The Golden Hour

[spoildgal]

So for my first week in Location Photography for school we had to take pictures of the same object or place at 15 minutes before sunrise/sunset, at sunrise/sunset, 15 minutes after sunrise/sunset, 1 hour after sunrise/sunset and at high noon. So being that we have some big mountains that don't help with the sunset photos, I chose sunrise. Here is an example of how the golden hour (sunrise) can effect how your image looks. This was totally worth getting up early for.

This is actually about 5 minutes after the sun cracked the horizon.
http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9496/AKW2271.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=163737)

This is at high noon.
http://www.photozo.com/album/data/9496/AKW2438.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=163738)

Here is one turned the opposite direction, cause I just couldn't pass up those beautiful colors.
http://www.photozo.com/album/data/507/AKW2222.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=163715)

We're going to be getting into fill flash in next weeks lessons, but I figured I'd jump the gun a bit.
This is an example of 1/4 powered fill flash
http://www.photozo.com/album/data/507/AKW2265.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=163717)

And this is full power fill flash
http://www.photozo.com/album/data/507/AKW2264.jpg (http://www.photozo.com/album/showphoto.php?photo=163716)

I just wanted to share some examples of what I'm learning about this quarter.
As always C&C is appreciated!

[brucep]

Good work, Amber. When you actually do a planned set of experimental photos yourself, the lesson really stays with you.

I'm glad to see they're letting you jump right in and take photos. When I taught photography to amateurs, many of my students had already taken photo classes at the local colleges (I taught through four cities' recreation depts.) and learned nothing but darkroom work. My classes were about taking pictures, not how to develop & print.

[spoildgal]

Thanks Bruce. I'm really a hands on learner, so getting out there and doing instead of sitting in a classroom hearing about someone else did it is so much better for me. They also have darkroom and printing classes, but since I already learned that in the Air Force they gave me professional credit for those classes.

[Leonie]

Wow, the difference between sunrise and noon in your first two examples is quite incredible. Thanks for sharing, that was very interesting to compare.

[mishlove]

I love seeing the difference....excellent on # 1 + 2.
great shots.

[sacstoy02gt]

Good lesson for not just yourself!

[arezai85]

Great work. Thanks for showing difference.

Ali

[Skippy]

Amber these shots really show the difference well. We probably all know this sort of, but when you see it side by side, it really gives meaning to the phrase " A picture is worth a 1,000 words"

Thanks

Skippy

[Landis]

Amber, this website might be helpful to you on knowing The Golden Hour for anywhere you happen to be. Tibel so kindly posted it a while ago and I now have it bookmarked.

http://www.golden-hour.com/

[Bishop]

Great lesson. I learned about golden light on this website. But man, I would love to take a class like you are taking. How wonderful to be out there doing and learning.

[Sage]

Beautiful shots Amber. And a great lesson for those of us not lucky enough to be able to take classes....SIGH! ~~Peg

[Klown]

Amber,

Very nice. Thanks for the update on school, and what a great way to do so! I love the first picture!

[rupypug]

Very nice!! Is that in the garden of the gods?

[belongus3]

Great series of pics. And your post made a nice reading...Nice job Amber.

[spoildgal]

Thank you everyone! I've really enjoyed our class, and I love the feeling of walking away with some great practical knowledge that I didn't have before.

jeremy - Yes this is the Garden of the Gods! One of my favorite places to shot.

[Reflection]

Amber great images, the first image and third are beautiful.