Magic Hour Explained...

[Alex]

I thought it best to find an "official" explanation of magic hour.

I've now conducted numerous internet searches and I can't seem to find a decent explanation.

The problem is the term "Magic Hour" must be one of the top 10 most stolen phrases! Any combination of words I search with turns up production companies, movies, and books with the name Magic Hour.

I have yet to find one good thorough explanation. So if anyone has a good source/link for a definition of Magic Hour, Please post it on this topic thread.

Thanks in Advance!

[Greg Crawford]

It's the time that David Cooperfield's TV special is on the air, isn't it?

[Greg Crawford]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">Originally posted by Super-8mm in the DigitalAge: Any combination of words I search with turns up production companies, movies, and books with the name Magic Hour.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>Try looking up the one hit wonder group the Emotions, on search engines!


It's the short period of time between daylight and night time, when the sun is below the horizon and yet the sky is still very bright allowing you to get beautiful car shots and even some day for night work done.

The problem is it's not a full hour long. And it's not always a sure thing that you'll get a beautiful look.

On the best days, you get a beautiful shadowless look , the color of the light is on the warm side. Best way to simulate the look is with a strong coral grad filter.

Also try looking up, "Gods Light."

[Alex]

Well, there's also golden hour, which would be when the sun has not set and is close enough to the horizon to give a golden look to the actors.

[Mike Buckles]

Thanks, your explanations have made me "see the light!"...(I know, corny, scripts are my weak point!)

[Greg Crawford]

In still photography, I have often started Shooting in the Golden hour and keep shooting every few min. or so as the light changes, till it's all gone. At the end of the light, try using an 81EF instead of an 85!