Weekly Email - 3-30-12 - Magic Blues

One of the best times to shoot is widely known as  “magic hour” (or the golden hour). That first and last hour of sunlight, when the suns low angle to the earth bathes the sky - and everything below it - in gorgeous, warm, diffused “magical” light.  The stunning effect of gold, red, yellow and even blue hues this special light produces is what lures many photographers for the opportunity to create an amazing image.

During recent travels, I found myself up in the early wee hours of the morning and decided not to let that sweet light go to waste. There are several images from this shoot posted on my blog but the image below I had shot on the cusp of sunrise producing a brilliant sapphire blue sky and warm glow surrounding the plane.

If you’re not much of a morning person, don’t’ despair! Another way you can create a similar blue-toned look is to use a polarizer filter. This simple little filter is a fun way to turn up the drama of any ordinary image. Take a look at the photos below to compare how the red of the crane pops and the building loses its reflective effect when using the polarizer.
My post with many other images from Dulles and around Magic Hour is here:

http://brandonremler.blogspot.com/2012/03/stuck-in-dulles-with-my-fujifilm-x-pro1.html

Fujifilm X-Pro1 at ISO 1000 - F/2.0 @ 1/34th - 18mm lens
Fujifilm X-Pro1 at ISO 250 - F/5.6 @ 1/420th - 18mm lens