There is a time between night and actual sunrise that is really magical in photography. This time of day is my favourite, it has a unique light and colour and is generally still and quiet. You also get to witness the sky lottery; what colours are going to be produced, how long will it last, is it going to completely cloud over, which quite often happens. When the conditions all come together a joy fills the heart and you know instinctively that you have the photograph you came for.
Angkor Wat, before sunrise. Manfrotto tripod and head: Canon 6D, Canon 24-70mm lens: ISO 400 – 30 sec @f8 – 0.3ND soft grad filter
You will need a torch to get you to your location pre sunrise, it also helps you with setting your camera dials in low level light conditions. For the photograph above, the scene was really dark to the eye. I set my camera up on my tripod and used a remote release for mirror lock as exposures can be long and you don`t want camera shake. I took a test shot at an extremely high ISO to see whether I had focussed correctly with manual focus. If you use autofocus it is best to move it to manual focus as cameras find it hard to focus in very low light conditions. Once I knew the camera was focused I locked the focus and set my ISO to 400, which still gave a 30 second exposure at f8. I always photograph on manual mode and as the light changes quickly from near dark to sunrise don’t forget to keep adjusting your camera settings. I always have my camera set to RAW for high quality images. I used a 0.3ND soft grad filter to balance the sky with the foreground. I could of used a 0.6ND but wanted the water to be slightly darker than the sky.
Depending on where you are photographing on the planet determines the length of time before first light and sunrise, in the tropics you generally only have about half an hour pre-sunrise.
When it starts to get much lighter, be ready for the actual sunrise, which will give you a whole new feel to your scene. As you can see between the two photo’s the cloud had completely disappeared in the photograph below, which was taken 45 minutes after the photograph above. I had waited for the sun to rise to give me another saleable image from the same morning. Both images have been published in several travel magazines and books.
For the shot below, in my last blog post ‘How to Shoot into the Sun’, it explains how to achieve this effect in your photographs
Angkor Wat, sunrise: Manfrotto tripod and head; Canon 6D, Canon 24-70mm lens: ISO 100, f16 @ 1/500
Get out and enjoy this spectacular time of day, it stills the mind and fills the soul with joy!
I run photography holidays and tours to Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and in the Gower, Wales, please visit the website for full itineraries and information:www.digitalphotographyholidays.com
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This can be tough to get right, but I’ve found that the latest camera sensors seem to be dealing with this difficult lighting situation really well. Experiment with your camera to see how it copes and create beautiful dreamy images.
I am using this technique in both my travel and garden photography and clients do love the feel.
Here are a few tips for shooting into the sun.
Keep your lens clean.
Dust, grease and scratches increase the risk of getting distracting flare. If you have a lens protecting filter on, take it off as sunlight can bounce in between the filter and the lens.
Use manual mode.
Choose the ISO you want, shoot in RAW and manual focus. Choosing your own aperture and shutter speed gives you the desired control over the effect you are after. Underexposing the image will give you dark silhouettes,
Intha leg rowing fisherman sunrise, Myanmar
while overexposing gives detail in the subject and a more dreamy feel.
Intha leg rowing fisherman sunrise, Inle Lake, Myanmar
Tripods make life easier.
When shooting backlight with the camera on a tripod, it’s easier to move the camera angle to control any distracting flare.
Bagan sunrise, Myanmar
ND graduated filters.
These will help balance the exposure in your photograph. Remember to keep your filters clean.
Hide the sun behind an object.
Placing the sun behind an object gives you less chance of flare and can create a beautiful feel to your photograph.
Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm temple, Cambodia
Experiment.
One thing to take into consideration is that different camera models do act differently using this technique. Get to really know your camera model and what the sensor can deal with. Have fun and try out different apertures and lenses to see what effects they give. Once you’ve mastered the technique with a tripod you can use it in other styles of photography where a tripod can’t be used.
Kep crab market, Cambodia
Finally be careful, don’t look into the sun for too long as it can damage your eyes.
Newsletter subscribers receive special offers throughout the year on my travel photography holiday and landscape photography workshops, you can subscribe here
The travel and landscape photography holidays that I run have just been featured in the Practical Photography Holiday & Courses guide for 2016.
Pleased to see my photo of the Gower, Wales on the front cover, last years weekend workshop was a real success with guests capturing some amazing landscape photos.
My travel photography adventure for Manfrotto has just been published on their website.
Photographing in such cold conditions has many challenges, how do you keep your hands warm? Stop your gear from freezing? Keep yourself warm? Photograph when you’re dressed like this.
Stephen Studd in the Arctic Circle
Whilst in Svalbard I went on a 10 hour snow mobile trip
Svalbard, Spitsbergen, snow mobiles, Adventdalen valley
from coast to coast in search of polar bears.
Svalbard, Spitsbergen, East coast, polar bear footprint
Is it worth going to such extremes for photographs?
The answer to that one is YES, when you get to see views like this.
Did we see polar bears? Unfortunately not, only footprints, but my time in the arctic circle was enough for me to fall in love with this unique place.
Newsletter subscribers receive special offers throughout the year on my travel photography holiday and landscape photography workshops, you can subscribe here
Travellers Choice on Trip Advisor has voted Marrakech the top destination in the world to visit .
Marrakech, Jemaa el Fna sunset
It is easy to see why, just 3 hours flight from the UK and you are transported to a city that for me, as a travel and garden photographer, has such a rich tapestry to photograph. No visit to Marrakech is complete without a visit to the main Jemaa el Fna square, a cocophony of noise from snake charmers to drummers with the smell of spices and food being cooked for locals and visitors from far and wide.
One of my favourite street food stalls in Jemaa el Fna is Chez Hassan, number 32. You can’t miss it, just look for the one creating the most steam and smoke as the best Merguez sausages in town sizzle on the griddle, be patient as it’s hard to get a seat as this is a firm favourite with the locals.
Chez Hassan, number 32
Of course there is much more to Marrakech than the main square. The nearby Koutoubia mosque dominates the skyline and is a favourite location of mine for photography.
Woman walking in front of the Koutoubia mosque
The souks and narrow winding alleyways of the old Medina always come up with travel photography gems. Getting to find your way around can be very tricky, fortunately after photographing here over the years I know my way around the maze like labyrinthian narrow streets.
Man with donkey cart, old Medina, Marrakech
There are so many great backdrops for photographs in the old Medina. I am always on the lookout for a good background for a photograph. One of the skills of travel photography is to observe the movement of people in a particular location and see when the best light hits the scene. Once you have found a location with good light and movement of people, a trick I employ is to frame my scene with the camera on a tripod with a remote shutter release. When a person comes through the scene I’ve framed they don’t have the same reaction as if I had the camera up to my eye. I tend to even look away when they appear as if I’m not even taking a photograph, it’s a trick that works for me, resulting in natural looking images with people.
Cyclist in the old quarter of Marrakech
In the old Medina I love the crumbling coloured walls, there always seems to be a good prop set against them.
Bicycle, Medina
The Medina is home to many artisans located in their own areas. The tannery district is only for those that can bear the stench, but a fascinating place to photograph.
Tannery district
Other favourite areas are the wool dyers district.
Wool dyers district
and the metal work district.
Metal workers district
If you are in this area be sure to check out the Museum of Photography to see some amazing photography from Morocco spanning a number of decades. The place also has a great rooftop café with views over the sprawling city and Atlas mountains.
A great escape from the hustle and bustle of the old Medina is to go and visit the iconic Jardin Majorelle, a feast for the lens with its cobalt blue walls, colourful containers and collections of cacti and bamboos. The garden was restored by Yves Saint Laurent and there is a memorial to him in the garden.
Jardin Majorelle – Yves Saint Laurent garden
Spend some time here, there is plenty to photograph, you can also get one of the best Moroccan breakfasts in Marrakech in the courtyard garden.
Jardin Majorelle, ‘Kalanchoe Beharensis’
Be sure to look out for those hidden corners too.
Jardin Majorelle
If you want to escape the city altogether the Atlas mountains are only a short distance away with its Berber villages and slower pace of life.
Atlas mountains
Atlas mountains
Back in Marrakech there are numerous souks to get lost in, my favourite is the spices souk.
Spices souk
It’s worth while weaving your way around the maze like souk to see what you stumble upon.
Marrakech Souk
I love exploring the quieter areas off the beaten track, you just never know what you are going to encounter around each corner.
Marrakech man in traditional djellaba and fez hat
Other places of interest for photography are the various Palaces and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a favourite place with my guests on the travel photography city break I run there each year.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
An alluring appeal that keeps me coming back to Marrakech is the light and the African sunsets you get there. Perch yourself on one of the numerous cafes in the main square, get yourself a Moroccan mint tea and a tajine, watch the place come alive as the sun sets, and enjoy the feast for all the senses. Yes the billowing smoke you can see in the shot below is coming from Chez Hassan.
Jemaa el Fna and Koutoubia mosque, sunset
You can join me on a 5 day travel photography city break to Marrakech in September 2016, with an optional photography excursion up in to the Atlas mountains where we have a traditional Berber lunch on my Berber friend CoCo’s roof terrace.
Newsletter subscribers receive special offers throughout the year on my travel photography holiday and landscape photography workshops, you can subscribe here
Trip Advisor has just announced that Angkor Wat is the top Landmark in the world to visit, with Siem Reap voted 2nd best Destination in the world.
UPDATE: Lonely Planet has just voted Angkor Wat as the Best Travel Destination to go and see 2015.
Monks in front of Angkor Wat.
I have been photographing here since 1999 and it is truly a magical place, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The whole Angkor complex stretches some 400 km2, so there are always new places to discover.
Of all the different temples that make up the Angkor complex, Angkor Wat is the jewel in the lotus and also the most well preserved of them all.
Angkor Wat, sunrise
The stone carving here is some of the most exquisite of all the temples.
Apsara detail, Angkor Wat
Even though the place sees a large number of tourists each year, local life still goes on in and around Angkor Wat.
Boy fishing at Angkor Wat
Siem Reap is the gateway to the temples and a town that has expanded over the years but never lost its charm.
Shrine on the banks of the river, Siem Reap
There are now great places to eat and drink to suit all budgets in Siem Reap. I’m looking forward to heading back again this November. There are places available on the photography holiday if you want to improve your photography skills. Because of my extensive knowledge of the area I get you to the best places for the best light.
My photography holidays here also support some NGO’s helping street kids, the rural poor, people with disabilities and also a nature conservation project.
