2012
Sunset or Sunrise ?
At workshops and presentations I am usually asked at least once if I prefer the early or the late light, and why. For me this is a pretty easy question to answer. I don’ t have a preference qualitatively. That is to say, I don’t believe the light in the evening is “redder” or “brighter” than the first light of the morning or vice versa.
I have met those that have varying views on the subject, and more than a few of them. (These guys seem to have very different and strongly held opinions. I like to think of them as “Team Sunrise” and “Team Sunset”.) While I do realize that there just might possibly be some minuscule difference between the sunrise and sunset due to the leading or trailing edge of the visible spectrum relative to the direction of the light, I don’t really care. It all looks pretty much the same on the sensor as far as I can tell.
I prefer the evening light because the best light I will see during that afternoon is the very last thing that happens. In the afternoon the light progresses from cold and hard, eventually becoming soft and warm. This allows me to watch the light change real time, giving me the opportunity to adjust my decisions (move my tripod) as required by the changing conditions as the light gradually softens and warms. I can evaluate my options as the light gets lower; enabling the best shots possible for the conditions just before and after the sun crosses the horizon.
In the morning, the good light is the first thing to happen, progressing quickly from soft and warm to cold and hard. With the first few seconds of light being the best and reddest of the morning, there’s a lot of pressure to capture those first rays in a meaningful way.
In fact, I spend most all my middays looking for two specific things. I look for the area I want to shoot for last light, and I look for a morning shot for the following day. For my possible first-light shot, I’m scouting around for formations that might receive predawn “glow” and deciding which of those formations actually might be illuminated by the initial rays of the day; and of course I’m looking for foreground relative to those same formations. I then determine where the sun will come from and try to imagine the progression of light, evaluating the overall scene for possibilities.
Because there is one thing I know for sure, if in the morning, I’m not already set up when that sun begins its daily journey, I”m already too late.
(My wife was reading this over my shoulder and said the conclusion of this post firmly plants me in the “Team Sunset” camp. Nooooooooo……say its not so!! I don’t know, It’s pretty hard to argue this one. I hate it when she’s right.)
Canon 5DMII, 7-40L @ 22mm; f11 @ 1/4 second; 2 stop ND graduated filter
Here, the first rays of the day illuminate Mount Rundle, and is reflected in Two Jack Lake. This was a pre scouted morning shot, albeit not at all difficult to predict. The wind, thankfully was just still enough.
Visual Flow: Mastering the Art of Composition
by Ian Plant (with George Stocking)
287 pages
$24.95
For more information click here.
George Stocking is a professional freelance photographer, residing in Phoenix, AZ. He works regularly as a contract photographer for Arizona Highways, and his work often graces the pages of Arizona Highways Magazine, Calendars and Books. In addition to capturing the natural beauty of the Arizona Landscape, George also photographs the western United States and Canada. His work has appeared in numerous national publications, such as: Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer, USGA Golf Journal, Country Magazine, Audubon Calendars, Adventure West, America West Airlines Magazine, Portal Publications (posters), Impact, Towery Publications (books) and Smith Southwestern. Other publications include: Oregon Outside, Arizona Foothills, Arizona Adventure, and Plateau Magazine
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Put me in the Team Sunset camp; not because the light is better, but because i don’t have to wake up so damn early! Beautiful image – if all sunrises were all that pretty I wouldn’t mind waking up so much!
You’re so Team Sunset. I am, too, mainly for the reasons you include. The light, when it happens, seems to last longer and you can see it coming. Different story with sunrise which tends to pounce. Plus, I’m a night owl, not an early bird. Early mornings — enjoyable for their silence, solitude, and automatic reward of pancakes for being set up and ready — are painful, personally.
Wes, I like the way you phrased that “you can see it coming”. exactly…..thanks for chiming in….
I like sunsets because of comfort! But, here is Western Washington I would say sunrises are *better*. Instead of a flat horizon the cascades bounce, defuse, reflect, etc. the early light. It usually lasts a long time, and goes through a wide range of colors.
In some ways I am with Bill Chambers in that, as I age, rising early becomes more difficult. However, living along the front range of the Rockies, I admit that the morning sun illuminates the mountains in a more pleasing manner and there is nothing that can compare to a crisp, clear-aired Colorado morning, particularly in the autumn.
James, no question the east side catches the morning light. I am jealous, my friend, as the SW part of CO is like a second home to me. I love CO…..thanks for checking in…
There are aspects that dictate morning or afternoon:
Morning:
- generally calmer/less wind
- clearer (not so much dust – at least here in Australia)
- gotta wake up early et al
Afternoon
- more socially acceptable
- different light due to dust/pollution
- often people in the way
- generally windier – which is good or bad depending on the scene
Matt, thanks for stopping by. Can’t argue with anything you say. One thing remains constant, although. Morning or evening is usually a question of which way the subject faces….
Morning for me- love the mist!, and that’s really the only time of the day that my head isn’t being clouded by lifes distractions more.
and these images are amazing!!
Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah, Team Sunset!
My head hurts way too much in the morning for sunrise, and it’s way more fun to celebrate a great sunset (which is usually why my head hurts at sunrise…)!
I’m usually a sunrise guy mainly because my life seems to be more hectic later in the day for me. It seems the only time I have for photography are mornings. Since all my favorite shooting locations are relatively close to my home I can make a quick trip to my morning shooting location before I head into my normal day job. I have to admit sometimes it’s rough to get out of bed early especially since the sun rises at 5:30 am in Nevada during the summers. In the end if I get a keeper it makes the early mornings all worth it.
Of course I do make exceptions. Sometimes I’ll shoot at sunset depending on if the location looks best at that time.
Keep up the good work Dreamscapes blog team!
Guess I’m a sunrise guy. Seems to be more still in the early morning hours, plus there’s a greater chance for fog to add drama to whatever I’m shooting.
Also wanted wanted thank Ian, George, Kurt and Patrik for all your blog posts over the past year. I really appreciate what you guys do. Happy holidays.
wow, Team Sunrise seems to have the consensus, I have to admit that I’m a little surprised…..
Team Sunset is for losers! Team Sunrise rocks!
I like both. Sunsets are easier for the body clock and you can sometimes judge whether it’s going to be worth shooting or not, whereas sunrises are more unpredictable. But I’ve never gotten mist or frost at sunset so that’s definitely something sunrises have got going for them!
Chris – very good point…..
I can’t really say I’m in one camp or the other based on preference. I can certainly agree that it’s nice to be able to see it coming on a sunset shoot, as well as not having to be up ridiculously early to get there. I think it just comes down to the location for me and trying to find it the best light possible. Most of my favourite locations here in the Rockies (including Mt. Rundle in your shot above. Nice one by the way) seem to be the views looking west towards east facing peaks and look best in morning light, so more often than not, I’m out shooting sunrise.
Does that put me in Team Sunrise then? Ian says it rocks so it must be ok… plus his name is also Ian. I’m fine with being on his team.
Ian – exactly, the east side of the Rockies is the sheer side and faces the east. go there in the evening and you’re shooting a silhouette.
I’ll take both, by doing so I can kill two birds with one stone.
Excellent work George!
mARTin, many thanks for the kind word, my friend…
Team Sunset all the way. Being up before 8 am is just dumb.
Is it possible that sunsets are a bit different because the weather, and people, are more active during the day and more dust and smoke is in the air, scattering the light more?
I had no idea that this was such a polarizing subject, and then there’s the outside agitators like Plant trying to make this into a red – blue thing…..
Actually, I’m an inside agitator.
I never really thought about which “team” I’m on. I’ll take great light at either side of the day, depending on where I am and other such circumstances.
Although, since getting back into landscape photography during the last two years, I have been really turned off by sunset photos.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their photos and experiences. Happy Holidays.