Photography Challenge - The Golden Hour

[Tim Mayo]

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!

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

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:

• ILCE-6000
• FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
• 46.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 1600

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

• 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

• ILCE-6000
• FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
• 32.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/60 sec
• ISO 160

 

[Reciprocum]

• ILCE-7M3
• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/12800 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 441.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/5000 sec
• ISO 100

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

@Reciprocum Those are great!

 

[Reciprocum]

@Reciprocum Those are great!

Thank you so much

 

[Sdawes]

Sunrise at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk

• ILCE-9M2
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 485.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 640

 

[Jeff A]

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.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

"
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!

 

[Reciprocum]

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 100

 

[Reciprocum]

• ILCE-7M4
• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/5000 sec
• ISO 100

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

View attachment 16208

I am quite surprised with how much detail you could recover in the "shadows" when facing right into the sun. Very nice!

 

[Reciprocum]

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

• ILCE-7M4
• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-7M4
• Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM)
• 135.0 mm
• ƒ/1.8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 100

 

[Reciprocum]

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 100

 

[wernschi]

Sundown at Andratx, Mallorca island:

• ILCE-7M4
• E 70-180mm F2.8 A056
• 180.0 mm
• ƒ/22
• 1/200 sec
• ISO 100

 

[Sdawes]

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 800

 

[Clide]

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 20mm F1.8 G
• 20.0 mm
• ƒ/14
• 1/15 sec
• ISO 100

 

[-ST-]

I came across this thread yesterday and captured these shots this morning, shortly after sunrise.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 400

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

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

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

 

[DaveC Oz]

• Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
• 76.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/100 sec
• ISO 100

Point Lonsdale from Point Nepean

 

[alexpler]

Just some random street in Barcelona.

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

 

[klaus0969]

Flamingos @ Isla Floreana, Galapagos

• ILCE-7C
• FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
• 56.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/80 sec
• ISO 100

 

[alexpler]

Sunset after the rain in Cannaregio, Venice.

• ILCE-7C
• FE 20-70mm F4 G
• 20.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/80 sec
• ISO 250