When are the Best Times to Take Photos Outside?

If you are hoping to enhance your photography skills and give yourself the best chance of capturing an incredible shot, you really should be paying attention to the time of year and time of day that you are heading out with your camera. This could make a huge difference to your photography, ensuring that anything you capture on camera looks even more impressive. 

Taking photos outside can give you access to that glorious natural light that you just can’t beat. Artificial light is great for when you need the extra brightness, but there’s just something about the world is bathed in natural light.

You can also shoot outside, from wildlife and nature to people and buildings, giving you a vast choice of subjects to pursue your photography. You can see the impact of natural light in photos for yourself by browsing through free online photo sharing websites and getting an idea of what works best.

Photography in the golden hour 

If you’ve never heard of the golden hour before, you are in for a treat! The golden hour is a truly spectacular time of day to take incredible photos, with the scene in front of you is bathed in a warm glow from the sun.

Golden hour photography

Golden hour is typically when the sun is lower in the sky, making it possible to cast its light across the subject of your image. It usually occurs during the period just after sunrise, as well as just before sunset. It has a beautiful golden hue and can create a beautiful impact.

The golden hour also reduces shadows and can bring a much softer look to the photo, which is perfect if you are hoping to practice your portrait photography. It’s important to remember that golden hour doesn’t happen all the time and is generally better when the sun isn’t hiding behind clouds!

Golden hour is particularly prevalent during the summer months, so it may be more beneficial to wait for the right time of year for your imagery.

Photography in the blue hour

The blue hour is much less talked about, but it can also help you create some great photos. The blue hour typically occurs right before sunrise and just after sunset, when the sun has almost disappeared completely and the night sky begins to take over. It can create a blue hue to your images, promoting a feeling of tranquillity and calmness. 

photography blue hour

It’s important to remember that this can be more challenging for light conditions, and you may have to adjust your camera settings to make sure the subject in your photo is still visible. It’s also worth noting that wintry scenes can look incredible in the blue hour.

Taking photos in the afternoon

Typically during the afternoon, the sun can be quite high in the sky, casting the most shadows and often creates a harsh light. In some cases, this can be unflattering, but with practice, you might work it to your advantage. Afternoon sunshine can be very even, creating a clear and nicely lit image for you to work with.

afternoon photography

What’s more, sometimes the additional light can help create a dramatic effect on your photo, which can be an advantage! If you want to avoid the light, you can still shoot in the afternoon but wait for a cloudy day. The clouds can help to diffuse the light and create a soft appearance to the image without the bright sun.

It helps to check the weather forecast if you are planning a shoot of any kind, as this can help you determine the best time of day to head out to get the best images!

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