Golden Hour Potential
Atmospheric suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
What is Golden Hour Potential?
Technical detailsGolden Hour Potential evaluates atmospheric conditions for high-quality golden hour light regardless of exact solar timing. The score assesses cloud cover at different altitudes (some clouds enhance the scene, too many obscure it), visibility for color saturation, wind for stable shooting conditions, and humidity for atmospheric clarity. This metric focuses on whether the atmosphere will support beautiful golden light when the sun reaches the right elevation.
Templates using this field
Related rule templatesPhotography tip
How to use this conditionEvaluates atmospheric conditions for golden hour photography regardless of exact timing. Combine with 'golden_hour: any' for clean event timing.
Golden Hour Potential in photography
In depthGolden Hour Potential is PhotoWeather's specialized metric for forecasting atmospheric quality during golden hour, designed for photographers who need to know not just when golden hour occurs, but whether weather conditions will allow the signature warm, directional light to shine through. Golden hour—the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon—produces soft, warm light that's ideal for portraits, landscapes, and architecture. However, the quality of this light depends heavily on atmospheric conditions that standard weather forecasts don't address.
Clear skies provide clean, warm illumination, but some clouds can actually enhance golden hour by adding texture, color, and drama to the sky. The challenge is predicting the right amount of cloud cover: too many clouds obscure the sun entirely, while the ideal scenario features scattered mid or high clouds that catch golden light without blocking it. PhotoWeather's algorithm evaluates cloud cover at low, mid, and high altitudes, scoring each based on its effect on golden light transmission and sky aesthetics. Visibility is critical for color saturation—haze and pollution dull the warm tones that define golden hour, so higher visibility scores correlate with richer colors. Wind conditions matter for practical photography reasons: calm conditions allow for stable tripod work and smooth water reflections, while gusty winds complicate long exposures and portrait work. Relative humidity affects atmospheric clarity and can introduce haze that softens golden light.
For Plus and Pro users, PhotoWeather enhances accuracy with horizon probe sampling, checking cloud cover and visibility specifically toward the sun to predict conditions along the golden light path. Scores above 80% indicate excellent atmospheric conditions with clear or ideally-clouded skies and good visibility. Photographers typically combine this condition with the boolean golden_hour field for precise timing, using Golden Hour Potential to filter for days when the atmosphere supports beautiful light, then using the time-based filter to catch the exact window. This derived field is essential for photographers planning golden hour shoots, ensuring they chase conditions that deliver the warm, glowing light that makes this time of day legendary.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Golden Hour Potential?
Golden Hour Potential evaluates atmospheric conditions for high-quality golden hour light regardless of exact solar timing. The score assesses cloud cover at different altitudes (some clouds enhance the scene, too many obscure it), visibility for color saturation, wind for stable shooting conditions, and humidity for atmospheric clarity. This metric focuses on whether the atmosphere will support beautiful golden light when the sun reaches the right elevation.
How does Golden Hour Potential affect photography?
Evaluates atmospheric conditions for golden hour photography regardless of exact timing. Combine with 'golden_hour: any' for clean event timing.
What values are typical for Golden Hour Potential?
Golden Hour 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 Hour Potential calculated?
Golden Hour 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 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.
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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