There’s nothing as refreshing as watching the golden rays of the sunbathing the entire landscape for the last time in the day.
It’s so beautiful that you want to capture it. Every day, the sunset offers a whole new set of colors and glory. With the right equipment and timing, you can take a sunset picture of your dreams.
The great thing is you don’t have to be a professional, though, of course, great skill is required for a satisfying final result.
If you’re new to photography and want to take a photo of the sun when it’s at its best, here are some tips on how to capture a great sunset photo:
USE A TRIPOD
Most photographers choose to take shots with the camera in their hands which has several disadvantages. For starters, due to the instability that comes with holding a camera, taking a quality photo is hard.
That’s why you should use a tripod for all your sunset photos. It helps you capture all the minute but perfect details that make the sunset a masterpiece, such as those soft clouds reflecting those glorious rays or the hidden sky that is rarely noticed.
Also, with a tripod, you can develop an excellent composition and move on to strengthening your exposure.
Pro tip: Don’t ground the tripod. Move around so you can get fresh and unique pictures.
WAIT FOR A LITTLE LONGER
There’s more to a beautiful sunset picture than just the perfect shot. That said, don’t leave just yet when you take some awesome photos.
Stick around for the after the reveal, when the light and colors in the sky are at their best. The real show often happens when the big yellow ball leaves the scene. There’s an explosion of various colors in the sky, mostly orange and light pink.
Wait, if possible, until the sky turns dark.
CLEAN THE LENS
You have the perfect camera and the best spot but still, the pictures are blurry and fuzzy even when you adjust the camera. Why?
The largest problems often have the most straightforward solutions, such as cleaning your lens before taking a picture. Exposure of your photo gear to the elements makes it dirty.
Even the smallest speck can have a major effect on your beautiful picture, so strive to keep your lens clean.
MAINTAIN A LOW ISO
Different cameras have different ISOs. However, the most common ones are 100 or 200. A low ISO means less noise. And, the sensor of your camera gives you high-quality photographs.
A low ISO also helps in blurring moving objects and brings a balance between tonal reproduction and colors.
A high ISO may work for other types of photos, but not sunset ones.
PRACTICE
To achieve quality, you have to try new things and take as many pictures as you can. This means that even if you don’t like the first picture, delete it and keep trying.
It may surprise you that we often achieve the best results while we are in the trying stage. This applies to photography.
To get the best sunset picture, you must have a positive mindset and assure yourself that if this photo isn’t perfect, the next one will.
Jen is a freelance photographer. She took a lot of pictures for various magazines and events. Aside from this blog, she shares her passion by conducting workshops and seminars.