Home » Dramatic Light Photography
One of the best ways to improve any photo is to use dramatic light. Sunrises and sunsets provide the best and most reliable opportunities for good photographs in dramatic light. I always get a rush when I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise on the road. Experiencing a new location under beautiful light is just as important to me as is exploring the city or landscape, visiting the cafes, and meeting new people.
I’m not content to simply shoot whatever I happen to see when I see it. Instead, when I travel I seek out photogenic scenes throughout the day, and I return later to shoot the scene in the best possible light. This is all very transparent to the overall travel experience: I might be at a museum or walking around or at a cafe with a friend, and I’ll make a small mental note to return.
Sunrise is my favorite time of day. I’ll rarely wake up for one at home, but jetlag takes over on the road and it becomes easy to watch the sun come up when I’m wide awake at 3am. Sunsets are nice too; seeing a sunset is just a matter of working it into my day. I’ll often plan to have dinner at a place with a view, or hike up a hill to see and photograph the sunset. You can look up the sunrise/sunset times online if you’re not sure.
Any camera will do, although when I want to get serious I’ll bring a nice DSLR with a tripod, and if there’s water I’ll bring a neutral density filter too. Over the years I’ve learned that you can take advantage of dramatic light without overdoing it. Interestingly, some of the best sunrise/sunset shots don’t have land or sky in the frame at all. This requires a more precise, creative approach in capturing what the light does to things, as opposed to constantly trying to take pictures of the light and sky itself.
The following examples were taken all over the world using anything from a cell phone to a high end DSLR. Maybe I should warn you: there are a lot of pictures in this post. But I like pictures and I like dramatic light, so here goes…
Argentina
Puerto Natales
Belgium
The first rays of light illuminate the sky over Brussels
Chile
Torres del Paine in Patagonia
China
People running in front of downtown Shanghai
Shanghai Sunrise
Czech Republic
Prague Sunset
Shortly after sunset in Prague.
Iceland
Iceland
Dark, dramatic light after sunset in Iceland
I stopped to shoot this scene while driving the ring road in Iceland
Horse at Sunset
Snaefellsbaer
Jokusarlon
Vik, Iceland. I was balancing on some rocks as the tide came in. I asked my girlfriend to tell me if the water was getting too high, such that I might not make it back to the shore. Fun times. Worth it.
India
The chaotic streets of Delhi at sunset
A serene Goan beach
Boat and sun in Goa
Goa Sunrise
Taj Mahal at Sunrise
Indonesia
Bali
Ireland
Clifden, Ireland at dusk
Dramatic light over Connemara
Dublin in this film inspired photograph
Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Shot from the Trans Siberian Railway
Nepal
The first rays of sunlight emanate from behind some of the tallest mountains in the world
Dramatic light in Kathmandu
Sunset over Kathmandu via Instagram
Sunrise in the Himalayas
Poon Hill sunrise. Rumor has it this is the best place to view the sunrise on Earth. I’d be hard pressed to disagree.
Kathmandu Sunrise
Poon HIll Sunrise
Russia
Lake Baikal
Ice on Lake Baikal
Vladivostok Sunset. Film photography inspired.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka just prior to sunrise
Sri Lanka as the sun rises
Unawatuna at sunset
Sweden
Stockholm on a rainy evening just after sunset. The dramatic light is more subdued in this one, but it’s definitely still there.
Switzerland
Zurich sunset
Thailand
Koh Samui after sunset
Bangkok sunrise
Kata, Phukent, Thailand
Turkey
A bird flies in front of the setting sun in Istanbul
Istanbul Sunset
The first rays of light turn the sky a deep, dark blue over Istanbul
Istanbul Sunset
USA
Buckingham Fountain in Chicago shortly after sunset
Nice pastel colors illuminate the sky over Chicago at dusk
The setting sun adds definition to Marina City in Chicago
Looking out over Lake Michigan at Sunrise in Chicago
Sunset in Washington, D.C.
Sunrise over Texas, USA. Shot from an airplane.
Colorado Sunset
The same scene as above, shot just a few minutes before.
There is nothing particularly unique about these photos other than just being shot in nice light, and that I made the effort to get to a photogenic place when the light was good. Anybody can take great pictures in dramatic light. It’s just a matter of putting yourself there.
