<p>Have you ever been blown away by a photo that boasts warm, golden hues, soft lighting, and well-defined depth-filled shadows? The phrase, “How the hell did they get that photo?" springs to mind....</p>
<p>Well, chances are, the photo was taken during the “golden hour” also occasionally called the magic hour.</p>

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<div><a title="Lorain sunset by Rona Proudfoot, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronnie44052/2129555467/">[imageeffect type="frame" align="aligncenter" width="600" height="366" alt="" url="http://thebeginnerslens.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Sunset.jpg"]</a>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Lorain sunset</em>
Photo by Rona Proudfoot</p>
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<p>Most outdoor photographers live for the golden hour, that is, the first and last hour of sunset or sunrise. It's aptly called the golden hour given the pure quality of light at that time of day. The sunlight at that time gives off soft warm hues, a dramatic difference from the harsh daylight sun. During the golden hour, the sky and the clouds cast an orangey tint, colors appear more saturated, and the shadows are longer casting better contrast over the whole photo. These qualities together make a winning combination for beautiful photography.</p>
<p>So what do you have to do to get the perfect golden hour shot? Here's a few tips to take on your next shoot:</p>
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<li><strong>Research and plan.</strong><br />
Check the time of sunrise and sunset, and weather forecast for the day you want to shoot. Do not assume the sun will rise/set at XX:XX a.m./p.m. The last thing you want to happen is to go out to shoot only to find out that the sun has already risen or set. Also, a rainy or cloudy forecast means you'll be better off postponing the shoot for another day...the Golden Hour simply does not happen under the cover of cloud. </li>
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<li><strong>Be there early.</strong><br />
The early bird gets the worm here people, so get to the location early to leave plenty of time to find the best angle, set up your camera and tripod, and take a few practice shots.</li>
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<li><strong>Observe how the sun illuminates the objects around you.</strong><br />
Great photos taken during the magic hour are not limited to landscapes and cityscapes. The golden hour is also good for shooting portraits and macro photography. The key here is to use the red and orange hues enhance the objects around you. You might find that the golden hour can make a trash can look interesting!</li>
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Get out there and experiment with the light produced in the golden hour - the photos you get will make up for the hour or two of sleep that you might lose! 