Golden hour · Seattle
Golden hour
The hour around sunrise and sunset when the sun sits low and the light turns warm and directional, with long shadows, soft contrast, and a gold cast across everything.
Light direction
Backlight for rim
Place the sun behind your subject for a glowing rim of light and separation from the background.
Rake the texture
Shoot across textured surfaces. The low angle exaggerates relief and detail.
Hold the warmth
Lock white balance warm rather than letting auto neutralise the gold.
Golden hour in Seattle on Tue, Jun 23
In Seattle, golden hour runs from 4:47 AM to 6:00 AM in the morning and 8:22 PM to 9:35 PM in the evening. These are local times for Tue, Jun 23.
Use these times as the working window, then use the compass to decide where to stand. Low sun can make a simple frame work, but only if it reaches the side of the subject you care about.
For portraits, start with backlight or side light. For streets and buildings, check which face gets the warm edge. For landscapes, look for texture that the low angle can pull out.
Frequently asked
- What time is golden hour in Seattle?
- Golden hour in Seattle runs from 4:47 AM to 6:00 AM in the morning and 8:22 PM to 9:35 PM in the evening on Tue, Jun 23.
- How long does golden hour last in Seattle?
- Morning golden hour lasts 1h 13m, and evening golden hour lasts 1h 13m in Seattle.
- Is golden hour before or after sunset in Seattle?
- Both. Morning golden hour sits around sunrise, while evening golden hour leads into sunset and can continue briefly as the sun drops low.
- Why check light direction for golden hour in Seattle?
- The time tells you when the light gets good. Direction tells you where to stand, which side of a street or building will catch light, and whether a portrait will be backlit or front-lit.
