Blue hour in photography is also known as blue light photography, it is the time when you take photos during the blue hour. In order to understand what blue hour photography is, it is important to understand what and when blue hour is.

When is Blue hour

That beautiful short period of time right after the sunset or right before the sun rise is known as blue hour or twilight. This is the period of time when sun is between 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Blue hour approximately ends 10 minutes before sunrise and starts 10 minutes after sunset and normally lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes. The length of blue hour depends on factors like geography and season, however, today we have many websites and apps that can tell us exactly when and for how long the blue hour is.

Photography during blue hour

As beautiful as it may seem, photography during blue hour can be a dedicated task mainly due to its short time window. If you aren’t prepared you might miss those beautiful shots you are planning on taking. As the blue hour is only going to last for a very short time you won’t be able to go to other place while taking pictures, so it is better if you plan your shot points and keep them close to each other.

Photography tips for blue hour

Blue hour photos look fabulous and seem really hard to create. However, they aren’t as complicated to capture as they may seem (if you are doing it right). With the right knowledge and technique you should be able to take those beautiful photos.

1. Planning

Just like any other task, planning for blue hour photography is also important. As the window is short you need to make sure that you are planning the right shot locations and you have a mind of everything you want to do. You can use Google Maps to keep an eye on the clarity of the view from your shot location. Arriving early is also important to double check everything and be ready if there is any sudden change in plans.

2. Camera setting

Due to low natural light during blue hour you will get a slow shutter speed, and a bigger aperture for the camera to let more light in. A shutter speed of one to six seconds is recommended for blue hour photography. The camera mode should be shutter priority mode so you can manually adjust the shutter speed or manual mode if you’re more experienced. Try and play with your ISO to make sure your shutterspeed is high enough to take steady shots. The higher the ISO the more noise you will get in your photos.

3. Important accessories

Due to slower shutter speed you need camera to be really still and for this tripod can do a wonderful job (so try not to forget your tripod). You should also use a remote to capture the photos as clicking the shutter release button might cause camera shake. If you don’t have a remote then you should use timer for a steady photo. 

4. Taking help from electric lights

As there is not much natural light during the blue hour, capturing landscapes with electric lights can give your photos a great effect. Especially as a beginner you can consider taking pictures of; landscapes like cityscapes, beaches, roads and bridges for your blue hour photography.

5. Trying something new

At the end, don’t forget to listen to yourself and try something new every once in a while. No one knows what you want to capture better than you and there is no better way to capture a masterpiece if you’re trying something new.