How to capture a superb sunset on camera?

The coming of spring and summer announces warm, atmospheric evenings on the terrace, in front of the exceptional spectacle of a sunset on the horizon. And then, catastrophe strikes: there is no professional photographer among your guests to immortalize this instant that makes you wonder if you shouldn’t capture it in a painting to embellish your office with a touch of sun. The only solution is to use your smartphone. However, to do this you must respect certain rules which will help to avoid taking a bad shot of a beautiful sunset.

Ghislain Bruyère enjoys playing with changes in light during the course of a day. When you call upon his services for an event spanning the whole day, he never misses an opportunity to make the most of the sun’s movement, of shadows being born, and of the light in general to enhance his pictures. Unfortunately, he can’t accompany you to all your events. However, by lavishing some useful advice on you, he will help you to take the picture that you will enjoy looking at, again and again, like a wonderful memory of a wonderful moment.

The right place at the right time

Your quest for a sunset allows for a little preparation, but it can be important to bear two factors in mind: the surrounding weather and the place from which you are going to take your snap. Concerning the weather, it is clear that if there are many clouds and it is raining, it is not the best day to take a picture of the sunset. Surprisingly, the sunniest days will not necessarily lead to the best snaps either. Indeed, if the light is too bright it can alter the quality of the picture, regardless of the different settings you adjust on your photo app. If it is a nice day and the sky is scattered with a few clouds, you will have found the best conditions and will be able to obtain a splendid result.

Similarly, you have learnt that the sun sets in the west and rises in the east. You have therefore understood that to have a nice sunset, it is vital to have an uncluttered view to the west. You will therefore, possibly need to move. On a beach, it is relatively easy: you only need to orientate yourself towards the setting sun, no need for a compass. When you are in hilly terrain, it can be a good idea to move a few kilometers to be, for example, on the right flank of the mountain. Remember also that the less view you have on the horizon, whatever its orientation, the less time the sun will be visible for. This is the reason why skiers, after a day spent going down the pistes, are surprised, upon returning to the valley, that it becomes dark so quickly.

Book an appointment with the sun

You will have understood by now: Obtaining a superb photo of the sunset is no accident. Generally, photographers estimate that the period of time during which a sunset is really worth paying attention to lasts one hour: Half an hour before the sun itself sets and half an hour after. Many call this moment the “golden hour”. If you have already spotted a place where the sunset is particularly beautiful, don’t hesitate to consult your favorite weather forecasting app. It will most certainly give you the time of the sunset. Thus, you can prepare for this magic moment in the best conditions. This is equally true if, for example, you don’t have a beautiful view from your house and you have to take your car to reach the place where you are certain to experience the “eagerly awaited moment”. This requires time and a minimum of preparation.

Only the sun?

It can also be advantageous to ask oneself what you want to photograph. Admittedly, the sun can potentially suffice, but it is often an environment that gives the best results. Let’s rewind to our examples of mountain flanks illuminated by that sunset light which is so particular, or that beach behind which the celestial body seems to want to hide. The examples are so numerous that we will not try to list them all here. But you must think about it. Indeed, you might also want to photograph one or more people, with the sunset in the background, relying on the backlighting which will give all of its power to the photograph. You can also photograph that collector’s car with a mythical line making the most of the sunset to give it another dimension. We told you, there are so many examples.

Fine tuning and treatment

Just this once, we will make the most of the occasion to remind you that your smartphone certainly has settings to take your photo of the sunset in the best conditions. In fact, the automatic treatment of the apps may have the opposite effect from the one desired. It is therefore sometimes preferable to switch to manual and manage yourself, for example, the level of exposure in order to make the picture lighter or darker, according to your needs and expectations.

Likewise, you will also have the opportunity to change the appearance of your sunset photo thanks to different image processing apps. Speaking of which, this can be useful when you have not prepared your picture and you nevertheless want to enhance the moment thus immortalized. This will allow you, for example, to darken the most shaded areas in order to enhance the colors which remain the central focus of your photo.