My Love-Hate Relationship with Golden Hour Photography

So here's the thing about golden hour photography - everyone makes it look so easy on Instagram. You know those perfectly timed shots with amazing warm light? Yeah, I've been chasing those for years now, and let me tell you, it's harder than it looks.

How It Started

I first got obsessed with golden hour shots about three years ago. Saw this incredible sunset photo from someone in Amsterdam and thought "I live here, I can totally do that!" Spoiler alert: my first attempts were... not great.

My biggest mistake? Thinking I could just show up 10 minutes before sunset and nail the shot. Turns out the sun moves pretty fast when you're fumbling with camera settings.

What I've Figured Out (The Hard Way)

Timing Is Everything (And I Suck At It)

Golden hour is supposed to be that magical time right after sunrise or before sunset. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. I've learned that:

• Summer in Netherlands: Golden hour can last like 2 hours
• Winter: You get maybe 20 minutes if you're lucky
• Weather matters more than time: Cloudy day? Forget about it. Clear sky? Sometimes too harsh.

I use this app called PhotoPills now (yeah, I know, getting fancy for a hobbyist). It tells me exactly when the sun will be where. Game changer.

Camera Settings (Or: How I Stopped Worrying About Perfection)

Okay, I'm not gonna lie and say I have this all figured out. But here's what usually works for me:

• Aperture: I mostly stick to f/8 because it's the "safe zone" - everything's reasonably sharp
• ISO: I try to keep it low (like 100-400) but honestly, if I need to bump it up to 800 or even 1600, whatever. Grainy photo is better than no photo
• Mode: Aperture priority because I'm lazy and it works 80% of the time

Sometimes I completely mess up the exposure and the sky is blown out. That's what editing is for, right?

My Workflow (If You Can Call It That)

Planning (Sort Of)

I've gotten better at this part. I check the weather app obsessively - not just for rain, but for clouds. Some clouds are good (they catch the light), too many clouds and you get nothing.

I also scout locations during lunch breaks. Being a software engineer means I can sometimes sneak out midday to check out a spot. The light is terrible then, but at least I know where I'm going when golden hour hits.

The Actual Shoot

Here's my honest process:

1. Show up 30 minutes early (learned this the hard way)
2. Set up and take test shots - the light changes so fast
3. Take WAY too many photos - better safe than sorry
4. Stay after sunset - sometimes the best shots happen during "blue hour"

Pro tip from my many failures: bring a headlamp. Packing up camera gear in the dark while trying to use your phone flashlight is not fun.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

The "Golden" Hour Isn't Always Golden

Sometimes it's more orange. Sometimes it's pink. Sometimes it's just... slightly less harsh than midday sun. I spent months thinking I was doing something wrong because my photos didn't look like those epic sunset shots on photography websites.

Turns out Netherlands weather is just different. We get these subtle, moody golden hours that are actually pretty beautiful once you stop expecting dramatic California sunsets.

Composition Matters More Than Perfect Settings

I used to obsess over having the perfect camera settings. Now I spend more time thinking about what's actually in my frame. That tree branch cutting through the middle of the shot? Yeah, that ruins everything regardless of how perfectly exposed it is.

It's Okay to Miss Shots

I've driven 45 minutes to a location, hiked for 20 minutes, set up all my gear, and then watched the sun disappear behind clouds. It happens. Part of the hobby.

My Current Approach

These days I'm more relaxed about it. I keep my camera settings simple (aperture priority, auto ISO with max 1600, spot metering). I focus more on being present and enjoying the moment rather than stressing about getting the perfect shot.

And you know what? My photos have actually gotten better since I stopped overthinking everything.

The Real Magic

The best part about golden hour photography isn't even the photos (though some of them turn out pretty decent). It's being outside, watching the light change, sometimes sharing the moment with other photographers who show up at the same spots.

Plus, it's gotten me out of my apartment and exploring Netherlands way more than I would otherwise. Win-win.