Tulane University graduate John Gandolfo is the operations manager at G&G Duct Cleaning in Long Island City, New York. He has increased gross earnings of the company by 20 percent each year since he accepted a leadership role several years ago. In his free time, John Gandolfo is an avid photographer and he frequently takes pictures of buildings and other sights in and around New York City.
Any outdoor photography relies heavily on the natural light that is available when photographers are out shooting. The so-called golden hour is one of the few times of the day when natural light is perfect for many types of outdoor photography. It is excellent when shooting city scenes and landscapes, but can also be used for outdoor portraits, pictures of plants and flower, and some still lifes.
There are typically two golden hours each day, one right after sunrise and one before sunset. Each time period lasts for about an hour depending on the season and creates a soft, diffused light. This light is much less harsh than light during the middle of the day, but it also produces less contrast. For this reason, pictures taken during the golden hour may have strong shadows or highlights that disguise a picture’s main subject.
Although the golden hour is well-known to photographers, it’s not the only time good natural light can be found. The blue hour occurs right before the golden hour of sunrise and right after the golden hour during sunset. At these times, all the sun’s rays are reflected to the Earth, so the clouds and sky are extra blue. Meanwhile, light at this time is at its softest.
