Sunrise, Sunset

Summer 2013

Golden Isles, Golden Images

Destinations for Photographers

by Barbara Marie Kraus

           Sunsets and sunrises have long been a popular subject for photographers.  The most interesting images are those that have some foreground interest or a silhouette.  A good silhouette has some detail and a recognizable shape.  Excellent choices for silhouettes are boats, piers, trees or people.

            Composition is the key to a great picture. The focal point of your image will be determined by where you place your horizon.  Never put the horizon across the middle of the image. Instead decide what part of the scene is more interesting.  If the clouds are creating dramatic patterns, put the horizon line 1/3 up from the bottom to maximize the sky.  If reflections in water or a detailed foreground are more interesting than the sky, place the horizon line 1/3 from the top.  Try placing the sun 1/3 to the left or the right too.  It’s also important to make sure your horizon is straight.  You don’t want your pier, tree or person to look like they are sliding out of the scene.  Try using different focal lengths; wide angle shots create sweeping landscapes while zooming in will make the sun look larger.  Remember, it can be dangerous to look straight at the sun while zooming so, be careful.

Be prepared and scout out a good location well in advance. Once the sun gets close to the horizon it moves quickly so you don’t want to be racing around looking for a good vantage point.

            You will probably need to take your camera off the Auto setting if you want to capture the beautiful saturated colors in sunrises and sunsets.  Switch the mode dial to "M" and adjust the aperture setting to f/5.6 and your ISO to100 or 200. Adjust the shutter speed until the previewed sunset image looks dark, highlighting the sunset and turning other subjects in the foreground or background into silhouettes.  If you have a point and shoot camera, check to see if it has a Sunset Scene setting.

            Don’t arrive too late or leave too early.  The most dramatic sunrises occur before the sun has crested the horizon.  For sunsets, ten to twenty minutes after the sun sets is a great time to capture deep and intense colors.

            One of the most popular locations in the Golden Isles to capture beautiful sunrise images is Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island.  Giant driftwood trees create stunning silhouettes against the sun rising up from the ocean.  Get there at least 30 minutes before sunrise for the best results.  If you like pier silhouettes, sunset images taken from the St. Simons village area and Clam Creek on Jekyll Island both provide dramatic vistas.

Each Wednesday night this summer from June 26 – July 31you can join Barbara Marie Kraus at the St. Simons pier for a hands-on Photographing Sunsets workshop.  Contact Glynn Art Association for more info at 912-638-8770 or visit www.glynnart.org.

     

For information on outdoor photo workshops at Harris Neck Wildlife refuge or private lessons visit www.BeachCottagePhotography.com or call 912-996-0170