There is something magical about sunrises. Maybe it’s because it usually implies getting up at unearthly hours, but sunrise photos are one of my favourite things in this world. However, there are some things that should be taken into account when trying to get those long-desired shots.
After some epic fails to try to achieve impressive visuals, I would like to share some tips, and things I’ve learnt during my sunrise mission experiences. Keep reading to discover how to take better sunrise photos.
1. Previous research
One of the obvious but necessary things to remember when trying to capture sunrise is that before the sun rises, it’s DARK. Therefore, if it’s your first time in a location, some previous scouting before getting there is highly recommended. I found different ways to discover locations before being physically there, all of them thanks to social media and the Internet.
– Instagram:
This is the must-use tool. Use it wisely, not only to decide where to go but when. Are you looking for autumn colours? Maybe it’s not the perfect moment yet. Instagram can help you decide the ideal time and place.
Bonus tip: Connect with other photographers. Send a couple of messages, ask for details, and who knows, maybe you’ll make some new friends!
– Google Images:
Some areas are not well documented on Instagram, the exact location can’t be found or is too broad. When I was in Poland, not many people posted pictures from the cities, and most of the shots were selfies. In these situations, google images can help, because most countries have touristic boards, webpages,… using images of the city to attract visitors.
Moreover, Google can lead you to pages such as wikiloc, where people share hiking routes, with images and route descriptions that can be useful for planning and understanding the location.
Bonus tip: Use the “search by image” Google feature! It will help you find similar images, and could save you hours of browsing!
– Google Maps:
As you can see, Google is the king of scouting. Use maps to know exactly how to get to a location, the routes and possible alternatives in case there is any problem (roadworks, traffic jam…).
Bonus tip: Use the Street View (if available) to visualize more accurately how the surrounds of the location look like!
2. Planification
Once all the information about the location is gathered, it’s the moment to decide when to go for the sunrise mission. Unfortunately, luck plays a role here, as the weather is such an important variable. However, there are a couple of things that can be done to reduce possible handicaps. Also, remember that you don’t need impressive conditions to take good sunrise photos. Sometimes better results can be achieved with non-optimal light conditions!
– Windy.com
This is my go webpage/app for the weather forecast. It includes many interesting features such as a live radar, different weather forecast models, and from my experience, the ratio of successful predictions is pretty high.
Bonus tip: Don’t look only for rain prediction, look at clouds and wind prediction, it can help you get a clearer idea of the conditions to expect.
– Photopills
This is just one of the many apps to use to plan the “WHEN” component. Knowing when (and where) the sun will rise is essential. We don’t want to get up early and reach the location when the sun has already peaked. Plan carefully, assume you will always be late, and remember that you will need some time to do the in-location scouting once you’re in position.
Bonus tip: If you don’t want to pay for this app, there are some other useful resources such as using Google to know the exact sunrise time of a specific location. Just type “sunrise name of the location”!
– Outfit & Gear
Sunrise means cold weather most of the year. Gloves, scarf, hiking boots, headlamp,… be prepared for the conditions, and if you have extra space, bring more than what you need.
Decide the camera, lens, tripod,…. that you will need to take the shot you want. As before, if you have extra space, bring extra gear, but remember that the photographer makes the photo, not the gear you have
Also, know the expected life of your batteries, and be ready to get some amazing shots!
3. In location scouting
You made it! You are there! Now the magic starts. It’s dark, cold and windy, but all the research you made is now going to be useful. In an ideal world, you found the spot you had planned. If it’s the case, get ready, set the tripod and enjoy.
If it’s not exactly as you imagined (it usually happens), there are some things that can be done:
– Find a different framing
Maybe it’s not as you imagined it, but it’s the spot. Get creative, find that thing that makes this photo unique, and enjoy a beautiful sunrise!
– Find the exact location
Maybe you are in the wrong location. Look again at the material you found online, compare your situation, and decide if you should move or not. This is the main reason why I always get to the location too early because reality never matches online views. Mud, rain, tides… nature is heavily influenced by many little things, and this is what makes this special.
4. Shoot
It’s time to enjoy! With all the tips to take better sunrise photos, get those shots, and share them with your friends! Here you have a small collection of sunrises I took! Find more on my Instagram!
If you have any question, or you want to use my photos, contact me via the contact form or @aniolvisuals on Instagram