Cheat sheet · Landscape & nature

Camera settings for sunrise photography

Arrive in the dark: the best colour often happens 20–30 minutes before the sun appears.

ModeManual or Aperture priority
Aperturef/8–f/11
ISO100
White balanceDaylight
Bracketing±2 EV
Quick start: Arrive in the dark: the best colour often happens 20–30 minutes before the sun appears.

Starting exposures#

Typical scene brightness for this situation is around EV 11. Use these as a first test shot, then check the histogram.

ApertureISO 100ISO 400ISO 1600ISO 6400
f/1.41/1000 s1/4000 stoo brighttoo bright
f/2.81/250 s1/1000 s1/4000 stoo bright
f/5.61/60 s1/250 s1/1000 s1/4000 s
f/81/30 s1/125 s1/500 s1/2000 s
f/111/15 s1/60 s1/250 s1/1000 s

Step by step#

  1. Check blue-hour start time.
  2. Set up and compose in the dark.
  3. Shoot through blue hour into golden hour.

Gear checklist#

  • Tripod
  • Head torch
  • ND grad

Pro tips#

  • Mist and fog often form over water at dawn.

Common mistakes#

  • Arriving at the published sunrise time — the show is over.
Sunset photographyExpose for the sky, protect highlights and keep shooting 20 minutes after the sun dips for… Fog and mistFog tricks meters into underexposure: add +0.7 to +1.3 EV and look for simple shapes.…

Frequently asked questions#

What are the best camera settings for sunrise photography?

Aperture: f/8–f/11 · ISO: 100. Arrive in the dark: the best colour often happens 20–30 minutes before the sun appears.

What gear do I need for sunrise photography?

Tripod, Head torch, ND grad.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources