Golden hour — the first and last hour of sunlight each day — is the most coveted time for landscape photographers. The light is warm, directional, and forgiving. Shadows are long and textured. But it vanishes quickly, so preparation is everything.
Arrive Early
I try to reach my location at least 45 minutes before the sun touches the horizon. This gives me time to find the composition, set up the tripod, and take test exposures. Rushing during golden hour means missing the best light.
Expose for the Highlights
During golden hour the dynamic range between sky and foreground can be extreme. I routinely bracket three or five exposures and blend them in post-processing. A graduated neutral-density filter also helps, but I find manual blending gives me more control.
Use a Warm White Balance
Many cameras will try to neutralize the warmth of golden-hour light. I set a manual white balance of around 6500K to preserve the amber tones that make this light so special. You can always cool it down later, but you cannot add warmth that was never captured.