Take it yourself
Use these tips to make your sunset photos rise above the rest
EQUIPMENT
DSLR A wide-angle lens (16-35mm, 17-40mm) is best. Use a tripod, shutter-release cable and a graduated neutral density filter for top results. Compact Switch to landscape mode for a more dynamic range to combat high-contrast scenes.
SETTINGS
Set your camera on a tripod. Use manual mode and an aperture of f/8 or more to maintain sharpness throughout your image. If there’s movement in your scene – such as in Hougaard’s – use a fast shutter speed (1/125 or more) so there is no blur. Balance your exposure by first increasing the ISO and then opening the aperture if absolutely necessary. If there is no movement in your scene, set your ISO as low as possible and compensate for the narrow aperture by opening the shutter for as long as necessary.
PRACTICAL
Find the right location before sunset so you can experiment with composition without worrying about fading light. Look for spots near water where you might get an interesting reflection, and subjects (such as these lilies) that will glow in soft light. Place your subject in the foreground to create more interest in your image and apply the rule of thirds to your horizon line. Override your autofocus if it’s not picking up your subject (cameras struggle with this in direct sunlight). Set your camera on manual focus and take a few test shots at focal lengths that look sharp to the eye. Zoom in on each of your shots to check which is the sharpest and set your focal length according to that. Balance contrast by taking an exposure reading from the sky (not the sun directly) and the foreground separately. If the difference between the two is more than three stops, wait until the sun is lower. Alternatively, use graduated filters to mitigate the sky’s brightness without darkening your subject, or bracket three (or more) exposures and blend manually afterwards. STARTER TIP Make sure your lens is super clean! Dust particles and fingerprints are exaggerated in direct sunlight. AMATEUR TIP If you don’t have a shutter-release cable, use your built-in timer to trigger the shot. PRO TIP For ultra-crisp images, use the mirror lock-up in combination with your shutter-release cable to completely kill any camera shake.