GoldCast · Blue Hour Guide
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What Is Blue Hour Photography?

The 20–40 minutes after sunset when the sky goes deep blue and city lights come alive. LightCast GoldCast times both blue hour and golden hour for your location so you can plan a continuous shoot.

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What it is and why it works

The Window Most Photographers Miss

Blue hour starts the moment golden hour ends — at sunset — and lasts until the sky transitions to near-black. Most photographers pack up at sunset. The window they leave behind is often the most technically useful one of the day: soft, even ambient light, no harsh shadows, and artificial lights that have just activated and balanced naturally against the sky.

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Why Cityscapes Love Blue Hour
Building interiors, streetlights, and signs turn on at or just after sunset. During blue hour, those artificial lights and the ambient sky are within the same dynamic range your camera can capture in a single exposure. An hour later it's full dark and the contrast becomes extreme. Blue hour is the only window where both coexist comfortably.
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Architecture and Long Exposure
The soft, directionless ambient light during blue hour means no harsh shadows on building facades. Long exposures of 5–30 seconds smooth out any movement and produce silky water and light trails in urban environments. The deep blue sky gradient is a distinctive look that reads as cinematic even in still images.
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Reflections and Still Water
Blue hour's even light and the absence of wind that often comes with the evening calm make it excellent for reflection photography. Still water turns the deep blue sky into a mirror. Lakes, harbours, and wet pavement all work. The colours are cooler and more monochromatic than golden hour but often more dramatic in urban contexts.
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It's Short — Timing Matters
The usable blue hour window is typically 20 to 40 minutes. Arrive on location before sunset so you can shoot through golden hour and directly into blue hour without losing the transition. GoldCast marks both windows so you know exactly when to be ready for each phase.
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Blue hour vs golden hour

Different Tools for Different Subjects

Golden hour is warm, directional, and dramatic. Blue hour is cool, even, and cinematic. They're not competing — they're consecutive. The best approach is to arrive an hour before sunset, shoot through golden hour, stay for the transition, and continue into blue hour. GoldCast times both and scores golden hour forecast quality so you know whether the full sequence is worth planning around.

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GoldCast Push Alerts
Get notified when tonight's conditions look strong. GoldCast scores golden hour quality and times both windows for your location — so you know whether to plan around the full golden-to-blue sequence or skip it.
Common Questions
What is blue hour in photography?
The 20–40 minute window after sunset when the sky is deep blue and ambient light is soft and even. Best for cityscapes, architecture, and long exposure where a lit sky and activated artificial lights need to balance. LightCast GoldCast times both blue hour and golden hour — free on the web or in the iOS app.
When does blue hour start?
Exactly at sunset — blue hour begins the moment golden hour ends. GoldCast shows the precise start and end time for both windows for your location and date so you can plan a continuous shoot through both.
How long does blue hour last?
Typically 20 to 40 minutes at US mid-latitudes. Shorter near the equator, potentially much longer at high latitudes in summer. Arrive before sunset so you don't lose time getting to your location during the window.
What settings should I use for blue hour photography?
ISO 400–1600 depending on aperture, shutter speeds of 2–30 seconds on a tripod, aperture at f/8–f/11 for sharpness on architecture. The key is balancing ambient sky brightness with artificial light sources — experiment with exposure during the window and bracket if conditions change quickly.
What is LightCast GoldCast?
GoldCast calculates golden hour and blue hour windows for any location, scores forecast quality, and sends push alerts when conditions look strong. Free on web at lightcastsuite.com/goldcast, with push notifications in the LightCast iOS app. $2.99/month after a 7-day free trial.
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Know when to stay after sunset.

Golden hour timing · Blue hour timing · Sunset quality score
Push notifications · Saved locations · Cloud & clarity forecast

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