Photographing in Strong Daylight - Creative Tutorial

The March equinox marks the start of when the Sun moves past the Earth's equator and transitions the northern hemisphere into spring and the southern into autumn.

Join the VSCO community in celebration of the shift in the seasons by capturing the light when it's at its most brilliant during the golden hour. Submit to the #24GoldenHours challenge for a chance to be featured.

Edited with SUM2

In direct sunlight, you might be able to see farther out than on an overcast day. This light sharpens shadows, while adding texture and detail. Strong, midday sun is often characterized as hard to wrangle, but it also opens up unique creative opportunities for playing with shadows.

Edited with AGA1

Try to look past what is directly in front of you and discover layers of space and light. Create a dynamic landscape by striking a balance between foreground, middle-ground, and background. When looking close up, embrace the hard lines and harsh shadows. Editing with Agave can even out the tone in these areas of high contrast.

Edited with AGA1

Edited with AGA3

Experiment with creative ways to use harsh shadows. Once you start searching for them you’ll find them everywhere. Allow them to shape and contour the focal points of your image. Try to relax and document your surroundings as well as the people you’re with. Move your subjects into unique pockets of light, keep them comfortable, and hopefully they can keep the sun out of their eyes.

Edited with SUM2

Edited SUM2

Golden hour's setting sun opens a fleeting window of time for the warm yellow and orange hues that many photographers crave. Working indoors and getting to know how the light travels through a space can help you be prepared when the perfect light finally comes. Combine golden hour with Sumac presets to harness this iconic light.

Experiment with different arrangements and compositions for still life, portraits, or interior shots before golden hour comes, because once it does the light can fade quickly. Place your setup where the light falls from the window to learn how something smooth, textured, or curved will react to light. Research is as much a part of your work as the final edit. Feel free to mood board or write out your concept as well.

Edited with SUM2

Edited with SUM2 

You can use dark backgrounds like black poster paper to absorb light and emphasize your subject. To accentuate the golden light rather than controlling it, allow lighter tones to enter your frame. These colors will further embody the warm qualities of the sun’s rays.


Share what you create using #24GoldenHours for a chance to be featured on VSCO.