John Weatherby - Shooting Golden Hour
https://www.prophotocourses.com/
- In this course we go over shooting at golden hour. Including best techniques, settings and gear. You will learn how to shoot with the sun in your frame during golden hour, or with it lighting your foreground from behind. Full start to finish in field shooting and then processing.
- In John Weatherby’s Shooting Golden Hour, photographers of all skill levels are invited to master the most coveted and fleeting light in the natural world. Known for its warm, ethereal glow and long, dramatic shadows, golden hour is the "holy grail" for landscape and outdoor photographers. However, capturing that magic on a digital sensor presents unique challenges—from lens flare and blown-out highlights to deep, muddy shadows. Weatherby, a seasoned professional, breaks down these complexities into an approachable, comprehensive system that ensures you never miss the shot when the light begins to turn.
- The course begins with a deep dive into the technical foundations of golden hour photography. You will explore the essential gear required to handle high-dynamic-range scenes and the specific camera settings—shutter speed, aperture, and ISO—that preserve the delicate colors of a sunset or sunrise. Weatherby provides clear, actionable advice on how to position yourself and your equipment to maximize the impact of the sun’s low angle. Whether you are aiming for a soft, diffused look or a sharp, high-contrast landscape, the "In the Field" segments of this course offer a front-row seat to the professional workflow.
- One of the standout features of this course is the dual-focus instruction on light direction. Weatherby teaches you the nuances of shooting directly into the sun—a technique that often results in beautiful sunstars and backlight but requires precise exposure management. Conversely, you will learn how to leverage "front lighting," where the sun is behind you, illuminating your foreground with a rich, golden hue. By understanding how to manage the sun’s position within or outside your frame, you gain the creative freedom to tell different visual stories using the same environment.
- The journey doesn’t end when the sun goes down. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to post-processing, where the raw potential of your files is fully realized. Weatherby walks you through a complete start-to-finish editing workflow, demonstrating how to balance exposures, enhance natural warmth without over-saturating, and recover detail in high-contrast scenes. By the end of Shooting Golden Hour, you won't just be taking photos; you will be creating atmospheric masterpieces that capture the true emotion of the world’s most beautiful light. Elevate your portfolio and gain the confidence to shoot in any golden hour scenario with this essential guide from Pro Photo Courses.
