Okay, so maybe they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but for the photographer early mornings are the best time of the day! As we approach the autumn months, the early mornings provide endless opportunities for creating fantastic images. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing some tips and tricks for making the most out of early morning photography.
Early Morning Photography: The Motive
Early morning makes photography a walk in the park because there are so many ways to capture stunning natural arrangements. Long, crisp shadows, silhouettes, mist and dew—really we’re spoilt for choice! So, if you’re asking yourself ‘why get up at stupid o’clock and go outside to do photography?’ Well, the proof is in the photographic pudding…
There are so many motives for venturing out before dawn in order to photograph the world around us. Not only will you find the early morning a peaceful, rejuvenating time of day, you’ll also find you’re one of the few people out and about. This is great, because you’ll have free reign over your surroundings with minimal distractions. It’s a win-win!
Preparation
Early morning photography requires preparation. Before the golden hour (i.e. sunrise) there’s the blue hour, and the blue hour can be bitterly cold. Make sure to wrap up warm and pack some basic provisions to make your outing as comfortable as possible.
Location
Next comes choosing a location to photograph the early morning. Where possible, head out into nature. Parks, footpaths, woodlands and coastal walks are prime targets. That said, if you’re in a city, the early morning is still a fantastic time to capture urban areas before everyone has woken up.
Wherever you decide to go, having a specific place in mind will make things easier. Think about the places nearby that would look great in the early morning. Go there!
Timing
The key to a successful early morning photography expedition is timing. You’ll want to venture out into the blue hour so you can be on schedule to capture the sunrise. That means knowing what time the sun rises in your area and how long it will take you to arrive at your destination. Also, make sure to look ahead and check the weather for picking the perfect morning!
Subjects
Once you’ve braved the blue hour and are outside in the early morning, here are some subjects to look out for and photograph.
1. Mist
The perfect morning atmosphere isn’t always clear and sunny. Sometimes, early morning mist can add a captivating ambiance to your images. Luckily, most early mornings in autumn and winter tend to be misty and the mist usually clears at sunrise.
Particularly in hilly environments where the landscape dips and falls, early morning mist will reveal the lay of the land and make your images effortlessly atmospheric.
2. Livestock
We’re taking it as a given that you’ve gone out into nature, so where possible, scout out the surrounding farm animals and livestock. Whether they’re horses, pigs, sheep or cows, animals will make great additions to early morning photographs.
Try situating the animals in relation to the sunrise. You’ll create some mesmerising silhouette images like the one above. Likewise, if there are animals in the mist, this too will make for lovely compositions.
3. Spiderwebs
Most of the time, spiderwebs are invisible to the naked eye. Early morning, however, makes spiderwebs not only visible but striking (see below).
Try capturing spiderwebs in the sun at close-quarters. You’ll find endless detail not only in the craft of the cobwebs themselves, but also the droplets of dew that hang from them in the morning.
4. Bodies of Water
Depending on your chosen location, try incorporating bodies of water into your compositions. Ponds, lakes and rivers make for captivating early morning photographs, especially when the sunrise is reflected by the water’s surface.
5. Vantage Points
Again, depending on your location, we recommend scouting out some vantage points where you can go and watch the sunrise. If you own a tripod, this might come in handy for capturing clear, panoramic views of your surroundings. Once you’re there, crack open that flask of tea or coffee you packed earlier and enjoy the view as the world wakes up!
We hope to have shared some helpful tips for making your early morning expedition as successful as possible. Let us know how it goes, and stay tuned for more photography blogs in the future.
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