Its instinctive to grab your phone or camera and capture the sun’s appearance or departure.
Why? Because it feels right.
The Golden Hours
I’m not a gambler, but if I were, I’d wager that you’ve been seduced by a sunset or sunrise on vacation and attempted to capture the majesty of the experience. You can’t help it can you?
Tourists take more photos of sunrises and sunsets than anything else: here’s why
It’s true. We’re obsessed with that massive ball of fire. And why not? Sunrises and sunsets are nature’s own spectacular light show, a daily reminder that even in the midst of crime and chaos, there’s beauty to be found.
But there’s more to it than just the golden tones that appear as the sun gets up and down, isn’t there? Something deeper lurks beneath the surface of our collective sunrise/sunset obsession, something that speaks to our primal need for… well, let’s get the profound thoughts sorted out below…
The secular sacrament
For many of us moderns, raised on a diet of science and reason, the sunrise and sunset can hold an emotional – but not religious – significance. No, we’re not worshipping Ra of the Egyptians or writing Grecian lore about Helios or connecting the event to a supernatural creator: it’s more about a connection to something bigger than ourselves, a reminder of the vastness of the universe and the fleeting nature or fragility of our own existence.
Call it secular humanism, cosmic awe, or just plain old wonder – there’s something undeniably moving about witnessing the beginning and end of our planet’s daily dance with the sun. It’s a moment of shared experience, a reminder that we’re all just tiny specks on this blue and green dot, hurtling through space together. And who doesn’t love a bit of existential pondering with their morning coffee?
Heightened holiday
Of course, these sun-emotions are amplified when we’re on vacation – we can tend to lean into thoughts that get us more philosophical about our families and friends, the past and what lies ahead. Let’s face it, everything feels more poignant when you’re somewhere new, exotic, exciting, or even peaceful.
When we are removed from our stresses and the petty annoyances of our daily grind, our senses are heightened, our minds are open to new experiences, and we’re more likely to appreciate the simple things in life – like the fiery spectacle of a dying day. Plus, let’s be honest, a killer sunset makes for a much better Instagram post than filming a Karen exploding on your commute to work.
Smartphone savvy
Speaking of Instagram, there are a few things to know about capturing the Golden Hours. While professional photographers may scoff at our reliance on smartphones, there’s no denying their convenience and surprisingly excellent results. But in saying that, here are a few tips to elevate your sunset/sunrise game:
Clean your lens: This sounds too obvious, but you’d be surprised how many fingerprints and smudges can sabotage a potentially epic shot.
Embrace the grid: Those gridlines on your phone’s camera aren’t there to annoy or confuse – bring them up to compose your shot and keep those horizons straight. No one loves a wonky sunset.
Play with exposure: Tap-tap on the screen to adjust the brightness and bring out the details in the shadows or highlights. This may require you do a tiny bit of research on how your phone gets this done…
Experiment with angles: Though it’s tempting, don’t just point and shoot – that sun normally takes a decent amount of time to get up and down on your horizon. Crouch low, tippy-toe high: find a unique perspective that gets you excited about what you are photographing.
Consider the foreground: Yes, the sun is a stunner and the star of the show [pun intended], but a striking silhouette or interesting object in the foreground can add depth and intrigue to your photo.
Its really OK to do nothing
But here’s the thing: sometimes, it’s okay to just put the phone down and soak it all in. Not every experience needs to be documented. There are times when the very best moments are the ones we keep to ourselves – they create the type of memories that last longer than the purpose of likes and comments on your socials which quickly cease to be important.
So next time you find yourself mesmerised by a breathtaking sunrise or sunset, resist the urge to immediately grab your phone. Take a couple of breaths, listen to and appreciate what is happening around you, and simply enjoy the moment. Trust me, the inner-you will be happier.
Then take the photo anyway. Just in case.
