Sunset photography is magic. With the array of colors in the sky, the ever-changing mood of light to dark and the dramatic effects that you can create, sunset photography can reveal many visual stories and dreamy narratives.
1. Photograph at a Variety of Focal Lengths.
Sure you can crop your image to whatever you like. But using different focal lengths gives you more choices for composition, subject matter, and creativity.
Focal Length - Wide
Focal Length - Mid Image
2. Photograph a Variety of Exposures.
The sun sets at a faster rate than you think. Different exposures will produce a variety of different results that will surprise you and is worth taking the extra time in shooting more. What you set your camera settings to, is so important. Are you exposing for the shadows or for the sun that is setting? That leads me to….
Bracketing Example
3. Bracketing or HDR?
Exposing your scene or composed image during that gorgeous sunset requires bracketing. You need to overexpose and underexpose your image by one to two stops. The camera’s Exposure Composition feature allows you to change your exposure by a number of “stops”. Stops refers to the F-Stop bracketing on your lens. TV on your camera dial controls your F-stop.
Depending on your image, you will either open up by a F-stop or close down by an F-stop.
So if your camera reading is 1/60 shutter at 5.6 aperture, expose your next set of images 1/60 at 4.5 aperture and 1/60 at 6.3 aperture. Newer DSLR cameras now have a HDR function that does this for you, in camera. I would use a tripod for this feature.
HDR Example
4. Leave Auto White Balance at home.
Sunsets have golden tones to them. Set your white balance to cloudy or shade and click off a few images in both modes. See which one appeals to your color sense and your sunset. Continue shooting in that mode for the best results.
White Balance Set To Kelvin
5. Bring the Tripod or a Monopod.
You may have long exposures at a sunset or you may bring them that long lens out of the closet. Your tripod will save you a big amount of captured images that are sharp.
Tripod Used for Long Exposure