Photographing the sunset is pretty easy, just point your camera at the setting sun right? Well, if it were that easy we'd all be Ansel Adams. The truth is, like any scene, sunsets have their own unique set of possibilities and problems.

To get the most out of your sunset shots, follow our handy set of tips on how to photograph sunsets like a master.

===Show up ahead of time===

Composing a great shot takes time and when the sun is setting light changes rapidly. Pick a likely location head of time and figure out what you want to include in your shot so that when the light starts to fade, you're ready.

Add a compass to your camera bag and when you're out scouting during the day you can check to see where in the scene the sun will set.


===Turn off the flash===

Sometimes fill flash can be used to illuminate the foreground in a sunset shot, but by and large, the flash is your enemy when it comes to sunset shots, so leave it off.

===Be patient===

Colors are usually deepest at the end of a sunset. While that shouldn't stop you from snapping a few image as the sunset comenses, be sure to stick around for the whole show because the best part is generally the end.

===Turn around===

Depending on where you are, there may be some after-sunset color as well. Especially in the mountains, just after sunset a phenomenon called "alpen glow" often appears for few fleeting moments. The counter-intuitive part is that alpen glow occurs on the ''opposite'' horizen from where the sunset. 

The term Alpen Glow is sometimes used to refer to sunset light seen on the mountains, but true alpenglow is not direct sunlight at all and is only seen after sunset or before sunrise.


===Use your camera's spot meter===

Sunsets lend themselves to silhouettes -- a lone soul strolling the beach, a tree against the sky and so on. But most camera's will automatically adjust to the lower light level and ruin your silhouette.

Most cameras average light readings from various points in a scene. If possible switch your camera to spot mode so that the center is weighted and you can control the exposure even with a point-and-shoot.

If that's not possible, point your camera a the brightest part of the sky and then press the shutter button halfway to lock in the light reading. Then, keep the shutter half pressed, come down and frame your shot to achieve a nice silhouette.

===Future Outlook===

Smarter cameras will eventually recognize when you're taking a photograph of a sunset and adjust accordingly, offering a silhouette mode or ways to over-saturate color for more intense sunsets.