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How to Photograph the Blue Hour
Janine van der Kooij - Vink
Everything about photographing during the blue hour
The blue hour is a favourite moment of the day for many photographers. This brief window, just before sunrise or after sunset, offers a stunning display of colours and even illuminates the darkest parts of your photo. An ideal moment to capture landscapes or architecture in a different way. With our tips and must-haves, you’ll be creating beautiful blue-hour shots before you know it!
What is the blue hour?
The blue hour, also known as blue hour, is a magical moment in the hour before sunrise or the half hour after sunset. During this time, the sky takes on an intense, deep-blue hue. This effect is created because the sun is just below the horizon, causing indirect light to scatter through the atmosphere. Naturally, the blue hour has several characteristics. You can recognise the blue hour by:
- The sky consists of beautiful blue tones.
- The light is soft and diffused, creating a dreamy atmosphere.
- It is a popular moment among creators because of the quality of the light and the long shadows without harsh contrasts.
- The blue hour usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes.
4 tips for photographing during the blue hour
This enchanting moment offers photographers a breathtaking spectacle worth capturing. But how do you approach it? We’re happy to get you started with a few tips!
Tip 1: Prepare well
Blue hour is a short moment during the day, so it’s important to determine in advance where you want to shoot and when this moment will occur. You can use various apps and websites that provide information about this, such as this website. Arrive at your location a little earlier so you have enough time to set up your gear.
Tip 2: Use a longer shutter speed
During the blue hour, the sun has essentially already set, which means it will be quite dark. It’s important to use a longer shutter speed so that more light reaches your sensor, making your photo brighter. Bring a tripod to avoid motion blur and to keep the horizon straight in your frame.
These tripods are our recommendations
Tip 3: Be creative
The light will change by the minute during the blue hour. Keep a close eye on your white balance and try different settings. Or experiment with a smaller aperture to achieve greater depth of field, or use a filter for a completely different effect.
Discover our filters here
Tip 4: Ensuring sharpness
Want to be absolutely sure you’re capturing a sharp image? Use a remote control or activate your camera’s self-timer. Pressing the shutter button can unintentionally introduce movement in your shot.
With these must-haves, you’ll soon capture the blue hour
In our tips, we’ve already mentioned some handy gear and accessories you can use for photographing the blue hour. To make things even clearer, we’ve listed the absolute must-haves below.
Share your result
Have you captured stunning images during the blue hour? Share your results with us on Instagram! Use #KameraExpress or tag Kamera Express in your post. And don’t forget to follow us for plenty of inspiration.
Read all about nature photography here
