Yesterday I took this image at the end of the day as the sun was setting… this time of day is commonly referred to as the ‘golden hour of photography.’ Wikepedia defines it as “the first and last hour of sunlight during the day, when a specific photographic effect is achieved with the quality of the light.” 

As you can see, the light looks warm and golden. This is caused by the low angle of the sun. Another result of the sun’s position  during this time of day is the soft and gradual transition between shadows and highlights. This also creates long and exaggerated shadows. In contrast when the sun is directly overhead (at noon) the light is harsh, creating dark, pronounced shadows.

To find the golden hour in your location go to the golden hour calculator.

Today I came across a post on the Mastering Multimedia site with tips on improving your photography. Take a look!

A large group, including the Chancellor suprised Dr. Ed DePeters’ class yesterday afternoon to announce that DePeters is the recipient of the 2009 Teaching Prize Award. DePeters’ research focuses on lipids found in milk with much of his work centered around dairy cows. With that in mind, the celebration included a brown spotted cake and cartons of milk.

A note to fellow photographers: As a student photographer, I learned a hard lesson when shooting in undesirable weather - come prepared! Shooting in cold wet weather isn’t fun, but it is much better when you are wearing a poncho and gortex boots. Also, don’t forget about protecting your gear. Plastic garbage bags come in handy and you can hide your gear under your poncho when you aren’t shooting. Remember, you aren’t going to be able to shoot with an umbrella.