How to Predict Great Sunrises and Sunsets for Photography

There’s something magical about sunrises and sunsets. Look at any landscape photographer’s portfolio, and you’re likely to see a lot of sunrise and sunset shots.

However, not every sunrise or sunset is worth capturing. I’m sure you’ve experienced the frustration of an uninspiring scene when you were hoping for something special. In some cases, you may have gotten up early or traveled to reach the location, so those disappointments are also inconvenient.

While nature is always a bit mysterious, there are some things you can do to increase your odds of catching an amazing sunrise/sunset or skipping one that falls short. This guide covers all the details you need to anticipate when the best conditions are likely.

Why Are Some Sunrises and Sunsets More Vibrant Than Others?

The vibrancy and intensity of colors depend on a blend of atmospheric conditions, cloud types, and particles in the air.

• Atmospheric Particles: Dust, water droplets, and pollution scatter sunlight. The type and density of particles determine how much light is scattered and which colors dominate.
• Humidity and Air Clarity: Clean air after a rainstorm allows sunlight to pass through without interference, often yielding vivid colors. Conversely, high humidity can create haze or mist.
• Sunlight and Clouds: When sunlight interacts with high or mid-level clouds, it catches and reflects vibrant warm tones like pinks, oranges, and reds. Without clouds, less light scatters, resulting in a lackluster sky.

What Makes a “Good” Sunrise or Sunset for Photography?

Typically, these are the ideal conditions for photographing a sunrise or sunset:

• Vibrant Colors: Deep reds, glowing oranges, and soft purples or pinks are what we all think of when we imagine a sunrise or sunset photo. Of course, the colors and intensities vary from day to day, so catching the right opportunities will have a big impact on your photos.
• Dramatic Clouds: Wispy or textured clouds reflect the light and make the scene dynamic. They add dimension and drama to your compositions. Cloudless skies are often uninteresting in photos.
• Atmospheric Conditions: A little haze, fog, or mist can create a dreamy, ethereal aesthetic (like the photo below). These elements are especially photogenic in valleys or over water. While this isn’t essential for good photos, you’ll want to take advantage of these situations when they arise.
• A Clear Horizon: A cloud-free horizon ensures that early or late sunlight can break through and light up the sky. Ideally, the clouds will be at a high or medium level.

Key Weather Conditions to Watch

Keeping a close eye on the weather is crucial for predicting when a spectacular sunrise or sunset might occur. By monitoring weather forecasts, cloud patterns, and visibility levels, you can anticipate when these ideal moments are most likely to happen.

Be ready to act quickly when you notice the right conditions. That means you should have batteries charged and your gear ready to go. Ideally, you should also have a few specific nearby locations in mind so you don’t have to waste time deciding where you should go.

Cloud Cover

The ideal cloud cover for sunrise or sunset photography is about 30–70%. This balance offers enough clouds to catch the light while leaving gaps for sunlight to shine through.

Avoid completely overcast skies, which lead to dull photos with no color. Totally clear skies are also not ideal, as there are no clouds to reflect the colors, and the photo may look flat or boring (like the example below).

Cloud Types

Not all clouds are equal. Some are better for sunset and sunrise photos than others: High and mid-level clouds reflect the most color, often creating vivid, painterly skies. Low clouds tend to obscure light and can make the sky feel heavy, dull, and unremarkable.

Thin, wispy clouds are often the best for sunrise and sunset photography. These delicate clouds allow light to pass through and scatter beautifully, creating vibrant, colorful displays. Thick clouds, on the other hand, can block out much of the sunlight, often muting the colors or even obscuring the scene entirely.

Humidity

High humidity can create a hazy effect that softens the colors of a sunrise or sunset. While this might add a dreamy, ethereal quality to photographs, excessive moisture in the air can sometimes reduce visibility and mute the colors in the sky. Lower humidity tends to create more vibrant colors.

Temperature Changes

Cool temperatures meeting warm air often create ground fog or mist, especially over valleys or water. These atmospheric phenomena can add a mystical vibe to your sunrise photos.

Look for areas like valleys, meadows, or lakes where the mist might settle. Early morning light can cast warm, golden hues that beautifully illuminate the fog, adding depth and drama to your composition.

Storms and Clearing Weather

Some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets occur just after a storm. Rain, as it clears, washes out excess particulates from the air, creating cleaner and more vibrant skies. The breaking clouds also introduce plenty of texture and drama into your compositions.

Tools and Resources to Help

A variety of tools can help you predict when and where to catch prime conditions.

Weather Apps and Websites

• Use detailed weather apps or websites to track cloud cover, humidity, and visibility.
• For specific sunrise/sunset conditions, check out SunsetWx for forecast maps indicating color intensity.

Photography-Specific Apps

• Alpenglow rates sunrise/sunset quality as poor, fair, good, or great.
• PhotoPills and The Photographer’s Ephemeris offer detailed information about light direction, timing, and location.
• Skyfire provides forecasts for light and color.

Local Weather Knowledge

Understand your area’s weather patterns. For instance, some places often experience foggy mornings, while others benefit from clear skies after rain. Get to know the weather patterns in your area, and you’ll be more effective at spotting the best opportunities.

Timing and Positioning

Being in the right place at the right time is a big part of landscape photography, and you don’t want to rely on luck. You can take advantage of the best opportunities by being prepared and making sure you’re where you need to be.

The richest colors typically occur 10-20 minutes before sunrise or after sunset. If you’re heading out to photograph the sunrise, plan to be in position 30-45 minutes before sunrise. Be sure to consider how long it will take you to get to the exact spot you want to photograph from (for example, it may involve a short hike).

If you’re capturing the sunset, don’t pack up your gear and head out the moment the sun dips below the horizon. Wait at least 20-30 minutes to ensure you don’t miss the best display of color.

Apps like PhotoPills can help you determine where the sun will rise or set to prepare your shot. This is really helpful for scouting, so you can think about the specific shot or composition ahead of time rather than scrambling while the best colors fade.

When to Skip It

Some conditions make sunrise or sunset photos dull. These conditions might encourage you to stay home and save the effort for another day:

• Thick Low Clouds: The light will struggle to break through if the clouds completely cover the sky.
• Full Overcast Skies: If the cloud cover is 80% or higher, the conditions probably aren’t ideal for photos.
• Clear Skies: While these can work for minimalism, they rarely offer the dramatic skies you’re after.
• Poor Air Quality: Dust, smoke, or pollution can sap the vibrancy from the colors and reduce visibility.

The Beauty of Unpredictability

Nature has a mind of its own. Even though there are ways to anticipate a good sunrise or sunset, it’s never a sure thing. When you’re unsure, err on the side of going out. You’ll rarely regret taking a chance on the weather, but you’ll certainly regret not going out when the sunrise or sunset turns out to be spectacular.