The headtorch lit the way through the darkness as I made my way gingerly along the path towards the loch. It was eerily quiet and as black as coal, with only the vague outline of nearby trees and hills visible against a clear sky. A quick glance at my watch confirmed it was just after 3am so still far too early for the dawn chorus. In these conditions surely photography would be all but impossible at this ungodly hour, especially with no visible light? Well you would be wrong! Totally wrong! I was about to use the camera to capture some wonderful photographs in what is called the Blue Hour.

**‘Clearing Mist’ - Glengavel Reservoir, Lanarkshire**

So what actually is the Blue Hour? It’s that time of day, during twilight, when the shorter blue wavelengths of light from the sun, which is still below the horizon, scatter in the upper atmosphere. The longer red wavelengths from the sun pass directly into space hence creating an attractive blue hue. Our eyes are excellent at adjusting to the ambient light so we barely notice the change in colour however digital camera and smartphone sensors are much more sensitive to this. Sensors have an incredible ability to capture light and colour making photography possible even when you think it’s too dark. Photographs taken at this time have a lovely blue atmospheric colour cast which is ethereal and calming.

When does it occur? It actually occurs twice a day. In the morning about 45 minutes before sunrise and in the evening, roughly 15 minutes after sunset. Although it’s called the blue hour, the peak blue colour effect only lasts anything from between 30 to 40 minutes and the effect can vary in strength during this time. Weather conditions can also affect the intensity of the colour however I’ve often managed to obtain great images shooting in many different conditions. As you will see from the photographs illustrating this article, amazing results can be obtained with both clear and cloudy skies. One of my favourite images shown above titled ‘Clearing Mist’, was published in Outdoor Photography Magazine, and was taken at a local reservoir through the blue hour mist.

**‘High Tide’ - Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire**

How do we capture it? I’m going to state the obvious here and that is you will need to be outside at a time during the blue hour. This is the hardest part as it will either be dark or getting dark. You will need to get up really early or stay out a little later. This is where it definitely pays to identify a great location in advance so your prepared. Sometimes, I’ll shoot a sunset and then stay in that exact same spot to shoot the blue hour, whilst in the morning, I will shoot the blue hour and then wait for the sunrise to happen. No specialist filters are needed or anything like that as your aim is simply to capture the natural light.

Where are the best places to go? It’s possible to take great images almost anywhere although great locations would include expansive rural views with mountains, sky and water to capture some of the nice reflections. Also along the coast, the shore line with incoming waves and rocks, lochs and reservoirs. Silhouettes of distinctive features such as castles and monuments will also work well especially against the sky. If you head out early in the morning you might also encounter mist with still water which could result in truly magical conditions.

**‘Blue Loch’ - Glenbuck Loch, East Ayrshire**

**‘Blue Panoramic’ - Glengavel Reservoir, Lanarkshire**

Can I capture it using my smartphone? Yes, absolutely! Just remember exposure times will be longer due to the darkness and you might need to brace your phone against something to keep it perfectly still. Similar to capturing the Northern Lights, try using modes such as Night Mode, Nightography and even Pro Mode if your more experienced. When I’m using the camera it will be mounted on a tripod to keep it perfectly still and I’m always using Bulb Mode. Exposure times can vary from a minute or less up to several minutes. It’s all about experimenting to see what works best and looks good.

Do I need any specialist equipment? The only equipment you will need is a small torch to help you navigate safely when moving around as it will either be dark when you start or when you finish. Warm clothing and decent footwear are also a must as you want to have fun experimenting and that means staying warm and cosy whilst enjoying the experience. Standing in the freezing cold exposed to the brunt of a chilly wind is definitely not a recipe for creativity.

**‘Rocks Galore’ - Dunure, South Ayrshire**

Photography is about having fun and enjoying being outdoors in nature surrounded by beautiful scenery. Opportunities to take distinctive blue hour photographs are everywhere so make sure you experiment and remember if you don’t succeed at first you can always try again another time. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Have fun!

The Blue Hour

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