There’s a specific time each evening when the light is perfect and everything has a beautiful golden glow. Right now it’s about 7pm in my area (I’m sure that there’s a similar golden time each morning, but I wouldn’t know because I don’t get up that early). I try to schedule all of my photo sessions to start at about 6:30pm so I can be sure to catch it. And I’ve been experimenting more lately with shooting toward the sun during this time of day. It definitely takes more thought in terms of settings and exposure, but can produce some really gorgeous results. I’ve been noticing some shots in our Flickr pool that clearly utilize this golden time of night, but I’d love to see more! Go experiment and show us your results.
Tracey Clark says
These are gorgeous images that work so perfectly as a pair. You inspired me Paige. Thank you.
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-golden-girl.html
Marcie says
Here’s one that was taken at that almost magical golden evening hour:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=496
And – here’s one that was taken in the early morning gold:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=496
I do most of my shooting in early morning light.
Chris says
I just LOVE the golden hour, morning and evening. Everything is always so prettier then.
http://jeroldssis.wordpress.com/2008/08/23/my-favorite-time-of-day/
kristin says
paige those images together are so lovely. inspires me to get some tonight if the sun shines… this is not as late as that, but the golden glow was sure present. my eldest. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2657244728/
Jen says
I have fallen in love with this picture of my daughter taken during a beautiful sunset:
http://flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/2789470436/
ELK says
Paige what a glorious shot!
http://redorgray-dependsontheday.blogspot.com/
shelli says
Your photos are lovely.
I may have used this before, but it’s one of my favorites. I took it at that time of night.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spabis/2610625567/in/set-72157605811901074/
amy says
i love that sunset hour. it is beautiful, and full of warmth!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/2745223357/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/541555034/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/2413466821/
MelodyA. says
Those two really are golden. Lovely.
We let the girls swim into the darkness for the first time last week. They thought it was the best thing ever. Swimming at sunset:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipmommatexas/2773226926/
~ kristina ~ says
Ahh, the wonderful evening light! So peaceful. Here are a few of my favorites.
http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2008/08/evening-light.html
http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2008/08/marigold-at-sunset.html
Enjoy the rest of the summer evening light, everyone.
claudia says
I’ve been desiring this light more and more lately, maybe it’s knowing that summer is coming to an end…
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2785901154/
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2785901474/in/photostream/
however, there is something to be said about early morning gold…
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2788794435/
SH says
Beautiful, beautiful images.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1400/831278796_4576b22a9a_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/758320640_f9bb08bf54_o.jpg
I think this is one of the best pictures I’ve ever taken:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1320/538260909_fe22582c74.jpg
Lan says
http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/08/sunlightinyoureyes.html
happy Saturday!
Paige says
Great examples everyone! SH, I couldn’t comment on yours but they are all gorgeous! Wow!
Angie says
Funny you mention it, I was also just experimenting myself with it the other day. I’m glad I’m not the only one that can’t seem to get up early enough to photograph the morning.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thethiers/2740489998/
jfrancis says
Light and late
win the gold.
Puna says
I’m so glad I was directed to your site. Your pictures are lovely and inspiring. I will get up early every morning…almost every morning.
tonya says
Oh yes, the most magical light ever! A few faves from this time of night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/2774927319/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/2765677112/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/2507807920/
cotterpin says
Not quite as good as the post photo- but my own version…photo #4.
http://cotterpinhouse.wordpress.com/2008/08/23/a-fair-day/
~kristina~ says
My blog doesn’t seem to be showing the flickr images…hmm. Here they are on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30626128@N00/2789627692/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30626128@N00/2788773069/in/photostream/
Shawna says
Mmmm, juicy light. I didn’t realize how infrequently I’ve captured this light on film. I certainly enjoy it enough, why not save it to warm me up all winter long?
http://tumblieweed.blogspot.com/2008/08/golden-delicious.html
Terri says
I love that kind of light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2743010906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2743001710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2733942098/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mondaysmemories/2733907732/
SH says
Thank you Paige! They are from my old flickr account, so I linked direct to the images to avoid confusion.
stephamama says
My favorite time for photos as well:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2776166575_feef3974dc.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2790536102_1fe72af1b0.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2777022156_d4e5f11a22.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2789687419_9547d0d81f.jpg
Kathleen says
Here’s my friend and her unhappy little guy at the "golden hour." I took inspiration from a previous post here (a while ago) about catching all parts of childhood – not just the happy, posed moments.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2775961397/
NatureMama says
I do a lot of my photography in evening light. I have a friend who says that morning and evening light are like butter… Here are some of my favorites.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2777322974/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2776452733/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2780643256/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2779679721/
mary says
Oh, it is my favorite time of day!
http://inasoftlight.blogspot.com/2008/08/flare-out.html
http://inasoftlight.blogspot.com/2008/08/golden-light.html
mary says
I guess I really love this light — here is one more!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/2418908624/in/set-72157601529462268/
Sugar says
I’ve been thinking about my lighting lately and how I rarely use backlight. I love the glow but worry about the shadows. I guess I’m just going to have to start playing around with this some, hmmm?
Cheryl Doran-Girard says
Those lovely beginnings and ends–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/213052925/
Kate Baumert says
http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2008/07/plant-sitting.html
Christina says
These are just gorgeous shots! It doesn’t get any better than the natural light of the evening.
http://www.soulaperture.typepad.com
Julie Alvarez says
I am mostly using the morning light now, but I adore the evening light, for pictures or just for life.
This morning:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2790660899/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2791517654/in/photostream/
One evening:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2393531871/
Liz says
not quite golden but still light that i love:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2780759328/in/set-72157606464330839/
very golden:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2791698300/
Michelle S says
I love the golden light of the photos above and those featured in the post. Beautiful.
Here’s a shot of my nephew, Chance, from a couple of weeks ago.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26029966@N02/2791932230/in/photostream/
Naomi says
We’re just about to head into spring here in the southern hemisphere, so there has been lots of golden afternoon light recently to capture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2786571254/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2786571250/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2770550256/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2770550254/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2770550250/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2770550248/in/photostream/
Christina says
I’m not able to take advantage of the golden hour very often, as the sun doesn’t set until about 9 at this time of year here. I am looking forward to an early sunset as the days get shorter – and cooler!
I do love the golden tones in this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christinator/2640664179/
Jess says
I went to the Minnesota State Fair last night and got these shots of lovely evening light:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2792793720/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2791942079/in/photostream/
sandra says
I posted this one a while back on my blog. It’s a photo of the morning glow coming through my bedroom window.
http://artfullife.ca/?p=225
Jodyangel says
Yep. I love the warm glow of sunset. "Golden Hour". Perfect title. This is one of my sunflowers with the sun glowing on it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13732519@N07/2772173492/
Jodyangel says
…my brown sunflower in the evening sun…
Julia says
I just took these the other evening – my favorite time of the day!
http://jewels.esmilde.com/2008/08/blooms-in-august.html
charley*star says
ahh, the gorgeous golden light.
some of mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charleystar/1327276899/in/set-72157601877526906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charleystar/2253198278/in/set-72157603876271258/