Photography Challenge - The Golden Hour

Tim Mayo

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A big thanks to everyone who joined in with the selective color photography challenge last month.

So for this month I thought we could try a golden hour challenge.

If you would like some tips on golden hour photography then this article will point you in the right direction:
https://digital-photography-school.com/how-photograph-golden-hour/

And you can also find some inspiration over on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/goldenhour/

This is not a competition so there will be no winners announced, it's purely for fun and self-development.

Simple Rules:
  • Sony cameras only please
  • No sky replacements, keep it real
  • Please don't post more than 3 separate posts, multiple images may be included in a single post
Have fun!
 
The term Golden Hour evokes an almost emotional response from me as I remember living in California for 5 years. Sadly I wasn't equipped with a camera back then, but when I got my a6000 a few years ago, I did take one trip. Here are a few from Santa Monica at Golden Hour:
DSC01159_5x7.jpg
  • ILCE-6000
  • FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • 46.0 mm
  • ƒ/4
  • 1/1000 sec
  • ISO 1600

DSC01177_5x7.jpg
  • ILCE-6000
  • FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • 46.0 mm
  • ƒ/11
  • 1/60 sec
  • ISO 160

DSC01196_5x7.jpg
  • ILCE-6000
  • FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • 105.0 mm
  • ƒ/9
  • 1/30 sec
  • ISO 1000


EDIT: There was also this one I took of my wife, but as it turns out, after using the camera for only 2 months at the time I didn't yet grasp the concept of blown-out highlights 😅

DSC01179_5x7.jpg
  • ILCE-6000
  • FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • 32.0 mm
  • ƒ/4
  • 1/60 sec
  • ISO 160
 
Last edited:
Namorados-7M3_38778-Archive_m.jpg
  • ILCE-7M3
  • Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
  • 135.0 mm
  • ƒ/1.8
  • 1/8000 sec
  • ISO 100
Pescadora-A1_01688-Archive_m.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
  • 135.0 mm
  • ƒ/1.8
  • 1/12800 sec
  • ISO 100
210623 A1_4924 L.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 441.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/5000 sec
  • ISO 100
 
Last edited:
Sunrise at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk
DSC01275-Edit.jpg
  • ILCE-9M2
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
  • 485.0 mm
  • ƒ/9
  • 1/400 sec
  • ISO 640
 
The term Golden Hour evokes an almost emotional response from me as I remember living in California for 5 years. Sadly I wasn't equipped with a camera back then, but when I got my a6000 a few years ago, I did take one trip. Here are a few from Santa Monica at Golden Hour:
View attachment 12525
View attachment 12526
View attachment 12527

EDIT: There was also this one I took of my wife, but as it turns out, after using the camera for only 2 months at the time I didn't yet grasp the concept of blown-out highlights 😅

View attachment 12531
"
I didn't yet grasp the concept of blown-out highlights 😅" I got a real chuckle out of this, because I am finding a boatload of things that I have yet to grasp the concepts for. I'm into photography about about 10 months and I continue to be shocked at what I don't know.
 
"
I didn't yet grasp the concept of blown-out highlights 😅" I got a real chuckle out of this, because I am finding a boatload of things that I have yet to grasp the concepts for. I'm into photography about about 10 months and I continue to be shocked at what I don't know.
Actually, on second thought, it was still a good photo as I exposed correctly for the most important part: my subject. Yes the sky is blown out, but in the long term, if I look back on that day and that picture, capturing her correctly was more important than the sunset behind her.
I am still struggling with this dilemma when I photograph someone in mixed lighting (or bright backlit) conditions. Still learning!
 
21-10-19 18h49m06s 0082 L.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/800 sec
  • ISO 100
 
I am quite surprised with how much detail you could recover in the "shadows" when facing right into the sun. Very nice!
You would be even more amazed if I did tried to pull shadows (Wich I didn’t because I wanted to keep the contour effect), sadly I already deleted the RAW so I could not demo the potential of that M4 sensor.
It still drops my jaw when am am about to finish editing and do the final export I frequently do the before/after sliding curtain. M4 tops A1 in this regard.

EDIT: I rescued one of the RAWs to illustrate
22-01-20 17h36m11s #0017 M.jpg
  • ILCE-7M4
  • Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
  • 135.0 mm
  • ƒ/1.8
  • 1/1600 sec
  • ISO 100

22-01-20 17h36m11s #0017 M 1.jpg
  • ILCE-7M4
  • Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
  • 135.0 mm
  • ƒ/1.8
  • 1/1600 sec
  • ISO 100
 
Last edited:
22-06-13 20h45m36s #0045 L.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/8000 sec
  • ISO 100
22-06-13 20h45m36s #0045blue L.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/8000 sec
  • ISO 100
22-06-13 20h45m36s #0045red L.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/8000 sec
  • ISO 100
 
Last edited:
I came across this thread yesterday and captured these shots this morning, shortly after sunrise.
A1_05991.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 400

A1_05999.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 250

A1_06009.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 200.0 mm
  • ƒ/11
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 2500

A1_06084.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/9
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 100
 

Attachments

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Just some random street in Barcelona.

A7C00307.jpg
  • ILCE-7C
  • FE 40mm F2.5 G
  • 40.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 100
 
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