What is golden hour
Golden hour is the time just after sunrise and just before sunset, when the sun sits low on the horizon. The light is soft, warm and directional, shadows are long and gentle, and skin in portraits looks good without extra lamps. The calculator uses a common convention: the sun from 4° below the horizon to 6° above it.
The name is a convention. In Poland golden hour defined this way lasts from about an hour near the equinox to more than an hour and a half around the solstices, so instead of a fixed time we show exact times for the chosen day and place.
Blue hour
Blue hour is when the sun is 4 to 6 degrees below the horizon (before sunrise in the morning, after sunset in the evening). There is no direct light, the sky turns deep blue, and city and window lights start to stand out. It works well for urban shots, architecture and sessions with flash. In Poland it lasts from a dozen minutes to about 25, so be ready before it starts.
How to plan an outdoor shoot
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before golden hour starts. Choosing the spot, setting exposure and warming up your model take longer than you expect.
- Check the direction of the light. The sun is in the east in the morning and in the west in the evening. Light from behind the model gives a bright rim on the hair, side light gives shape, and light from behind you gives even but flat lighting.
- Glance at the cloud forecast. A thin cloud layer diffuses the light and can beat a clear sky, while a thick layer near the horizon can hide the sun before golden hour begins.
- Plan a few frames for blue hour, once golden hour is over: with flash or against the city lights.
- Copy the page address after choosing the date and place (it contains both) and send it to your client together with the meeting time.