Are Good Sunsets and Sunrises Overrated in Landscape Photography?

No doubt, a sunrise or sunset showering a scene with dramatic golden light is a popular look for a good reason, but it should not be all that we look for in landscape photography, and you could be missing out on great shots if you ignore gray days. This interesting video examines the topic and discusses why there is more to life than obsessing over sunsets.  

Coming to you from Henry Turner, this great video discusses why there is more to life than just chasing good sunsets or sunrises. Personally, I think Turner is on to something important here. A lot of the imagery we see online has dramatic, warm light cascading across it, and there is certainly a place for that, but on the other hand, I firmly believe that great images can be made in all sorts of scenes and light. The key is to not try to chase photos that are not there, but rather, to embrace the light and scenery and create images that they are conducive to. It is a great way to practice working in different conditions and expand both your portfolio and creative palette. Check out the video above for Turner's full thoughts. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi." 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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6 Comments

Yes !!!

Yes !!!!!

I personally never cared about sunrise and sunset colours.
A good photo is very subjective. To me, my photos are better than the YouTube photographers. I am proud of them.

While the golden hour does make a landscape look better, a good composition looks better even during the mid day

Agreed!