Find golden hour today for morning and evening photography. This calculator uses a solar-altitude band from −4° to +6°, which provides a consistent planning window rather than a promise of sixty minutes of golden light.
Solar results
Morning and evening golden hour
In the morning, the window begins as the Sun’s center rises through −4° and ends at +6°. In the evening, it begins as the Sun descends through +6° and ends at −4°. Because both windows cross the horizon, part of each occurs during twilight.
Direct warm-looking light requires the Sun to be visible from your subject. Before sunrise or after sunset, the light comes mainly from the illuminated sky rather than a direct solar beam. That distinction helps you choose between a softly lit sky, a silhouette and a subject lit from the side.
Plan the photograph around the subject
– For side lighting: compare the Sun’s bearing with the face of a building, landscape feature or portrait subject. – For a silhouette: place the brighter sky behind the subject and allow time to set the composition before the light changes. – For long shadows: choose a low positive solar altitude and check whether nearby terrain or structures block the light. – For reflected light: inspect the surfaces around your subject; a bright wall or water can affect the scene even when direct sunlight is limited.
Check the sun direction along with the time. A window may be open on the clock while the Sun is hidden behind a hill from your chosen position.
Why the duration changes
The Sun passes through the altitude band at a different rate depending on latitude and season. Near the equator the transition can be relatively quick. At higher latitudes it can last longer, and some dates may not include both boundary crossings.
A missing start or end is a reason to inspect the detailed events, not to fill in an assumed one-hour interval. In polar regions, the Sun can remain low for an extended period without following a familiar sunrise-and-sunset pattern.
Weather affects the light, not the calculated band
Clouds can scatter or block the direct light that creates a classic golden-hour look. Haze, moisture and the direction of the clear horizon also influence color and contrast. The current weather card gives context but does not rate a future sunset or guarantee warm tones.
For a later evening scene with a blue sky and artificial lights, compare blue hour. The two terms describe neighboring windows with different photographic uses.
Frequently asked questions
Is golden hour always one hour before sunset?
No. Its length changes with the Sun’s path and with the definition being used. This site’s evening window runs from +6° to −4° solar altitude, so it starts before sunset and ends after it.
Why does another golden-hour app give different times?
Golden hour has no single universal altitude definition. Another service may begin or end its interval at a different angle. Compare those conventions before assuming one calculation is wrong.
Can I photograph golden hour on a cloudy day?
You can use the same time window, but the light may look soft or flat rather than warm and directional. Broken clouds and a clear path to the low Sun can produce a different result from solid overcast.
Is morning or evening golden hour better?
That depends on the subject’s orientation, access and local conditions. A facade may catch morning light but be shaded in the evening. Use direction and the available horizon to choose the useful window for your scene.