What Is Golden Hour
The definition of golden hour that photographers love, and when it begins and ends, explained by the sun's altitude.
What golden hour means
Golden hour is the time when the sun sits low near the horizon, so the light is soft and takes on a warm, golden tone. It appears just after sunrise in the morning and just before sunset in the evening.
The altitude-based definition
Golden hour is generally defined as when the sun's altitude is roughly between −4° and +6°. At this point the sunlight travels a long way through the atmosphere, the blue wavelengths scatter away, and the red and yellow wavelengths remain, producing warm colors.
- Morning golden hour: around sunrise → sun altitude +6°
- Evening golden hour: sun altitude +6° → around sunset
How long it lasts
The length of golden hour varies with latitude and season. Near the equator it can be as short as 20–30 minutes, while at high latitudes it can last more than an hour. Check the exact times in the morning and evening golden hour ranges in this calculator.
The soft shadows and warm colors of golden hour are especially good for portrait and landscape photography.