Be an early bird and have some fun with sunrise photography

Another Perfect Image to Frame

We know that early risers are becoming more and more uncommon as many of us prefer the prospect of staying in bed for as long as we possibly can, especially on the weekends. For the budding photographers out there, there is no better time to set your camera and tripod up to capture the beauty of the sunrise, also known as the golden hour (providing there isn't any cloud of course)!

It is normally suggested that you need to arrive in your chosen location half an hour before the sun is due to rise just so that you can get everything ready (you can check what time the sun is due to rise by doing a quick google search or checking the weather app on your phone). Quite often, that 30-minute window of time can be filled with anticipation as you never really know what you are about to capture.

This is an obvious one, but you may already find that you can take the perfect shot of the sunrise from your garden, balcony or window, however, if you are like the majority of us, you will have to travel a little bit!

Depending on how much you want to immerse yourself into your photography adventure, you can either give yourself a little more time in the morning to get to your chosen destination or, if you are really hardcore, you can plan to do an overnighter by either hiking or wild-camping or if you are fortunate enough to have a motorhome, you can travel to a nice open space where you can capture the sunrise alongside all of nature’s magnificence.

So, when you're up and ready to go, you need to keep an eye on the sky (apologies... didn't mean for that to rhyme). When you get the first indication of the sky beginning to lighten, this is when you need to have your camera at the ready. You may have to wait a little while longer for the sun to peep over the horizon, however, if you wait a few moments more, there is a great opportunity to get some breath-taking images of the changing colours. You may even be able to get some images of the wildlife such as muntjacs and rabbits.

Making the most of your morning experience

Use the correct camera and know its settings

For shooting still photography, in our opinion, the DSLR reigns supreme. There is a lot of choice when it comes to purchasing a camera, some are more geared towards shooting action or motion shoots. The DSLR is ideal for shooting stills in low light conditions which will be perfect for you as you will be shooting in the morning just as the sun begins to rise. To capture the ideal shot, shoot in a low ISO setting with a high aperture for your first shots and then adjust accordingly as the light environment begins to change.

You will have to experiment over multiple days

If you have experience with photography, then you may capture fantastic images on your first attempt (weather permitting). However, for those of you that live in the UK, expect to have up to five minutes of sunrise. The chances are though if you do capture great photos on your first attempt, then you'll be back out again in no time experimenting and even changing-up your locations.

Include photos of what is around you, not just the sun

Some of the most interesting photos of nature are those that have been taken at sunrise when the light shines on the trees, the long grass, lakes, ponds and rivers; this is because they all take on a completely different appearance.

When you are photographing the sunrise, take a moment to take in your surroundings and appreciate the lighting conditions on the environment and try to capture as many details as you can. With this in mind, you can get great photographs even if you don't manage to shoot the sun itself. The key is all in the preparation, by having the correct gear and being set up in the right location, you can increase your chances of capturing something magical.

Once you are happy with what you have photographed, consider printing out some of your favourites. You can then get them framed and proudly hang them around your home, making your effort all the more worthwhile.

Any good framers will be able to show you a vast range of different solutions and advise on what might be the most suitable given the work and its proposed location.

You can contact EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 and / or sales@EasyFrame.co.uk and they'll always chat even if you don't want to buy!