Capturing the perfect sunrise or sunset photo is a dream for many photographers. The vibrant colours, dappled lighting and serene landscapes can create breathtaking images, but it can often be difficult to photograph and convey the true beauty of the scene. Trying to do these unique moments justice to accurately replicate the wonder we can see with the naked eye requires a certain level of skill. If you’re interested in learning how to get the perfect sunrise or sunset shot with your camera, we’ve put together our top tips on how to produce a professional-quality image of these most beautiful times of day.
From choosing the right equipment to mastering composition, lighting and timing, we’re here to offer our specialist advice and photography techniques to help you make the most of golden hour and create stunning images every time. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced photographer looking to improve your skill, keep reading for top tips to elevate your dawn and dusk photography.
What is the best location for sunset photography?
The best location for capturing the perfect sunset, or sunrise, entirely depends on the type of image you want to produce. Keep in mind that the sun sets in the west, and rises in the east, so no matter what location you choose, make sure you’re heading in the right direction.
If you want a serene, landscape shot, heading down to a beach or lookout point is a great way to capture the full perspective, especially if there is a clear shot of the horizon, where you can capture the sun going down, or rising up in its entirety. If you’re looking for a more unique golden hour image that captures the specific surroundings of a location, taking pictures in places that have interesting foreground focal points like monuments, buildings, trees, bridges etc. can create visual intrigue in your image.
How do you make a beautiful sunrise or sunset picture?
Taking a beautiful sunset picture is all down to the individual eye and what you consider to be a ‘beautiful’ image. Everyone will interpret a sunset or sunrise scene differently, so if it's your first time capturing this moment, play around with different compositions and locations to figure out what you think looks best. Regardless of this, there are a few points to take into consideration which can help you.
Pick the right time and weather conditions
The most important factors to consider when planning a sunset or sunrise image are time and weather. Remember that these moments are time-sensitive - we suggest arriving at your chosen location at least 1 hour before the sun is due to rise or set so that you can set up your shot and ensure you capture every part of this moment.
In regards to the weather, make sure to check the visibility beforehand to ensure you will get a clear shot. There are a number of apps that you can download onto your phone that will tell you what the visibility is like and when the best times are to catch a good sunrise/sunset in your chosen location. Remember that not all cloud coverage is bad for sunrises or sunsets - some of the best images of these times of day include beautiful cloud patterns covered in warm hues from the sun. And, don’t forget about the afterglow once the sun has set as the sky will still be filled with unique colours and cloud formations before the night sky sets in.
A top tip to keep in mind is that the best time of year to capture a truly stunning sunset or sunrise is in winter. Although there are many beautiful moments like this in summer, the air quality in winter is clearer and allows for more vibrant, dramatic colours to come out as the sun rises or sets.
Choose your location
Picking your location for capturing this image is all down to the desired outcome you want. As mentioned above, places that have a clear view of the horizon like the beach, a mountain peak or an open field are ideal for capturing a striking sunrise image. Beaches, lakes and rivers give the potential for dramatic sunlight reflections on the water, creating unique images and the high elevation of mountains offers stunning panoramic views. However, urban skylines also offer unique compositions for sunsets and sunrises with the potential for silhouettes and building reflections.
We suggest scouting out your desired location beforehand so that you can find the best angles and compositions for your image when the time comes. A top tip is to find a location with minimal light pollution so you can get the best colour saturation and clearest image.
Have the right equipment
Having a good quality camera and supporting accessories can make all the difference in capturing the perfect image. Most professional photographers use a DSLR camera as they have a large sensor that can capture more detail in your shot. A wide-angle lens is the most commonly used for these types of images, as it allows you to capture more of the sky and landscape in the frame.
Accessories like tripods can help keep your camera steady and reduce shake to help you create a sharp, well-exposed shot. Camera filters can also help produce the perfect sunset shot - graduated neutral density filters can help enhance exposure between the sky and foreground and polarising filters can help reduce glare and enhance the colours of the sky.
Plan your shot
Once you’ve picked out your location, have researched the right time to capture the sunrise/sunset and are prepared with the right equipment, the final step is to plan your shot. If you scout your location beforehand, this can make it easier to know where to get the perfect shot when the time comes. Being aware of photography composition techniques and knowing how to use natural lighting to enhance the mood of the images is key.
Depending on the final result you want from your image, the shot you set up will vary. The key is to pick a spot with a clear view, have your camera ready on the correct settings and get the timing right. As mentioned above, if you arrive early, this will allow you plenty of time to play with your set-up and adjust accordingly.
Edit the images
If you have followed the above steps, there may be little need for editing the images you have taken, however, adjusting the exposure and contrast, and playing around with the colour grading can help elevate your image even further. There are many different editing software available to download onto your computer or phone if you want to edit on the go.
What equipment do I need for sunrise photography?
The best equipment for taking a sunrise or sunset photo includes a good quality DSLR camera, a wide-angle lens, a camera lens filter and a tripod. A full-frame DSLR camera will typically have a large sensor that can capture more detail in your shot and when paired with a wide-angle lens will give a larger field of view. This allows you to capture more of the sky and landscape, making the sun appear smaller relative to the rest of the frame and can also be used to create barrel distortion, which can add interest to your photo.
Karoo Compact Travel Tripod Kit 
Fit + Slim Circular Polariser Filters
Camera lens filters like neutral density or polarising filters can help to control the amount of light in your image, balancing the exposure between the foreground and the sky, making them ideal for low-light situations like sunrise and sunset. A tripod gives you stability for taking long-exposure shots and can help give you the clearest image by reducing shakiness and giving you a steady foundation for framing the perfect shot.
What is the secret to photographing a sunrise or sunset?
The secret to photographing a good sunrise or sunset is simple - good composition and the right camera settings. The framing and lighting of a picture are key to capturing the perfect image every time, regardless of location.
Get the composition right
One of the most widely used photography composition techniques for producing the perfect image is the ‘rule of thirds’. This is where you divide your frame into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines - most cameras will have this setting built into the software as an option to display on your screen as you’re taking the image so you can position your main subject along these lines.
Depending on the location and the surrounding features in the frame, you can choose to either centre the sun in the middle part of the grid or, using the rule of odds, position it off to the right or left to create a visually appealing image. Using leading lines, either natural or manmade, like rivers, fences, roads etc. can help guide your eye toward the subject of the image, in this case, the sun, adding depth to the picture.
Framing the sunset or sunrise with surrounding elements in the scene can also draw attention to the main subject - take advantage of any trees, buildings, windows etc. that can help create a frame around the sun. Make sure to always pay attention to the horizon for sunset imagery - keep the horizon straight and if you’re looking to emphasise the colours and patterns in the sky place it in the lower third of the image, if you want to emphasise the foreground, place the horizon in the upper third.
Adjust your settings accordingly
Ensuring your camera settings are set up correctly can make all the difference in the final image. To capture the colours and light of the sunrise or sunset, it's important to use a low ISO to reduce noise and a small aperture to create a deeper depth of field. The optimal ISO setting should be between 100-200 to preserve detail in the image, however, as the light starts to fade, increasing the ISO slightly can help prevent overexposure.
For shutter speed, we suggest starting with 1/30s and 1/125s and adjusting as needed based on how much light there is. If you want to capture the movement of water or clouds in the frame, it's best to use a slow shutter speed and a tripod for long exposure shots. If the sun is above the horizon, a faster shutter speed will work best to capture the most dynamic image.
The ideal aperture for landscape shots is f/8-f/16, this will help increase sharpness and depth of field. Whereas if you want to go for a more artistic shot, a wider aperture like f/2.8-f/5.6 creates a more shallow depth of field and can help isolate specific elements. Getting the white balance right on your settings is also important to capture the various colours the sunrise and sunset produce - most cameras have a cloudy mode built into the settings, or you can shoot in raw format and adjust the white balance in the editing stage.
Capture the perfect moment every time with Kenro
Now that you’re equipped with all the knowledge you need to capture the perfect sunrise or sunset, it’s time to get out there! Ensure you’re on the right track to taking breathtaking images with the help of our collection of photography equipment and camera accessories.
