Photographing the close to the horizon?

DonovanJM · 08-07-2018, 07:28 PM

So out here on the West coast of the US we have had a few forest fires lately. While this is generally not good it makes for some beautiful coloring of the sun in evening. I would love to get some photographs of this but I don't know what or if I need to take precautions. I'm not a big fan of losing my eyesight or ruining my camera. Would you guys and gals have any advice? I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you!

MarkJerling · 08-07-2018, 07:55 PM

For regular sunset photos, provided you don't look directly into the sun, you should not have a chance of ruining your eyesight or your camera.

**othar** · 08-08-2018, 01:37 AM

A normal exposure of the sun shouldn't be a problem, but I wouldn't use live view extensively with the sun in the picture, especially with tele lenses, that goes for your eyes too (don't search for the right camera settings while looking into the sun, just compose and take the picture you can check your exposure on the resulting picture on the camera display)

edit: as Mark said, don't look directly into the sun when it is in the frame, look at the hills, trees, clouds or whatever else is in the frame. The longer the lens gets, the higher is the risk of damaging eyes or camera because the sun takes a bigger proportion of the image. With a 400mm lens I felt comfortable enough to photograph some leaves on a tree with the sundown behind the leaves, with a 1000mm lens I would rather risk my camera than my eyes and use live view to compose the image

**Bruce Clark** · 08-08-2018, 02:43 AM

I overdid it once at sunset and suffered sore and watery eyes for some time. My camera survived the ordeal with no apparent ill effects.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-08-2018, 02:58 AM

I am careful of shooting any shots of the sun, not just sunsets - focus once and chimp that shot, make any adjustments and go from there...

other than shooting the eclipse last year, my camera has had no special equipment/protection and has taken dozens of pure sun shots, either sunrise or sunset, or for flare shots...

**TER-OR** · 08-08-2018, 06:02 AM

Once it's low to the horizon the sun is usually dimmed enough to meter, particularly with all the smoke. I got a couple good shots this weekend, I haven't posted them yet.

DonovanJM · 08-08-2018, 09:48 AM

Awesome! Thank you all. Hopefully I am able to get some good shots soon.
Thank you!

08-07-2018, 07:28 PM	#1
DonovanJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Washougal, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 54	Photographing the close to the horizon? So out here on the West coast of the US we have had a few forest fires lately. While this is generally not good it makes for some beautiful coloring of the sun in evening. I would love to get some photographs of this but I don't know what or if I need to take precautions. I'm not a big fan of losing my eyesight or ruining my camera. Would you guys and gals have any advice? I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

08-08-2018, 01:37 AM	#3
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	A normal exposure of the sun shouldn't be a problem, but I wouldn't use live view extensively with the sun in the picture, especially with tele lenses, that goes for your eyes too (don't search for the right camera settings while looking into the sun, just compose and take the picture you can check your exposure on the resulting picture on the camera display) edit: as Mark said, don't look directly into the sun when it is in the frame, look at the hills, trees, clouds or whatever else is in the frame. The longer the lens gets, the higher is the risk of damaging eyes or camera because the sun takes a bigger proportion of the image. With a 400mm lens I felt comfortable enough to photograph some leaves on a tree with the sundown behind the leaves, with a 1000mm lens I would rather risk my camera than my eyes and use live view to compose the image Last edited by othar; 08-08-2018 at 01:58 AM.

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08-07-2018, 07:55 PM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,405	For regular sunset photos, provided you don't look directly into the sun, you should not have a chance of ruining your eyesight or your camera.

08-08-2018, 02:43 AM	#4
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	I overdid it once at sunset and suffered sore and watery eyes for some time. My camera survived the ordeal with no apparent ill effects.

08-08-2018, 02:58 AM	#5
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660	I am careful of shooting any shots of the sun, not just sunsets - focus once and chimp that shot, make any adjustments and go from there... other than shooting the eclipse last year, my camera has had no special equipment/protection and has taken dozens of pure sun shots, either sunrise or sunset, or for flare shots...

08-08-2018, 06:02 AM	#6
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Once it's low to the horizon the sun is usually dimmed enough to meter, particularly with all the smoke. I got a couple good shots this weekend, I haven't posted them yet.

08-08-2018, 09:48 AM	#7
DonovanJM Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Washougal, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 54 Original Poster	Awesome! Thank you all. Hopefully I am able to get some good shots soon. Thank you!

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