The Golden Hour

"In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour) is the first and last hour of sunlight during the day.
Typically, lighting is softer (more diffuse) and warmer in hue, and shadows are longer. When the sun is near the horizon, sunlight travels through more of the atmosphere, reducing the intensity of the direct light, so that more of the illumination comes from indirect light from the sky, reducing the lighting ratio. More blue light is scattered, so that light from the sun appears more reddish. In addition, the sun's small angle with the horizon produces longer shadows."

Well that's the official definition, all I know is that it was absolutely amazing above Wensleydale the other week and I was privileged to be there. It had been quite a miserable sort of day until I left Hawes. Going over the top towards Fleet Moss the sun broke through the clouds and within minutes the light was stunning. Thankfully there is a parking spot at the top of the Hause from which the views just seem to go on forever. From here you really get the feeling you are stood on the top of England.

The following shots are the fruits of my labour. The first five are taken from the top of the Hause, the rest taken farther down the road overlooking Langstrothdale. I had hoped to get a few of Ingleborough looking due south but the sun was directly in front and getting low. Looking back I should have stayed up there for the sunset but I'd had a long day out and really wanted to get nearer home before it got dark and as the photos show, the weather was bitterly cold with a biting wind blowing through.The last shot was taken down in Langstrothdale as the sun was setting.

As usual, I parked up in Kettlewell and had a walk around the village just to get a bit of fresh air before setting off back down Wharfedale and home. I didn't realise fully how good the light had been until I processed my photos later that night.Enjoy!