Chasing Golden Hour from Above

Golden hour from a drone is both easier and harder than shooting from the ground. Easier because you can position anywhere in the sky; harder because battery life and wind often peak at the same time the light does.

Timing your flight

Plan to be airborne 15 minutes before the sun hits the horizon. The warm light on landscape textures is often best in the first five minutes after sunrise, not the last five before sunset.

Exposure strategy

Shoot in manual mode with a fixed white balance (daylight or 5600K). Auto white balance will shift colors as the sun angle changes, making batch editing painful.

Safety first

Low-angle sun can blind you through the live feed. Always maintain visual line of sight and know your return-to-home altitude before the light gets too low to navigate safely.