Sydney Opera House – getting a perfect shot

Australia’s Sydney Opera House is one of the most photographed monuments in the world, with millions of tourists flocking to Sydney Harbour at all times of the year in order to snap the perfect shot of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, any avid photographer will know that in order to capture the perfect image, you not only need to be in the right spot at the right angle, but you also need to be there at exactly the right time. In this blog, we’ll be taking a look at the best times to photograph the Sydney Opera House so that you can capture an image that you’ll be proud of.

In the travel photography trade, lighting is everything, so it’s important to consider which time of day you want to photograph the Sydney Opera House, as well as what time of year you are going to visit it. Planning ahead is essential, so it’s worth taking a look at SunCalc and SkippySky to check the position of the sun and the amount of cloud cover when you’re planning to shoot.

Time of day

Sunrise

Every time of the day will present its own unique opportunities and challenges, so it’s a good idea to venture out to your perfect spot even when the lighting may not be perfect. In the early morning, the sun is not directly overhead, and so the light in the sky will come from a lower angle resulting in high contrast lighting effect. Not every camera can handle such a great lighting difference so try taking several images adjusting the exposure up or down to capture all levels of lighting. This will improve the dynamic range of your final image and give the subject (in this case, the Opera House) a more even lighting from all angles. Shooting your images at sunrise can make them appear more vibrant and can make the colours stand out more.

Sunset

In the evening, there is a higher contrast between light and dark areas, so if you’re looking to create an effect with sharper shadows, it’s better to take your images later on in the day. In the early hours, the air is much clearer than it is in the evening as human activity builds up during the day. This can cause an increase in the number of particles and pollutants that circulate the atmosphere, creating a haze in the sky that acts as a huge diffuser to soften the sunlight. Because of this, photographs that are taken in the ‘golden hour’ during sunset will take on a warm glow as the sun gets lower, creating more harmonious highlights and shadows. This change in colour temperature can also create a more dramatic mood for your image.

Time of year

Planning ahead comes more directly into play when you’re deciding what time of year to take your photos, as each season will have its own unique lighting effects. The most popular times of the year for travel and landscape photographers to take pictures is autumn and spring. This is primarily due to the fact that the skies are likely much clearer and there is a much higher chance of capturing a colourful sky.

Autumn

In Autumn, the harsh light of the summer softens into a more mellow disposition, the crowds of tourists at Sydney Harbour will have died down and the changing weather can create some unpredictable but dramatic conditions.

Spring

Golden hour is the perfect time to take photographs in the spring season to give your images a golden glow. Many photographers are put off taking photos when the skies are cloudy in spring, but this can actually help to diffuse the light to remove any harsh shadows from your images.

Summer

Summer is the most difficult season to photograph in, due to many reasons. The hot climate and airborne pollen can lead to dust and particles floating in the air, while the harsh lighting can create unflattering shadows.

Winter

Winter has the best visibility of all the seasons and is best for taking photos at a distance due to the clear skies. Vivid Sydney festival is also in winter, so it’s a great time of year to watch the city come to life.

Wrapping it Up

No matter what time of the day or the year is, you will be able to get a good shot of the Sydney Opera House if you get prepared beforehand.

At City Vista Photography, we have a huge array of images and timelapse videos of Sydney’s most famous landmarks available for licencing, so make sure you get in touch today.