Just before sunset, colours get softer and redder. Photographers call this time of day the golden hour and, whenever possible, they take advantage of its gentle light. Add in a white cliff, a water reflection and an east facing view so the sun is setting behind the photographer, and you have reached perfection.
In the case of the photo below, it was near perfection. We had the golden hour on a cloudy night with the last bit of sunlight sneaking through behind me and lighting up the cliff in a spectacular show of nature. The only negative was the appearance of a sinking yacht in the foreground.
Okoromai Bay at Golden Hour
The shot was taken from the Southwest side of Okoromai Bay in Shakespear Park at the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula (Auckland, New Zealand). If you live here or read the marine charts you would know Okoromai Bay is extremely tidal. The skipper of the yacht on its side clearly did neither. His boat tipped as the tide left and the bay became too shallow. In about six hours he will be afloat again. However, if you are looking for an actual sunken boat, there is one sitting just off the end of the cliff in the photo. As the tide continues to go out, it will appear clearly.
A Tree Near Kerikeri Falls at Golden Hour
The Waitakere Ranges are a regional park on Auckland’s west coast. (Shakespear Park is located on the east coast.) While the landscape is quite different, the effects of the golden hour are the same.
Photography tips: taking photos during the golden hour
- There are two golden hours each day. The first is the just after the sunrise, while the second comes just before sunset. It is at these times of day when you will get your rich, warm, natural light.
- Sunrise and sunset are published times, they are never surprises. Plan ahead, and be ready when the shot is right. In New Zealand, you can check Metservices. Click here for Auckland sunrise and sunset times. There are plenty of spots in Auckland to find the magic of the golden hour.
- Find the ideal spot at your location, watch the sun to be sure it is moving in the direction for your shot, and patiently wait for the right moment. Then take the shot at the moment doesn’t last long.
- Shoot in RAW format, so you can adjust in post-production. I generally find I need to decrease the highlights of the sky, a simple task using Adobe Lightroom. You may also need to adjust white balance, another simple task with Lightroom.
I shoot with an Olympus OMD-em5 Mark II. I switched from DSLR to the mirrorless micro 4/3 technology years ago and have always been happy with my choice. I love the lightweight compact feel of my camera and am comforted in knowing it can do everything I have needed it to do.
→ Click here to get more information on the OMD-em5 directly from Olympus
Which did you find more interesting, the cliff colours at the golden hour or the yacht tipping at low tide?
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Travelling with Intracranial Hypertension: Can I Still Fly?
rajlakshmi
Loved how the cliff is lit by sunlight. Beautiful. 🙂
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – well done of the health watch – that’s good news. I’d go for the ever changing sun of warm, to cool, to dullness of a far away orb … the light must change so much … cheers Hilary
Paula McInerney
I didn’t notice the boat until i read the text, so the colour won.
Margaret Almon
I like the violet tones in the water, and how they complement the golden light. I just read your previous post about your diagnosis. I used to be a medical librarian and I found out about many of the unusual ways things could go wrong in the human body. I am glad to hear you are taking care of yourself. Here’s some silly cartoon stuff from Savage Chickens: http://www.savagechickens.com/category/cartoons/fears
Rhonda Albom
I love the light in the golden hour, and that night was exceptional. Thanks for the laughs. Those silly chickens are really funny.
L. Diane Wolfe
That yacht will be in serious trouble soon.
Rhonda Albom
I think he was already there. If he didn’t batten everything down, he will have quite the mess. The tide would have turned six hours later and he would refloat.
Suze The Luxury Columnist
You’ve really captured the golden hour magnificently, Rhonda. Keep up the good work with the steps!
Elen @ Elen G
Both. I found both interesting.
Jeanna
No wonder ur such a good photog, look at all the awesome sites to inspire u
Indrani
Absolutely fantastic capture.
Happy WW!
Anabel
The colour of the cliffs, definitely. They are beautiful. I would barely have noticed the boat if you hadn’t drawn attention to it.
Rhonda Albom
I guess it’s different for us, as we look out at this view everyday, and know how far boats can enter into the bay.
Evija
Stunning!
E
I never knew it was called the golden hour. I have been to NZ but mostly to South Island- I’d love to go again one day…
Quirky Homemaker
Aww! Poor guy. I guess it’s good to check the tide charts, huh?
Deb Nance
Love the golden color. Didn’t see the boat at first!
Charlotte
Looks like a gorgeous place! Wish I was there!
Denise Covey
What a beautiful capture Rhonda. I never saw this light when I was in Auckland! I checked out your photography page too. Great pictures!
Denise 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It’s not every night and not all year. In winter the angles are right and we tend to see that light on the cliffs.
Momfever
I can totally see why they call it the golden hour!
Rhonda Albom
It’s not always like this, it was the clouds and the bit of late sun able to sneak through. Normally it’s just softer light.
Joyce
Beautiful photos!
Mary Denman
Gorgeous capture of the cliffs. Golden hour is so magical!
That wouldn’t be a fun way to be stuck on a boat! Hopefully, he enjoyed the cliff too while he waits. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Sadly for him, the golden color on the cliffs lasts only a few minutes. We could see someone walking around on deck at it first ran aground as was still much more upright. I am guessing he will read the charts next time.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Obviously the cliffs are more interesting because I didn’t even see the yacht until you pointed it out.
Rhonda Albom
Actually, I was really surprised hubby called me to over to the deck to see the boat with that stunning background.
Leovi
Nice pictures, capture exquisite golden light, wonderful
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
Have never known this before until I got to take photos and there is no wrong shot as the light is just perfect!
This is a stunning photo. The view and the composition is so perfect!
Pat Bacon
Love the effect of the “golden hour”. I am more a “late starter” photographer but learning all the time. Love your posts and photos as they are my way of travelling!
Have bookmarked your page so I can come back and read at length your ICH difficulties! Take care.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Pat. The golden hour is a great time to get better photos. It’s the same in the morning, soft light just after sunrise. Personally, I am rarely awake then.
Patrick Weseman
That is a very beautiful photo. Love it.
Comedy Plus
I’m glad you’re doing better and you’ve lost 11 pounds already. Good for you.
I’ve seen skippers like the one above. He’ll probably have a mess below if he didn’t secure everything. But the tide comes back in and all is well. There are so many skippers that don’t pay attention to anything.
I love the gold the very best.
Have a fabulous day. ♥♥♥
Rhonda Albom
When I lived in San Francisco,, before I learned to sail, I went out on a boat of a friend that was moored on a tidal river and we got stuck on the incoming tide. We went to early and had to wait only a few hours. I would have been really annoyed if it was the outgoing tide and I was stuck there for six hours.
Nancy
Wow. That’s amazing! What a glorious golden hour image!
Rhonda Albom
Should I admit, I grabbed the camera as hubby told me about the boat – then I looked at the entire scene and adjusted for the cliff.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
A brilliant photo at the end of the day. Very beautiful. I love your ability to take nothing to a great something. Fantastic Rhonda. Well done.
Have a brilliant Tuesday. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Raychael aka Mystery Case
Love the golden hour, although up until this post, I didn’t realise it had a name.
Keith's Ramblings
What a stunning colour. Beautiful.
Gentle Joy
What a beautiful place… and what a beautiful picture! Good capture of the sun on the cliff. 🙂
Karren Haller
How interesting, makes you wonder why a skipper would get in that situation that his boat would become stuck in the mud. The golden hour is beautiful!
Rhonda Albom
The water is very tidal changing about 3 metres between high and low tide. I guess he just wasn’t paying attention.
stevebethere
Brilliant capture Rhonda and so peaceful looking 🙂
Have a sunsettastic week