Golden Hour

The light just after sunrise and just before sunset, when sunlight turns amber and shadows stretch long and soft. With the sun low in the sky, light easily comes in from the side or behind, bathing people and landscapes in a warm orange glow. Once the sun drops below the horizon, it gives way to the blue of the blue hour.

The scene seen at an angle from above. The orange marker shows the sun’s direction. The sun shines from front left of the camera, low, just above the horizon.

Camera view. One side of the bunny glows orange, and a long shadow stretches across the ground. The sky is warm too.

How it feels

Warmth
Nostalgia
Romance
Ease
Wistful

When to use it

A person standing against the light
Fields in a western
Rooftops, fields and beaches
Scenes recalling memories

In the movies

Days of Heaven (1978) · Source: Park Circus (YouTube) · Original video

Days of Heaven 1978
Cinematographer Néstor Almendros wrote that Terrence Malick wanted much of the film shot at "magic hour". The magic hour he meant, though, was after sunset, so strictly speaking it is closer to an example of the blue hour.

Not to be confused with

Blue Hour: The time after sunset, with no direct sunlight and only skylight left. It is cool and blue, with almost no shadows.
Magic Hour: Sometimes used to mean the same as golden hour, but it can also mean the short time after sunset before night, so it is easy to confuse.
Color Temperature: Indoor tungsten light is warm too, but golden hour also carries direction: sunlight coming in low and long.

Prompt

Keyword

golden hour

Descriptive

Golden hour. Low amber sunlight from the side, long soft shadows, warm glow on the face.

Try these combinations

Wide shot + golden hour: a walk through the fields
Wide shot, golden hour side lighting, amber warmth at 3200K, a couple walking through a wheat field, long shadows
Medium shot + golden hour backlight: a kitchen by the window
Medium shot, kitchen window backlighting, golden hour glow, a mother making breakfast