THE GOLDEN HOUR

In photography, the term the golden hour refers to the hour following sunrise and the hour preceding sunset. These two times of each day are considered to be quite special by many photographers. One of the two major effects of the golden hour relates to the angle at which light hits objects as well as the angle at which the light strikes the earth itself. During the golden hour, light travels almost horizontally across the lanscape. This creates pronounced shadows. The effect can be quite advantageous, particularly when shooting landscapes. The second major effect of the golden hour is the warm color temperature that exists at this particular time of day. It is from this warm, richly hued palette that the term golden hour is derived. Shoot during the golden hour and you will be rewarded with a singular beauty that is worth waiting for. It is also worth getting up early for, though you might not think so as you're listening to your alarm clock's shrill wail at 4:30 in the morning. Visit the ;Journey Through Ecuador gallery page on my website http://www.elkinsphotos,com and take a look at my photo of an Ecuadoran boy playing kickball on the beach just as the sun is setting over the Pacific. Imagine how different this shot would be had it been taken at high noon.