What is blue hour? Examples and tips for your photography and social media.

Summary/Overview

Blue hour gives photographers a unique opportunity to take advantage of some of the most spectacular and atmospheric natural lighting conditions. Learn more about what blue hour means, when it happens, and how to use it to create stunning shots for social media posts, marketing and more.

Make the most of this natural phenomenon with free editing tools from Adobe Express and make your social media marketing shine.

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What is blue hour?

Blue hour is a time period when there are unique light properties – just before the sun rises, and just after it sets. The best light usually occurs around half an hour before this happens, but it’s recommended to shoot an hour before to make the most of the light.

The deep blue pre-dawn and twilight skies give a strong blueish cast and diffused light effects to your images that are hard to recreate at any other time, no matter what equipment you use.

Blue hour occurs twice daily – when the elevation of the sun from the horizon is between -4 degrees and -6 degrees, or when it is just below the horizon. This typically lasts somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes, so you won’t have much time to get the ideal shots.

These spectacular changes in light occur due to Rayleigh scattering, which is what makes the sky appear blue during the day. The wavelengths of light cause unique colours to form, and at blue hour, most of the warmer colours such as red and orange are almost invisible, creating a blue light that can be used for some innovative photography.

Blue hour vs. golden hour.

Golden hour is the opposite of blue hour in terms of the types of light effects you’ll experience.

Golden hour is the time just after sunrise or just before sunset, when the light patterns are softer and warmer. This is considered one of the prime times to take outdoor photographs, as this type of light and the direction it comes from makes it almost impossible to over or under-expose a shot.

It’s also a very flattering light for most skin tones, so photographing people can be easier.

Golden hour typically occurs when the sun is between -6 degrees and 6 degrees from the horizon.

In contrast, blue hour has a darker, more mysterious light, which can create intriguing contrasts and images that are very different to those taken just an hour earlier or later in the day.

This term is often used interchangeably with civil twilight, although that is not entirely correct. Technically, civil twilight is when the sun is at an elevation of between -6 degrees and zero degrees, while blue hour lasts for only a small portion of that time.

How long does blue hour last?

The length of time blue ‘hour’ lasts can vary, from anywhere between 10-15 minutes to around 45 minutes. However, it is very rarely a full hour. The factors that affect how long blue hour lasts include:

• Latitude
• Season
• Weather
• Air quality

Generally, the higher your latitude, the longer blue hour will last, while those closer to the equator will experience shorter blue hours.

Close to the poles, there will be months of the year where blue hour occurs only once per day, or even not at all, when light is available either for almost 24 hours or not at all in summer or winter. However, for around 90% of the world, blue hour will occur twice daily.

Check out these blue hour & golder hour inspired template ideas.

Why use blue hour for your social media posts?

Blue hour can be a great time of day to capture atmospheric posts for social media and, depending on your colour palette, retain your brand identity.

Stand out from the crowd with unique natural lighting effects that capture the eye and help get your posts seen. While not always suitable for every post, utilising blue light for appropriate posts can help ensure you’re seen and remembered.

The blue light acts as a natural filter, which can make other colours pop. Make your brand colours stand out and appear more vibrant naturally, for social media shots that people will be talking about.

Subjects for blue hour social posts.

There’s no hard and fast rule about what subjects will be best captured during blue hour. However, shots that include some artificial or alternative light can work very well.

One of the key appeals of blue hour is the colour contrast you get in the sky, with the blue tones contrasting with your artificial light source.

The following subjects could work well for your next blue hour social media post:

• The moon – if this is visible in the sky at blue hour, you could get some interesting shots.
• Cityscapes – artificial lights in windows and on the streets can provide a warm contrast to the light at blue hour.
• Buildings – as with cityscapes, the lights work well at this time of day to create unique shots.
• Mountains and trees – if you can frame mountains or trees in the foreground of your shot, you should be able to frame them with the unique blue tones of the sky.

Blue hour photography tips for social media.

Blue hour photography for social media can help make your posts stand out from the crowd. They will capture attention, look totally different to your standard daytime shots, and provide a contrast to other people’s posts and to other posts within your own social media channels.

As blue hour only offers a limited timeframe in which to get your shot, you need to be prepared.

Planning and preparation.

In preparation for your blue hour photography shoot, be sure to research when it will occur and have all your equipment set up and your ideas ready beforehand.

Timing.

Blue hour itself could last anywhere from 10-15 minutes to as long as 45 minutes. Professionals recommend you start taking shots around an hour before blue hour, so you can get your eye in and be 100% ready once that stunning light effect begins.

Camera settings.

To capture the soft, diffused blue hour light, you will need a relatively wide aperture and a slower shutter speed than when taking shots in the daylight.

Composition/technique.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your exposure settings, especially as the levels of light begin to change.

Artificial light.

Incorporating some artificial light into your blue hour shots will provide a contrast that’s hard to beat.

Filters.

Blue hour light almost provides a natural filter, so some shots may not require one at all. When you do need a filter, you can find them for free on Adobe Express.

Editing.

Once you have your shots, you can use the Adobe Express free photo editing software to turn them into stunning social media posts, marketing materials and more.

Check out these blue hour-inspired template ideas.

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Useful things to know.

When is the best time for blue hour photography?

Blue hour occurs twice daily, in the time before the sun rises and just before it properly sets. This will change as the length of days changes – it’s recommended to start shooting around an hour before to ensure you capture the start.

Do I need equipment for blue hour photography?

Aside from your camera and lenses, the most important piece of equipment for blue hour photography is a tripod. As you’re shooting in low light, it’s essential to prevent shots from being grainy or noisy.

Is blue hour at the same time every day?

No – blue hour is the time when the sun begins to dip below the horizon at twilight or just before it rises at dawn, so the actual time varies as the days lengthen and shorten throughout each year.

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