Golden Light

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.

Comments

[Tracey Clark]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I have fallen in love with this picture of my daughter taken during a beautiful sunset:
http://flickr.com/photos/jlynn28/2789470436/

[ELK]

Paige what a glorious shot!


http://redorgray-dependsontheday.blogspot.com/

[shelli]

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]

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.]

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 ~]

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]

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]

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]

http://whatiseeclicks.blogspot.com/2008/08/sunlightinyoureyes.html

happy Saturday!

[Paige]

Great examples everyone! SH, I couldn't comment on yours but they are all gorgeous! Wow!

[Angie]

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]

Light and late
win the gold.

[Puna]

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]

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]

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~]

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]

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]

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]

Thank you Paige! They are from my old flickr account, so I linked direct to the images to avoid confusion.

[stephamama]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I guess I really love this light -- here is one more!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/2418908624/in/set-72157601529462268/

[Sugar]

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]

Those lovely beginnings and ends--

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/213052925/

[Kate Baumert]

http://happyinthehamptons.blogspot.com/2008/07/plant-sitting.html

[Christina]

These are just gorgeous shots! It doesn't get any better than the natural light of the evening.

www.soulaperture.typepad.com

[Julie Alvarez]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

...my brown sunflower in the evening sun...

[Julia]

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]

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/