During the evening, the sky unfolds like a magnificent and colourful painting, with its unique colours and changes in light and shadow providing an endless source of inspiration for photography. To truly capture the colours of the evening sky, there are several aspects that need to be considered and put into practice.

Firstly, seizing the right shooting moment is of utmost importance. The colours of the evening sky change in the blink of an eye. From the warm orange afterglow before sunset to the deep blue-purple transition just before nightfall, each moment holds its own unique charm. When the sun is close to the horizon but hasn’t completely set yet, the sky is often tinted orange-red. At this time, the angle of the light is low, which can create long and dramatic shadows, adding layers to the picture. As time passes and the light gradually weakens, cool tones start to slowly infiltrate, and the blue-purple tones blend with the remaining warm tones, forming a dreamy combination of colours. Therefore, arriving at the shooting location in advance, observing the changing trend of the sky’s colours, and patiently waiting for the best shooting moment are the keys.
Choosing the appropriate shooting location can also greatly affect the presentation of the colours of the evening sky. An open view allows you to capture a wider expanse of the sky. Places like the seaside, mountain tops, and grasslands are all excellent choices. In the evening by the seaside, the glistening sea surface reflects the sky, creating a symmetrical and spectacular scene where the colours of the sky are mirrored in the water. On mountain tops, you can get a higher vantage point to overlook the entire city or the outline of the land in the evening afterglow, with the colours of the sky complementing the city lights or the mountain and river scenery. The vastness of the grassland enables the colours of the evening sky to be displayed in the picture without obstruction, forming a sharp contrast with the green of the grass.
When it comes to camera settings, the adjustment of white balance is one of the key factors affecting the colour reproduction of the evening sky. Usually, setting the white balance to the “Cloudy” or “Tungsten” mode can enhance the warm tones of the picture and highlight the orange-red tones of the evening sky more prominently. If you want to emphasize the cool tones during the transition stage of the sky, you can try using the “Fluorescent” mode or manually set a lower colour temperature value. Additionally, exposure compensation also needs to be carefully adjusted. Since the evening sky is brighter while the ground scenery may be relatively darker, appropriately increasing the exposure compensation can make the colours of the sky more vivid and bright, but be careful to avoid overexposure that would cause the sky to lose details.
Composition also plays an important role in presenting the colours of the evening sky. Utilizing foreground elements can enhance the depth and interest of the picture. For example, when shooting at the seaside, you can include seashells, rocks on the beach, or seaside trees in the picture, with the sky as the background, creating a sense of foreground, middle ground, and background. In the city, you can use the outlines of buildings, street lights, or pedestrians as foreground elements, which contrast with the colours of the evening sky and tell a story about the city in the evening. Meanwhile, pay attention to the simplicity of the picture and avoid too many cluttered elements that would distract the viewer’s attention from the colours of the sky.
The use of filters is also an effective means. A polarizing filter can reduce the polarized light in the sky, making the sky’s colours more intense and deepening the contrast of the colours. A graduated filter can balance the exposure between the sky and the ground scenery, making the colour transition of the sky more natural.
Finally, don’t overlook the power of post-processing. In post-processing software, you can make fine adjustments to colour saturation, contrast, etc., to further highlight the colour characteristics of the evening sky. However, it’s important to maintain the natural look of the picture and avoid excessive processing that would lead to colour distortion.
The colours of the evening sky are a precious gift from nature to photographers. As long as we observe carefully, prepare meticulously, and skillfully apply shooting techniques, we can forever freeze those fleeting and beautiful colours in our pictures and create amazing photographic works that allow every viewer to feel the unique charm and poetry of the evening sky.