Camera
Sun & Golden Hour Planner
Sunrise, sunset and golden-hour windows for any location and date.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
How to use
- Search a city or enter your coordinates.
- Set the date you plan to shoot.
- Read the sunrise, sunset, golden hour and blue hour windows for that day.
- Drag the time scrubber to read the sun elevation, azimuth and shadow direction at any moment, and plan around the soft light.
Examples
- Golden hour after sunrise gives long shadows and warm, low light, ideal for flattering portraits and texture on landscapes without harsh contrast.
- Blue hour just after sunset balances ambient sky with practical lights, the classic window for city and architecture shots.
- The azimuth and shadow direction let you line up a backlit hero shot, or know which way faces will be lit, before you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
What is golden hour?
It is the period soon after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low, so light travels through more atmosphere and turns soft, warm and directional. It is short and changes by season and latitude, which is why planning the exact window matters.
What do elevation and azimuth tell me?
Elevation is how high the sun sits above the horizon, which sets shadow length and light quality. Azimuth is its compass bearing, which tells you exactly where it will rise, sit and set, so you can place backlight and predict shadow direction.
How accurate are the times and angles?
The tool uses a standard NOAA solar model and your coordinates, accurate to about a minute and a degree on flat terrain. Hills and tall buildings on your horizon can shift the practical moment slightly.
