How to Capture the Perfect Sunset
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40
Fujifilm X20
Samsung NX1000
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Nokia Lumia 920 Review
Sony A58 Review
Nikon Coolpix S6400 Review
Samsung NX300 Review
Panasonic Lumix G6 Review
There are several ways that you can capture the perfect sunset photo.
This article includes technical tips for setting your camera, framing the shot, and other key considerations.
It also inncludes pointers on replicating the magic of the real thing in photographic form.
Technical tips
1. Check your camera settings
Before you even begin setting up your camera, check your camera's options.
If you will be traveling to a location that you've already pre-chosen, you can do this before you leave home.
This will save you time when you get to the spot.
You ideally want your aperture and shutter speed to be slightly lower than they would be for other forms of photography.
2. Take extra camera equipment
This includes extra batteries, of course, but you also want to take both a wide-angle lens and a standard zoom lens. Once you get to your photographic location and start setting up, you may decide that one lens will work better than the other, and since you brought them both, you'll be able to swap them out.
You should always take a tripod. A tripod can help with keeping the camera steady, something that may be important if you were able to manually adjust your speed settings. Also, because you are going to be taking many pictures, a tripod will prevent your arms from tiring.
3. Preparing to take the picture
Your camera is ready, you've loaded all your equipment (if you're traveling), and arrived at your location. Or, if you are taking the shot from your home, you've assembled all your equipment in the area where you will be taking the picture, and you're actually ready to take the picture.
Share this article
Entry Tags
camera, photo, how to, image, digital, photograph, tips, picture, sunrise, sunset, settings
#1 Teddy
This is a nice article, but doesn’t really tell much. I shoot a lot of sunsets and getting it right, like every foto is key. There is no mention about settings, metering etc. Depending on the position of the sun, metering above the horizon, or below will determine how the shot looks like.
5:19 pm - Thursday, January 13, 2011
#2 Photo Restoration Services
I think this post is a nice starting point for the amateur photographer. It is nice to see because most tips are too advanced for the beginner.
11:36 pm - Thursday, January 13, 2011
#3 walteristic
Not much of an info on how to capture a good sunset.. merely tips which are kind of practical.
12:07 am - Friday, January 14, 2011
#4 sam
this is useless
2:55 am - Friday, January 14, 2011
#5 Rod
This is all just common sense.
5:06 am - Friday, January 14, 2011
#6 Chastidyi Parrott
This article has some very interesting tips for someone just starting out.
http://www.chastidyiphotography.com
4:14 am - Saturday, January 15, 2011
#7 Martin
Er, this article is useless, its all common sense, and should not be posted even on an amateur photography site.
If this is also the technical quality of the reviews on TestFreaks.com i would advise to give their site a miss,
Admin why would you post this ?
6:16 pm - Tuesday, January 18, 2011
#8 mane
Focus? White balance? Metering? Priority? Compensation? Contrast? Post processing? HDR?
9:40 pm - Tuesday, January 18, 2011
#9 Christian
This article is amazingly useless. Not a trace of information. “You have arrived at your location, your camera is ready, so you are ready to take your picture” - is this meant to be a joke?
5:33 pm - Wednesday, January 19, 2011
#10 lui
1. take the spot early
2. take a lot of photos
3. ???
have you forgotten to write the rest of the article?
1:48 pm - Friday, January 28, 2011
#11 Yash
Be sure to click on “next page” to read more about this!!
8:40 pm - Tuesday, February 8, 2011
#12 Zain
Could you also enlighten us on what shutter speed and aperture would be the most apt.
1:13 pm - Tuesday, February 15, 2011
#13 Blacbook
Perfectly useless…too useless for amateur and no use for beginners. No details and no specifications. i.e. take a lot of pictures, its obvious for the digital age @author noone leaves unless the bucket is full.
11:55 am - Wednesday, March 30, 2011
#14 Wedding photographer kent
I think this is a good starting point for a beginner or someone wanting to try different areas of photography.
I mainly shoot weddings and events.. so articles like these give me a starting point.
Every sunset is different so there won’t be a standard camera setting!
8:52 pm - Friday, November 11, 2011
#15 Wedding photography Essex
Some very good basic info here, excellent starting point for sunset photo’s. It’s very easy then to just adjust for varying circumstances / locations.
10:16 pm - Sunday, November 11, 2012