Blue Hour Fully Explained
The short, blue window that arrives just before and after golden hour: how blue hour works and how to use it.
What blue hour is
Blue hour is the time when the sun is below the horizon but the sky has not yet gone fully dark, so it takes on a deep blue hue. It appears just before the morning golden hour and just after the evening golden hour.
The altitude criterion
Blue hour generally occurs when the sun's altitude is between −6° and −4°. During this time the blue wavelengths of the sky are emphasized, giving cityscapes and landscapes a calm, mysterious mood.
- Morning blue hour: start of civil twilight (−6°) → −4°
- Evening blue hour: −4° → end of civil twilight (−6°)
Shooting tips
Blue hour is very short and passes in just a few minutes. Frame your shot and set up your tripod in advance. The most beautiful moment is when artificial lighting and the remaining sky light are in balance.
Blue hour and golden hour flow into each other, so aiming for both windows lets you capture a variety of colors.