Golden Hour
The period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low, and its light is warm, soft and strongly directional.
Formula / rule
Sun elevation ≈ 0° to 6°
Measured in
degrees (sun elevation)
In depth
At low elevation, sunlight travels through far more atmosphere, which scatters away the blue wavelengths and leaves warm ones — the same mechanism that makes sunsets red. The low angle also means long shadows, side lighting and rim lighting all come free. Its duration depends on latitude and season, lasting minutes at the equator and hours near the poles.
Examples in practice
A portrait shot twenty minutes before sunset gets warm rim light on the hair and soft, flattering fill from the sky.