6 Sunset Photo Tips
Booking a full day trip on our catamaran is truly a magical way to see the sunset in a manner you never have before. You’re going to want to capture this experience to remember it for a lifetime! The question is, how? Sunset photography is without a doubt the most popular amongst landscape photographers and novice travelers to Nicaragua alike. You’ll be out on the open sea, with nothing but nature for miles. The golden light and colorful skies are sure to look great in your photo. Sunset is also the perfect time to be outside and simply observe the grandeur of our world.
Here at Esmeralda Sailing, we want your photo to come out as great as the day itself. With this in mind, we’ve collected a few tips and tricks told by photography experts. If you follow these, your sunset photo will be one you’re proud to show off. You may even print it out and frame it!
6 Sunset Photo Tips
#1 Know the Sun’s Position
Knowing how the light affects the landscape in general and your photo specifically is essential. That is why the first thing to know is where the sun will be and where. There’s certainly a fair bit of planning ahead in order to increase the chances of capturing impactful sunset images. Being in the right place to best see the sun’s position is one of them. It is important in order to get an idea of what the light will do. Will you be shooting from the beach or the boat? Are you taking a photo of only the sunset or would you like your loved one(s) to be in it as well? You will need to know whether your main subject will be bathed in light or left in the dark shadows!
#2 Watch Out for Lens Flare
Lens flares are amongst a sunset photographer’s worst enemies. They can be hard to avoid, especially when photographing towards the sun, but certainly not impossible. There are two basic methods to avoid unwanted lens flares:
- Use a lens hood
- Adjust your perspective until the sun is out of the frame
If you’re an ameatuer photographr just looking to capture the moment, you may not have a lens hood. That’s why simply moving your position is another great option.
#3 Experiment with Shutter Speeds
The shutter speed is arguably the most important camera setting to master. Even slight adjustments can make a significant difference, especially when you are outdoors. There’s no rule book of what is “right” or what works best. It comes down to your personal preferences as the photographer behind the camera!
#4 Use Different Focal Lengths
It’s not only the shutter speed you should experiment with, but the focal length as well. Some scenes benefit from a long focal length while others look best when shot at an ultra-wide angle. Having at least two lenses with different focal lengths is going to be a huge advantage in your attempts to perfectly capture the sunset. You will be able to photograph a variety of scenes. Again, there’s no right and wrong. This is another aspect that comes down to personal preferences.
#5 Focus on the Composition
The first four tips are important to improve your sunset photography, but they make little difference unless the image has a good composition. This is the foundation of a good photograph! When the sky is exploding in colors over the sea, it’s easy to get carried away. Take a deep breath and put a little extra effort into your image. It will be so worth it when your final product is something you’re proud of.
#6 Use the rule of thirds
This is a simple and effective way to improve your sunset photography compositions. The rule of thirds simply says you should position key elements of your scene a third of the way into the frame. For this particular effort, instead of putting the horizon in the center of the composition, put it toward the top or the bottom.
All that is left to do now is book your sailing trip and before to capture the magical sunset! You’ll have memories and images to last the rest of your life.