Make the most out of early sunrises with tips on how to create stunning summer sunrise images that are worth the early morning wakeup.
One of the easiest ways to take better photographs is to capture images in better light. Often that means capturing photos during photoshoots that take place in the morning at sunrise, or in the evening at sunset. In the summer, the sun rises incredibly early, which can be tough if you’re not an early riser. However, capturing images at sunrise during the summer is one of our favorite ways to capture the breathtaking beauty of nature at its finest hour.
We’re exploring a few reasons why we believe that waking up early for summer sunrise photoshoots is a good idea. Plus, we’ll share a few tips on how you can creatively make the most of these (quite literally) golden hours.
Reason #1: Capture Beautiful Destinations Without Hoards of People
One of the top reasons we love getting up early for sunrises in the summer is because, for landscape photographers, this is one of the only times of day where you get a spot with virtually no people. Depending on where you’re trying to capture images, summer tends to make popular outdoor spots a lot busier. Getting up early in the morning is your best chance of avoiding the mistake of arriving at the perfect photoshoot location, only to have it covered with tourists snapping pictures.
If you’ve been to Banff National Park in Canada or Yellowstone National Park in the United States, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Our suggestion? Get up early and shoot, then take a nap to recharge for the rest of the day.
Reason #2: Avoid Harsh Contrast and Mixed Light
Ah, that bright midday sunlight. It’s the bane of every photographer’s existence, but something we all have to battle, especially during the summer. Days are longer in the summer, meaning you’ll more than likely be forced to face harsh light for the majority of the day.
That’s why getting up early for summer sunrise photoshoots is always worth it. You get to avoid the harsh contrast and shadows that midday sun creates. This is especially pivotal if you’re shooting in any type of forest—mixed light can make it impossible to compensate for both the trees and the light coming through.
Photographing near sunrise fixes that problem. The sun’s light rays are coming from a softer, more horizontal angle, which in turn means that the light becomes more diffused through the process.
Reason #3: Avoid Overly “Stock” Looking Images
We hate to say it, but you know exactly what this means. Everyone has seen the stock image of the perfectly blue sky, with the perfectly green landscape, and the perfectly trimmed trees. But, sadly, that image is boring and out of date.
Avoid what’s most common by shooting at a time when fewer photographers are willing to commit to the early morning wakeup. You’ll capture a more unique time of day, and have the ability to create a truly wonderful image unlike anyone has seen. Sunrises are always different, and even if it’s an overcast day, the light will still be softer and allow you to play more with the kind of images you want to create.
Most people are used to seeing a place as it is during midday, when they are out and about exploring. Seeing a place at sunrise though? That’s saved for only the most intrepid travelers, and is a way to really wow your audience with what you create.
Reason #4: You Might Catch Some Natural Fog
Because night temperatures tend to dip down, you have a pretty good chance of encountering that dreamy low fog closer to dawn and sunrise. This can make for a really ethereal image, and something that no amount of fog machines will be able to recreate. The moments can last all morning or vanish in a few seconds, so you’ll have to be eagle-eyed to catch them. The sun tends to burn off the fog, so these are images best captured before sunrise has occurred.
Reason #5: If Sunrise Doesn’t Work, There’s Always Sunset
If you don’t get up for sunrise during the summer months, you only have one opportunity to capture that golden hour glow—sunset. If you make it to the morning wakeup, you’ll have two opportunities to capture truly spectacular imagery without harsh light. This is especially important if you’re traveling and have a limited amount of time at each destination. Maximizing your shooting time in the morning and evening gives you plenty of time during the day to relax, explore, and take it all in.
How to Take Better Photographs at Sunrise in the Summer
Now we get to the fun part. How you can actually create stunning sunrise images in the summertime (and make that early morning wakeup really worth it). Here are some pro tips on how to capture beautiful images at sunrise in the summertime.
Tip #1: Make Sure You Have the Right Camera Gear
Before you even start shooting, you have to think about what kind of camera gear is going to allow you to make the most of the sunrise light. Below is a list of some of our favorite camera gear for capturing beautiful golden light during the sunrise. While this isn’t a comprehensive list and will vary from photographer to photographer, we hope this list will help you streamline your gear and bring what counts to your photoshoot.
- Graduated Neutral Density Filters: If you’re shooting outdoors during sunrise, you might get some contrast between the landscape and the changing sky, which risks over- or underexposing your images. A set of GND filters will allow you to balance the exposure across both the sky and the landscape, keeping your foreground and background balanced.
- Tripod: If you’re shooting at sunrise, you might be faced with some low light while you’re waiting for the sun to rise. A tripod can help keep your images stable when shooting at a slower shutter speed, keeping things crisp and sharp without adding additional noise by increasing the ISO.
- A Shutter Release: A shutter release combined with a tripod is a terrific way to reduce camera shake, and can also be used to pose a subject in the frame. If you’re like me, you like shooting alone, but sometimes you need a subject to shoot. Using a shutter release allows you to step into the frame and put perspective to your image. Voilà, you’re both behind and in front of the camera.
Tip #2: Arrive at Your Location Before Sunrise
We’ve all made the mistake of arriving at a location at exactly the time that your phone says sunrise is going to happen. Arriving right at sunrise means the sun is already rising, and you’ve missed the beautiful moments that happen before the sunrise. The colors of sunrises usually begin in the hour or so before sunrise actually occurs. Arriving early will also allow you to take a few minutes to set up, and ensure that you’re in the right position to capture your dream shot.
Tip #3: Shoot into the Sun as It Rises
Another tip is to shoot directly into the sun when you’re photographing a landscape during sunrise. Sunrise often leads to some stunning light rays as the sun begins to rise on the horizon, and you can capture little starbursts of light as a result. Capturing a starburst effect like this is a whole other ball game.
For videographers looking to incorporate sun stars in their footage, check out the tutorial below:
However, for those of you who are looking for a quick tip, use a closed aperture as wide as you can go (f/16 or f/22 will do the trick), adjust your settings, and partially obscure the sun with an object found in nature. Position the rays to spread using trees, mountains, flowers, or your model to ensure there’s a point for the rays to burst. The results? A beautiful and unique landscape image that will make your jaw drop.
Tip #4: Look for a Sunny Day, with Some Clouds
While you might think a clear sky is the best way to capture a beautiful sunrise summer photo, the reality is, having a couple of clouds in your skyline can create some really dynamic imagery. Clouds filter the light in certain ways, and bounce it in others. They can help bring more color to your scene, and overall assist in creating a more dramatic sunrise image. Try to pick a day that has a bit of cloud coverage, and be prepared for the magic to unfold.
Tip #5: Bracket Your Sunrise Photos
Another tip to creating perfectly balanced sunrise photographs is to bracket your images (especially if you choose not to use any GND filters). Bracketing your image essentially means to take a number of shots, specifically one image exposing for the highlights in the image and one exposing for the shadows. Then, when you’re editing your image, you combine these shots to create one single, well-exposed image. Using a tripod in this case is also extremely helpful.
This can be really useful for when the sun starts to get bright, ensuring that you’ve managed to capture all the details while keeping your foreground nice and bright. Most professional and entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras include an automatic bracketing function, so take a look at your manual to learn how to do this with your camera.
Looking for more photo-worthy summer tips? Check out these articles:
Top image by Smit.
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