In photography, the term “golden hour” refers to the period shortly after sunrise or just before sunset during which daylight becomes softer. When the sun is close to the horizon, sunlight travels through a greater depth of atmosphere, reducing the intensity of the direct light. Because the contrast is less during the golden hour, shadows become lighter and highlights are less likely to be overexposed.
Staff photographer Pawan Singh demonstrates the use of golden-hour light in this photograph of a dusty game of cricket, taken at Kaimbwala village, behind Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, India.
* James O’Hara, photo editor
