Shooting at Sunset

Hi,

Do I have to worry about blinding myself or damaging the camera sensor if shooting a sunset?

Can I use a rule of thumb that if I can look at it with my naked eye then I should be able to shoot it safely? Or is a filter always required?

Thanks


Tony

I think if you can look at it with the naked eye you are safe to shoot it. I've shot portraits into some pretty harsh setting sunlight and never had a problem.

As long as you don't deliberately allow very long exposure of your eyes or sensor to the setting sun, no harm will come of it. Normal photographic behaviour is not an issue.

How many sunset pictures have you seen? How many sunset photographers do you know who are blind in their dominant eye?

Hi,

That is what I anticipated, but just wanted to get the feedback of experience before I gave the following quote a work out:

"Experience is a tough teacher, it gives the test first and the lesson afterwards":p

Cheers

One thing along this line that has come up is a warning not to use Mirror lockup and leave it open for any extended period of time, especially with a telephoto lens -- the sun can do more damage to the shutter that it would to the mirror/viewfinder.

Now I did one time have mirror lockup engaged for longer than I should of when shooting a sunset. I got distracted by something and forgot to finish the shot and then I heard the snap of the shutter automatically closing (I believe it does that after 30 seconds).

Now it would be fun to describe how I had to wave away a bunch of smoke and yank off my lens and stare at a totally destroyed shutter, but sorry, it didn't happen!

I have heard scary stories about how using a Better Beamer flaxh extender, which has a "fresnel" lens at the end of the extension to concentrate the effect of a flash for a telephoto lens, well, I've heard of camers left with them pointing at the sun, and the results on the flash head were not pretty!

Just be sensible, don't point it straight at the sun for too long, and you'll be fine.

Also avoid lazers.

This is why I think Live view comes into play, the only problem is it may, though I don't know if it will damage the sensor. But the eyesight is the most important aspect of photography, so that is why you have to be pre-cautious about looking at the sun via the viewfinder