Golden Clouds Potential
Cloud formation suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
What is Golden Clouds Potential?
Technical detailsGolden Clouds Potential specifically evaluates cloud formations for golden hour photography, focusing on cloud amount, distribution, and type. Unlike Golden Hour Potential which assesses overall atmospheric quality, this Pro-tier metric targets the ideal cloud scenario: scattered mid and high clouds that catch golden light without obscuring the sun, creating dramatic textured skies with warm illumination. The algorithm analyzes cloud cover at each altitude and visibility to predict photogenic cloud displays.
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How to use this conditionEvaluates cloud formations for golden hour photography regardless of exact timing. Combine with 'golden_hour: any' for optimal event timing. Best results with 30-60% cloud coverage distributed across multiple layers.
Golden Clouds Potential in photography
In depthGolden Clouds Potential is PhotoWeather's Pro-tier metric designed for photographers seeking the ultimate golden hour scenario: dramatic cloud formations illuminated by warm, low-angle sunlight. While clear skies produce clean golden hour light, experienced landscape and seascape photographers know that the most stunning golden hour images often feature clouds—but only the right clouds in the right configuration. This is where Golden Clouds Potential excels, predicting when cloud conditions will enhance rather than ruin golden hour photography.
The ideal golden hour cloud setup features scattered mid-level or high-level clouds that catch and reflect the warm light without blocking the sun. These clouds act as a canvas for color, turning pink, orange, and gold while allowing directional golden light to illuminate the landscape. Low clouds, by contrast, often obscure the sun entirely, eliminating golden hour light and creating flat gray conditions. Overcast skies similarly block all golden illumination. PhotoWeather's algorithm evaluates cloud cover at low, mid, and high altitudes separately, scoring based on photographic impact: mid and high clouds in moderate amounts (30-60% coverage) score highly, low clouds score negatively, and total cloud cover above 80% drastically reduces the score. Visibility contributes to the score by indicating atmospheric clarity—haze reduces color saturation and contrast in cloud displays. The algorithm also considers cloud distribution patterns: patchy scattered clouds create dynamic compositions with light and shadow, whereas uniform cloud layers produce flat, uninteresting skies.
For Pro users, horizon probe sampling checks cloud conditions specifically toward the sun, ensuring that clouds are positioned to catch golden light rather than block it. Scores above 85% indicate exceptional conditions where clouds will create dramatic, colorful skies during golden hour. Photographers typically combine this condition with solar elevation filters to time their shoot for when the sun is 6-10 degrees above the horizon, the sweet spot where golden light is strongest and clouds are most brilliantly illuminated. This derived field is essential for landscape photographers chasing those iconic golden hour images with textured, glowing skies that elevate a scene from good to extraordinary.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Golden Clouds Potential?
Golden Clouds Potential specifically evaluates cloud formations for golden hour photography, focusing on cloud amount, distribution, and type. Unlike Golden Hour Potential which assesses overall atmospheric quality, this Pro-tier metric targets the ideal cloud scenario: scattered mid and high clouds that catch golden light without obscuring the sun, creating dramatic textured skies with warm illumination. The algorithm analyzes cloud cover at each altitude and visibility to predict photogenic cloud displays.
How does Golden Clouds Potential affect photography?
Evaluates cloud formations for golden hour photography regardless of exact timing. Combine with 'golden_hour: any' for optimal event timing. Best results with 30-60% cloud coverage distributed across multiple layers.
What values are typical for Golden Clouds Potential?
Golden Clouds Potential typically ranges from 0.0% to 100.0%. PhotoWeather monitors these values to help you identify ideal conditions for your photography goals.
How is Golden Clouds Potential calculated?
Golden Clouds Potential 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.
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.
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
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.
Low Clouds
Cloud coverage below 2km altitude
Mid-Level Clouds
Cloud coverage between 2-6km altitude
High Clouds
Cloud coverage above 6km altitude (cirrus)
Solar Elevation
Sun's angle above horizon (0° = horizon, 90° = zenith)
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