Photographers use many insider tricks and have intensive knowledge about taking photos. You should know when, how and where to go to get that perfect picture. Many say taking a picture is all about following your instinct and being at the right place at the right time. Of course, if you are also backed with loads of photography knowledge, then you are on your way.

There are many things around us that can be captured by the lens, but let’s talk about the beginning of the day: sunrise. It is a little difficult to capture the perfect sunrise, but you will get it right only by trying. Here are a few tips to take sunrise photos to help you along the way:

Location:

Locations should be scouted for beforehand. You will waste precious time and energy if you decide to scout for a location in the darkness before the sunrise and could end up missing that perfect shot. Look for a great view the earlier day at leisure so you know the place and also know what to look for when you are aiming for that great shot.

Timings:

Courtesy of National Photography

The timings of the sunrise keep changing, so to make sure you are at the right place at the right time, it is important that you find out the timing of the sunrise from a local newspaper. Local television stations will also let you know of the sunrise timings and, most importantly, make sure that you choose a day with a clear forecast. Capturing a sunrise on a rainy, cloudy day might not be what you were looking for.

Third’s Rule

Don’t restrict yourself to the third’s rule while composing photography, that is, don’t make one third of your photo the sky only. When you are into sunrise photography, the sky and its vibrant colors should be dominant. If you can experiment and get a nice silhouetted object in the picture, then it will add some character to the picture. Try and get some landscape into the frame as well. Experiment, as only then will you get the perfect picture.

Lens

When pointing the camera towards the sun, be careful, as the sun’s rays can harm the lens as you are pointing in its exact direction. After taking the photograph, make sure you cover the lens immediately. See also digital SLR camera lenses.

Tripod

Try and use a photo tripod whenever possible, especially if you are trying to capture the sunrise. The tripod gives you stability and adds to the sharpness and clarity of the photograph.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses can mislead you as to how bright how dark it was when you took the picture. So, when you are exposing the photograph be careful that you don’t over or under expose the photograph.

Optical Viewfinder

Whenever you are pointing the camera in the direction of the sun, never use an optical view finder, as it can be dangerous.

After reading these tips, if you are interested in purchasing photos of sunrises to be gifted as personalized baby gifts or to mark someone’s birth, wedding day, anniversary, etc, then you can get a personalized photo with a caption or a quote marking the date of the special occasion. You can buy these photographs from Every Sunrise. For more information about the company and its products, please check out their website at www.everysunrise.com

By: Gary R Simpson

Gary Simpson is a professional photographer and specializes in Nature photography. He has been involved this dual activity which is his hobby as well as profession for 5 years now. He is based in Brisbane and move around Australia to capture beautiful natural habitats as memories as well as to appreciate their existence. www.everysunrise.com

See also:

• Night photography tips and guidelines
• Guidelines in digital photography – general tips
• Digital photography exposure techniques
• Active space in photography
• Rhythm and pattern in digital photography