Poll: Do you prefer taking pictures at sunrise or sunset?

[Damien_Demolder]

Sun worship isn’t just for ancient cultures. We still do it, lined up on towels, draped backwards over deckchair frames and with eyes shut, on a bench, snatching a fix in the lunch hour. As individuals we’re less connected to the land and the progress of ripening crops, but even in these sophisticated and civilised times, when we pride ourselves on the advancement of humanity and our independence from the natural world, the sun has inescapable power and influence in our lives. No matter how embroiled we are in city life, working all day in air-conditioned chambers, the sun controls our hours, our clothes and our mood.

In built-up areas we don’t get to see the sun as it opens or calls time on the day, but away from man-made obstacles the spectacle is one of the few things we never tire of. Every sunrise and sunset is different, and the drama of the heavens can draw oohs, aahs and the breath from our throats and glaze our eyes. It is humbling to see the sun break the horizon, as it remindsus of our own insignificance next to the magnificent presence of nature.

We publish the results of APOY round 5 this week: (issue dated 31 July 2010) a fantastic set of pictures that proves solar veneration is as alive today as when Stonehenge was just an outline in the dust.

Take part in our poll Do you prefer taking pictures at sunrise or sunset? on the homepage.

Thanks

Damien

[Fen]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

[Terrywoodenpic]

It would depend entirely on the direction of the light falling on the subject.

[Zou]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

Agreed. Although having said that I find sunrises are more beautiful, and I would take more sunrise than sunset pictures if physically possible.

[Fire_Monkey]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

Amen!

[daft_biker]

In built-up areas we don’t get to see the sun as it opens or calls time on the day, but away from man-made obstacles the spectacle is one of the few things we never tire of.

Man-made obstacles?

(the view of the Pentland Hills out my front window at sunset)

[Wheelu]

Living on the east coast, sunrises are the only real option for most of the time, but,as others have said, that involves getting out of bed a tad too early!

[Damien_Demolder]

In built-up areas we don’t get to see the sun as it opens or calls time on the day, but away from man-made obstacles the spectacle is one of the few things we never tire of.

Man-made obstacles?

(the view of the Pentland Hills out my front window at sunset)

Move to Holland!

[Damien_Demolder]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

Amen!

I can't believe you lot are sooo lazy!

[daft_biker]

Move to Holland!

And become a roadie? Much more fun having to get the right conditions at the right time of year to look down a valley and see the sun rising or setting between the hills or something. I'm still working up to that level of familiarity with my surroundings though.

Climbing a hill to get a clear view or heading to the coast would be the easy option if I don't need to work hard to get the sun just where I want it.....I am partial to taking the easy option too sometimes

[boldoneye]

I wake up between 5.00 and 5.30 every day whether i need to or not it's just my bio clock i guess,so as i live on the East coast it's 90% sunrises for me.

[jeff_worsnop]

Sunset.
But pictures probab;y better at sunrise.

[Simon_King]

I prefer sunrise, I don't have a problem getting up (nice to be away from the kids). Also I find there is less likely to be other people around at sunrise which for me is a good thing.

Cheers
Simon

[Benchista]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

That's the practical reality. I can only ever remember once getting up early specifically for sunrise shots, and that was in Bali a long time go. But I do love sunrise light, and enjoy using it when I am up and about, particularly in autumn, with light mist. It's not better or worse than sunset, just different and more subtle - not that subtlety is one of my main characteristics...

[RogerMac]

You do not always have to get up early or go far to get a sunrise shot. This was taken one December morning from my bedroom window

[Mojo_66]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

WHS. I could guarantee if I got up early to shoot a sunrise it would fail to make an appearance

[daft_biker]

Sunset... You don't have to get up so early

WHS. I could guarantee if I got up early to shoot a sunrise it would fail to make an appearance

I'm happy if I get one in three that was worthwhile for landscapes. The other two mornings can be good for macro though

[Taryn]

Sunrise in the winter, because you don't have to get up so early and sunset the rest of the year.

[RovingMike]

Sunset in cities because you can catch the right balance between artificial and ambient light. Most building lights are not on at sunrise.
But sunrise in all other cases.

[swanseadave]

I used to do a lot of early morning shots during my working life when I had to travel five miles up the Swansea Valley every morning.
I was frequently late losing track of time
With a camera in hand,nothing else matters.

Got some nice shots though.

edit.I voted sunrise.