Blue Hour Quality
Evaluates atmospheric conditions for blue hour photography quality. Scores sky clarity, cloud type suitability (high thin clouds ideal), visibility, and calm conditions.
What is Blue Hour Quality?
Technical detailsBlue Hour Quality assesses atmospheric conditions during the blue hour period for optimal photography results. The score evaluates sky clarity, cloud type and distribution, visibility, wind conditions, and humidity levels to determine how vivid and photogenic the blue hour gradient will appear. High thin clouds can enhance the scene with pink and purple accents, while low thick clouds obscure the gradient entirely.
Templates using this field
Related rule templatesPhotography tip
How to use this conditionEvaluates atmospheric conditions for blue hour photography. Blue hour is best with clear or near-clear skies where the deep blue gradient is unobstructed. High thin clouds can add pink/purple drama. Combine with 'blue_hour: any' for precise event timing.
Blue Hour Quality in photography
In depthBlue Hour Quality is PhotoWeather's specialized metric for evaluating atmospheric conditions during the magical periods just before sunrise and after sunset when the sky displays a deep blue gradient. Unlike simple sunset alerts, this score accounts for the specific atmospheric factors that make blue hour photography successful. The blue hour occurs during civil twilight when the sun is 4-8 degrees below the horizon, creating a window of soft, even light that's ideal for cityscapes, seascapes, and architectural photography. However, the quality of this light varies dramatically based on weather conditions.
Clear skies produce the most saturated blue gradients, allowing photographers to capture that iconic deep blue color that makes blue hour images so striking. High cirrus clouds can actually enhance the scene by catching subtle pink and purple tones while still allowing the blue gradient to dominate, but low stratus clouds create flat gray conditions that eliminate the gradient entirely. PhotoWeather's Blue Hour Quality algorithm evaluates cloud cover at different altitudes, weighing high thin clouds positively and low thick clouds negatively. The score also factors in visibility (haze reduces color saturation), wind conditions (calm air produces sharper long-exposure water reflections), and humidity levels (which affect atmospheric clarity).
Moon illumination and altitude are included as contextual values since a bright moon can compete with the subtle blue tones. Scores above 75% indicate excellent conditions with clear or high-cloud skies and good visibility, perfect for capturing that signature blue hour look. Photographers typically combine this condition with astronomical time period filters to ensure alerts fire during the actual blue hour window. This derived field is essential for urban and landscape photographers who rely on the blue hour's unique lighting qualities for their signature shots.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Blue Hour Quality?
Blue Hour Quality assesses atmospheric conditions during the blue hour period for optimal photography results. The score evaluates sky clarity, cloud type and distribution, visibility, wind conditions, and humidity levels to determine how vivid and photogenic the blue hour gradient will appear. High thin clouds can enhance the scene with pink and purple accents, while low thick clouds obscure the gradient entirely.
How does Blue Hour Quality affect photography?
Evaluates atmospheric conditions for blue hour photography. Blue hour is best with clear or near-clear skies where the deep blue gradient is unobstructed. High thin clouds can add pink/purple drama. Combine with 'blue_hour: any' for precise event timing.
What values are typical for Blue Hour Quality?
Blue Hour Quality typically ranges from 0.0% to 100.0%. PhotoWeather monitors these values to help you identify ideal conditions for your photography goals.
How is Blue Hour Quality calculated?
Blue Hour Quality is an advanced derived condition calculated from multiple weather parameters including Total Cloud Coverage, Low Clouds, Mid-Level Clouds, High Clouds, Visibility. PhotoWeather's algorithms analyze these factors to provide a single, easy-to-understand score for this photography opportunity.
Typical values
Value rangeRelated fields
Similar weather conditionsAurora Quality
Combines aurora activity with viewing conditions (darkness, cloud cover, visibility) to provide photography-ready aurora quality scores. Aurora activity is OVATION-aware from the compute step.
Fiery Red Sky Potential
Atmospheric suitability for fiery red sky conditions across extended time window around sunrise/sunset periods. Enhanced with CAMS aerosol data (AOD, particle composition, Ångström exponent) and GFS upper-air humidity for improved color prediction.
Fog Probability
Multi-factor fog formation likelihood combining visibility, dewpoint spread, humidity, and time-of-day analysis
Golden Hour Potential
Atmospheric suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Golden Clouds Potential
Cloud formation suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Cloud Drama Score
Analysis of cloud formations and atmospheric conditions for dramatic sky photography
Storm Intensity
Storm intensity analysis combining precipitation, wind conditions, atmospheric pressure, visibility, GFS simulated radar reflectivity, and wind shear for enhanced storm organization detection.
Frost Probability
Frost formation probability combining temperature, dewpoint spread, cloud cover, and wind analysis
Rainbow Probability
Probability of visible rainbow formation based on solar geometry and precipitation patterns
Coastal Drama Score
Analysis of coastal conditions combining wave dynamics, atmospheric conditions, and lighting for dramatic seascape photography. Evaluates wave height, swell patterns, spray potential, and atmospheric drama factors.
Atmospheric Clarity Score
Comprehensive atmospheric clarity analysis for landscape and astrophotography using CAMS aerosol optical depth, particle composition (dust, smoke, sea salt), particle size distribution (Ångström exponent), and visibility conditions.
Light Breakthrough Potential
Likelihood of sun breaking through clouds creating dramatic rays and dappled light patterns. Best with partial cloud cover (40-70%) and some sunshine reaching the surface.
Soft Light Index
Quality of diffused light for portrait and product photography. High scores indicate soft, even lighting that minimizes harsh shadows - the 'giant softbox' effect.
Cloud Texture Score
Rates how visually interesting the clouds are - distinguishing dramatic formations from boring flat overcast. High scores indicate structured clouds with good light transmission.
Overcast Flatness
How flat and boring the overcast is. HIGH scores indicate uniform gray sky with no breaks or texture - generally unfavorable for most photography. LOW scores indicate breaks, texture, or clearing.
Total Cloud Coverage
Overall cloud coverage across all altitudes
Moon Illumination
Percentage of moon disc illuminated (0% = new, 100% = full)
Moon Altitude
Moon's elevation angle above horizon
Get started with PhotoWeather
Create rules using Blue Hour Quality and get notified when conditions are perfect for your locations.
Create Free Account