Live Golden Hour Calculator
Today's Golden Hour Windows
Location: Lat 40.7128°, Lng -74.006°
🌅 Morning Golden Hour
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Occurs as the sun rises from -4° below horizon up to +6° above horizon.
🌇 Evening Golden Hour
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Occurs as the sun sets from +6° above horizon down to -4° below horizon.
How to Shoot During Golden Hour
Golden hour is the photographer's favorite window because sunlight is diffused and warm. Arrive 20 minutes early, shoot RAW, and use shade/cloudy white balance to preserve amber tones. Pair with our city pages for exact local windows.
Golden Hour Frequently Asked Questions
Golden Hour occurs when the Sun sits between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 degrees below the horizon.
At low solar angles, light travels through a thick slice of Earth's atmosphere. Rayleigh Scattering removes short blue wavelengths, passing long golden and red wavelengths.
Set your camera white balance to "Shade" (6000K) or "Cloudy" (6500K). Avoid Auto White Balance (AWB), which neutralizes the natural golden warmth.