Magic Hour Makes Me Think I’m a Photographer

Magic Hour is a photographers favorite time of day to take photos. It is the first hour and last hour of light.  It’s a time when everything looks warm and rich, dare I say, romantic?  I love looking for this time of day to take photos and seem to find it quite often when I’m on vacation with my family; when life is less hurried and scheduled and I can stop to take photos, just because the light is perfect.  Here are some of my favorite “Magic Hour” (or golden hour) pictures I’ve taken:

Taking photos during Magic Hour actually makes me think I’m a good photographer.  That is probably the biggest reason I like taking pictures during this time of day (not to mention that the word “magic” conjures up wonderful Disney inspired thoughts and memories).

I spent sometime doing a little research on this wonderful time of day and how to best capture it with my camera.  I thought I would share some of my favorite resources with you:

If you would like to see more Magic Hour inspiration, check out the Magic Hour Flickr group.

“It’s About Light” on Digital Photography School shows some great examples of shots taken with Magic Hour lighting and without.

Beyond Sunset: The Different Phases of Twilight is a great resource for identifying and shooting in great light after the sun sets.

Beginners Tips for Sunrise Portraits : Part I is full of great tips for shooting in the morning “Magic Hours,” if you are a morning person (I am not).  After you have a chance to practice those, you can try the tips from Beginners Tips for Sunrise Portraits: Part II.

I really enjoyed Advanced Photography’s tips for shooting during Magic Hours.

Shutterbug’s ideas for photographing the Magic Hours are different from the others and range from practical to artistic suggestions.

These are all really fast reads, with tips that anyone can try, using just about any camera.  So, find some magic light and snap away!