Blue hour
Also known as: twilight, civil twilight
The twilight period just before sunrise or after sunset when the sun is below the horizon and the sky turns deep blue, ideal for calm, moody shots.
Updated
What it means
After the sun sets, the sky keeps glowing for a while. Direct sunlight is gone, but scattered light from the upper atmosphere gives the sky a rich blue color while the land is lit softly and evenly. City lights, headlamps and campfires start to stand out against the blue, creating strong color contrast.
Blue hour follows the warm golden hour in the evening and comes before it in the morning. It is shorter and darker, so it suits slow, calm shots more than fast action.
Its even light and saturated sky make it a favorite for city establishing shots and drone views of lit-up towns.
How it works in practice
Use a tripod or stable drone hover, a lower frame rate and a moderate ISO. For drones, a slow ascent or a gentle orbit over a village with lights coming on is a classic shot. For riders, a final run with a headlamp against the deep blue sky can close a video beautifully.
Set white balance manually, since auto may try to neutralize the blue and turn the scene gray. Expose so the sky keeps its color and the lights do not blow out.
Time-lapses and night lapses that start in golden hour and run through blue hour show the transition from day to night smoothly.
What to watch out for
Light fades quickly, and small sensors soon struggle. Noise rises, and fast motion turns to blur. Plan short, static shots rather than long action sequences.
Strong artificial lights can clip or create halos, especially through dirty lenses. Keep the lens clean and avoid pointing straight at bright lamps.
Auto exposure may keep brightening the scene as it gets darker, destroying the mood. Lock exposure for a consistent look throughout the shot. Check the result on a larger screen afterwards, because dark scenes hide noise and focus problems on a small display, and plan a backup shot in case the first attempt is too dark.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip uses your clips with their natural colors and does not brighten them. A blue hour shot makes a calm ending or opener, and the AI combines it with your action clips in one highlight.