | | | best sunset photo opportunities around. Here you |
| to keep the warm shift in its color balance. Sunset | | | | can see the sun setting over the horizon, and |
| mode also helps the camera to automatically use | | | | your pictures will also get the benefits of the |
| the best focus and exposure (no flash) for this | | | | colorful reflections off the water. Other good |
| type of picture. | | | | places include the desert and prairie where you |
| - None of the above? Use Landscape mode or | | | | also often can see the horizon and where the |
| automatic, and then use a photo editor to adjust | | | | additional dust in the air adds to the color. |
| the white balance to reflect the brilliant colors you | | | | With these tips, you now have everything you |
| know were there. | | | | need to succeed at taking sunset photos and |
| You may also want to play around with different | | | | produce images you'll be proud to frame on your |
| exposure settings or use your photo software to | | | | wall. |