Golden hour is overrated. Try blue hour.

The twenty minutes after sunset, when the sky and the streetlights finally match.

A city skyline in silhouette against a deep blue sky

Everyone goes out at golden hour. Stay out a little longer.

Blue hour is the short time after the sun has set, when the sky turns deep blue and the city lights come on. For about twenty minutes the sky is as bright as the buildings, and everything balances.

How to shoot it

  • Use a tripod or lean on a wall. The light is low.
  • Arrive early and pick your spot while you can still see.
  • Shoot until it is too dark. The best frame is often the last one.
Keep looking

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