{"id":771581,"date":"2026-09-15T16:24:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/771581\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T16:24:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:24:28","slug":"beyond-golden-hour-how-to-take-better-landscape-photos-all-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/771581\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Golden Hour: How to Take Better Landscape Photos All Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Matt-Suess-OM-SYSTEM-OM-5.jpg\" alt=\"A double rainbow arches over a rocky coastline and a large mountain under a stormy, cloudy sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"840\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-874439\"   loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"sync\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Shortly after sunset, the viewpoint parking lot at Grand Teton National Park begins to empty. The traffic moves on to the highway while photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/mattsuessphoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Matt Suess<\/a> stays at the viewpoint. He keeps his attention on the western horizon, waiting for the color to appear. Thirty minutes later, color lights up the sky. Suess is the only photographer who stayed at the viewpoint long enough to take the photograph.<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-disclosure\" role=\"note\">Full disclosureThis article was brought to you by <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">OM SYSTEM.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>See the PetaPixel Films documentary on Matt Suess as he <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hMCrahmxYNs?si=xe_xQeM8-ZOLbibg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">explores Idaho\u2019s Sawtooth Wilderness<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><img class=\"snap-card__youtube-poster\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789489454_283_maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/><br \/>At a Glance<br \/>\n   Beyond Sunrise and Sunset <\/p>\n<p>After the other photographers leave at sunset, <a href=\"https:\/\/learnandsupport.getolympus.com\/om-system-ambassadors\/matt-suess\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">OM SYSTEM Ambassador Matt Suess<\/a> stays for blue hour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost landscape photographers plan their days around sunrise and sunset,\u201d Suess tells PetaPixel. \u201cThe rest of the day is drive time, scouting, or sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even in the middle of the day, you can make good pictures if you find the right subject, but most photographers are back indoors at that time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlue hour gets ignored a lot,\u201d he continues. \u201cAt sunset, they\u2019ll shoot until the sun drops below the horizon, then they\u2019re gone. Even in the middle of the day, you can make good pictures if you find the right subject, but most photographers are back indoors at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-6-22-23_1063_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A winding stream flows through a grassy meadow toward a dense forest beneath a jagged mountain range at sunset.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874409\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Grand Teton National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 15mm (30mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/5sec \u2022 f\/9.0 \u2022 ISO 200 \u2022 High Res Mode <\/p>\n<p>Before making nature photography his full-time work, Suess spent 17 years shooting newspaper assignments in whatever light came with them. Now living in Bozeman, Montana, Suess travels to places like Grand Teton and Badlands National Parks to lead <a href=\"https:\/\/store.mattsuessphoto.com\/pages\/photography-workshops\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">landscape and night-sky workshops<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-12-23_0205_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A vintage truck with a tall wooden stake bed sits in a grassy field behind a barbed wire fence, with hay bales visible on the rolling hills in the background.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874418\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Badlands National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 66mm (132mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/250sec \u2022 f\/8.0 \u2022 ISO 200<\/p>\n<p>Suess tells his workshop participants that he recommends every landscape photographer spend one full day shooting in a single location.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have a full day, pick one place and stay there from before sunrise until after dark,\u201d he says. \u201cIt puts you in light conditions you may not have worked with before, and that\u2019s the point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suess compares the challenge to carrying one prime lens, a fixed-focal-length lens with no zoom, because it forces photographers to find different frames.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a full day, pick one place and stay there from before sunrise until after dark. It puts you in light conditions you may not have worked with before, and that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe rules are loose,\u201d he clarifies. \u201cYou can try it in a national park or in the woods near your home. There are no gear rules, either. One lens or a full bag works. Time is the one thing you can\u2019t compromise. Put in the hours everyone else skips, then see what turns up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Pick the Day Before You Pick the Spot <\/p>\n<p>At midday, Suess watches clouds move light and shadow across the landscape. That is why he looks for variable weather before choosing a location and rules out a cloudless forecast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m staying in one place from morning to night, I\u2019ll skip clear skies and choose conditions with more variety,\u201d he explains. \u201cI want at least some clouds in the sky from sunrise through sunset. Midday is the hardest stretch because the light comes straight down. Clouds keep changing the light, so I have more to work with at midday than I would during clear skies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome of my favorite photos are from somewhat stormy days in the middle of the afternoon, when I have that sunlight that comes in and out of the storm clouds,\u201d he adds. \u201cIf I\u2019m at the top of the Grand Canyon, along a shoreline in Norway, or on a ridge in Badlands looking down and seeing that spotty sunlight hitting certain areas and not hitting other areas, that\u2019s going to give me ample material to photograph all throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-22-25_OM-5ii_0354-DxO_DeepPRIME-3_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A double rainbow arches over a rocky coastline and a large mountain under a dramatic, cloudy sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874420\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 12mm (24mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/100sec \u2022 f\/5.6 \u2022 ISO 250 <\/p>\n<p>Next, Suess looks for a location with enough variety to keep him working all day. \u201cA beautiful location by itself isn\u2019t enough to guarantee success over a full day because I need enough variety to keep finding subjects after other photographers leave,\u201d he observes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA national park gives you plenty to photograph, but for a tougher version of this challenge, start somewhere less obvious,\u201d Suess recommends. \u201cGo to a local park, or a stretch of Forest Service land. You have to work harder to find variety in places like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-10-19-22_0281_Nik_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"Two large, golden-orange sandstone monoliths rise from a sparse, sandy desert landscape under a clear blue sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1158\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874424\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Capitol Reef National Park, Utah<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO \u2022 8mm (16mm equivalent) \u2022 2.5sec \u2022 f\/4.0 \u2022 ISO 250 \u2022 High Res Mode <\/p>\n<p>For timing, Suess uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.photopills.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">PhotoPills<\/a> to check blue hour, sunrise, golden hour, and sunset. He then checks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weathermate.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">WeatherMate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/windy.app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Windy<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/radarscope\/id288419283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">RadarScope<\/a> for current weather, cloud cover, wind, and radar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA national park gives me a head start, but I still need the right light and a strong composition,\u201d he notes. \u201cI can\u2019t just point the camera anywhere and expect the photograph to work. Whatever conditions show up, I have to work with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Pack for Safety First <\/p>\n<p>Before Suess chooses a lens, he tells someone at home where he will be and when he expects to return. He also packs a phone battery bank and satellite communicator.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSafety is always the first thing I think about before I head into nature,\u201d he stresses. \u201cIn bear country, that means bear spray. I also pack bug spray, sunscreen, plenty of water, and high-protein snacks. I trust the weather sealing on my <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/us\/en\/om-5-mark-ii\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">OM-5 Mark II kit<\/a>, so I focus on keeping myself dry instead. That means a waterproof jacket and boots, plus enough layers for a large temperature swing from day to night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once the safety gear is packed, Suess adds the OM-5 Mark II and one lens, the <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/us\/en\/m-zuiko-ed-12-100mm-f4-0-is-pro-black\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-21-25_OM-5ii_0009_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A wooden pier structure with seaweed-covered pilings is reflected in calm water, framed by two horizontal red bars.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874419\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>No, this isn\u2019t a masking artifact. Suess shot this photo through a red fence. It\u2019s even more important to get creative with your compositions and framing when the light is harsh. | OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 100mm (200mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/25sec \u2022 f\/5.0 \u2022 ISO 320 <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I had to pick just one lens and I was stuck with it, I would take the 12-100mm,\u201d he says. \u201cThat gives me a wide angle, a little bit of telephoto, and it\u2019s good for some decent close-ups too. That would cover me quite well in most shooting situations throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-7-11-23_0651_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A waterfall cascades down a rocky, pine-covered mountain slope under a clear blue sky.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874412\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 23mm (46mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/4sec \u2022 f\/16.0 \u2022 ISO 400 \u2022 Live ND <\/p>\n<p>A lighter camera kit leaves more room for clothing and safety supplies. \u201cI would rather carry extra clothing and safety gear than another lens,\u201d Suess emphasizes. \u201cI may never need those supplies in an emergency, but I don\u2019t want to discover I left them behind if I do need them. Once I know I\u2019m prepared, I can stop worrying about the pack and pay attention to the landscape. That helps me stay focused on taking photographs, no matter the hour.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Before the Sun <\/p>\n<p>Suess begins before sunrise, when blue-hour light has reached the landscape but the sun remains below the horizon. The first test of his day is composition, before stronger color and directional light arrive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore sunrise, I\u2019m working with soft, low-contrast light and very little color,\u201d Suess describes. \u201cThe scene can feel almost monochromatic, with everything falling into shades of blue. Without strong color or dramatic highlights and shadows to organize the frame, composition has to do more of the work. I look instead for differences in tone, texture, and detail. Those elements can lead the viewer from the foreground through the rest of the photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prior to touching the camera, Suess studies the scene with his eyes alone. \u201cWhen I arrive, I look around and notice what keeps pulling my attention,\u201d he points out. \u201cIf I go straight to the viewfinder, I\u2019m letting the camera define the scene before my creative instincts have time to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-7-9-23_0055_Nik_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A calm lake reflects a misty mountain range at dawn, with tall, thin trees standing along the shoreline.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874410\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO \u2022 9mm (18mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/13sec \u2022 f\/4.5 \u2022 ISO 320 <\/p>\n<p>He turns that pause into a short series of questions before the camera comes out. \u201cIf dead trees in the foreground lead toward a mountain, I ask myself which caught my attention first, the trees or the mountain,\u201d Suess explains. \u201cWhat photograph did I imagine before I reached for the camera? Maybe the answer is not the trees at all, but the mountain reflected in still water farther away. Only then do I pick up the camera. Now I can decide how to translate that first visual response into a photograph. The answer guides my focal length, camera position, and angle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When I arrive, I look around and notice what keeps pulling my attention.<\/p>\n<p>Once the composition is set, Suess decides what the photograph cannot compromise: freezing movement or keeping the scene sharp from foreground to background.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith wildlife, nine times out of 10 my non-negotiable is shutter speed,\u201d he explains. \u201cWith a wide-angle landscape, my non-negotiable is the f-stop because I want depth of field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-7-11-23_0660_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A waterfall cascades over rocky terrain next to a small evergreen tree.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874413\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS \u2022 123mm (246mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/4sec \u2022 f\/11.0 \u2022 ISO 400 \u2022 Live ND <\/p>\n<p>The OM-5 Mark II provides up to 6.5 stops of in-body image stabilization, which compensates for small camera movements and makes slower handheld shutter speeds more practical.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOM SYSTEM\u2019s image stabilization has earned my trust,\u201d Suess says. \u201cI\u2019ve made a 10-second handheld photograph of the night sky with it. Even so, if I\u2019m staying in one place for a while, I\u2019m happy to set up the tripod. Locking the camera down lets me refine the composition with very small adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-27-22_0674_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A mountain range covered in dense evergreen forests sits beneath a dramatic sky filled with long, streaking white clouds.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1390\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874422\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 16mm (32mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/2sec \u2022 f\/5.0 \u2022 ISO 200 \u2022 Live Composite <\/p>\n<p>Distance and terrain also affect that decision. \u201cIf reaching the scene means hiking miles over uneven ground in the dark, I leave the tripod behind and trust the stabilization,\u201d he adds. \u201cAt an overlook near the car, I\u2019ll bring it because the extra control is worth the small effort.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Sunrise and the Three-Shot Story <\/p>\n<p>When the sun appears, Suess has to work quickly. After blue hour, the color he has been waiting for can shift or disappear within minutes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce color enters the scene, I might balance warm light on a mountain against cooler tones in the lake below,\u201d Suess describes. \u201cI usually keep the foreground from becoming too bright in a wide landscape. A darker foreground can lead the viewer\u2019s eye across the lake and toward the mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-6-22-23_1036_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"Sunlight illuminates a mountain peak and forest reflected in a calm, clear lake with large rocks in the foreground.\" width=\"1199\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874408\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Grand Teton National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 Laowa 6mm f\/2 Zero-D MFT \u2022 6mm (12mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/4sec \u2022 f\/13.0 \u2022 ISO 200  \u2022  High Res Mode <\/p>\n<p>Suess learned to work quickly in changing light during his years as a photojournalist. \u201cA breaking-news assignment taught me to build a story in layers,\u201d he recalls. \u201cAt a house fire, I would begin with a wide photograph that showed the whole scene. Once I understood what was happening, I would frame a medium view, perhaps of firefighters working. Then I would use a telephoto lens to isolate a distant detail, such as flames around the front door. The sequence moved from wide to medium to tight. Together, those three frames told the story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-10-20-22_0424_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A high-angle view of a vast, rugged desert landscape at sunset, featuring prominent sandstone rock formations in the foreground.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1158\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874425\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Capitol Reef National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO \u2022 8mm (16mm equivalent) \u2022 6sec \u2022 f\/10.0 \u2022 ISO 200 \u2022 High Res Shot Mode <\/p>\n<p>He applies the same wide-to-tight sequence to landscapes, especially at sunrise. \u201cSunrise gives me a complete story in a very short time,\u201d Suess describes. \u201cIf I concentrate only on the photograph I planned, I can miss everything happening around it. Animals begin to move. Steam lifts from the lake. The first sunlight reaches the cold mountains. All of those changes are part of the morning\u2019s story. I begin with the wide view, then search for smaller scenes. A telephoto lens may reveal photographs in the shifting light and shadow that I never noticed in the wide sunrise view.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-10-20-22_0435_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"Two large, flat-topped mesas rise from a desert landscape under a vibrant pink and purple sunset sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874426\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Capitol Reef National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 41mm (82mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/50sec \u2022 f\/4.0 \u2022 ISO 400 \u2022 High Res Shot Mode <\/p>\n<p>For a static scene with exceptional light, Suess can switch his OM-5 Mark II to <a href=\"https:\/\/learnandsupport.getolympus.com\/learn-center\/photography-tips\/browse-tips-by-camera-feature\/high-res-shot-mode\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">High Res Shot<\/a>, which combines several exposures into one higher-resolution file. \u201cThe limitation is movement because every exposure in the sequence has to align,\u201d he notes. \u201cA walking moose will not work, but a still landscape can give me the resolution to make a large print or find a tighter composition later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> The Hours Everyone Throws Away <\/p>\n<p>By late morning, the shadows have shortened and the harsher light sends many photographers home. Because the exercise lasts all day, Suess stays and searches for subjects that work in those conditions.<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-11-25_OM-5ii_0720_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of parched, cracked earth with light tan and white soil segments separated by deep fissures.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874416\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO \u2022 90mm (180mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/250sec \u2022 f\/5.6 \u2022 ISO 500 <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven with the sun high, I keep looking for pockets of shade,\u201d he advises. \u201cIn the woods, openings in the canopy can break the sunlight into small patches, much like clouds do across a landscape. If shade isn\u2019t available, old cars and barns can still add color to a midday composition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-7-11-23_0646_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A vibrant purple aster flower with a bright yellow center, covered in tiny dew drops, blooms against a blurred green background.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874411\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Sawtooth Wilderness, Idaho<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS \u2022 400mm (801mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/320sec \u2022 f\/6.3 \u2022 ISO 400 <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMidday is also a good time to take close-up photographs of wildflowers,\u201d Suess suggests. \u201cI look for blooms beneath the trees, where the canopy softens the direct sun and gives the subject more even light.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-11-25_OM-5ii_0755_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A small cluster of purple wildflowers grows out of cracked, dry earth, partially illuminated by a beam of sunlight.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874417\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO \u2022 79mm (158mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/640sec \u2022 f\/10.0 \u2022 ISO 400 <\/p>\n<p>When storm clouds darken the sky, Suess keeps working instead of returning to the car. \u201cStorms usually give me more to work with,\u201d he argues. \u201cI keep watching the light because the scene can change from one minute to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-8-25_OM-5ii_0001_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A low-angle, black-and-white view of two large, corrugated metal grain silos connected by a narrow bridge against a cloudy sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874415\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO \u2022 12mm (24mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/1000sec \u2022 f\/6.3 \u2022 ISO 500 \u2022 Black &amp; White Art Mode <\/p>\n<p>When shade, clouds, and storms offer no help, Suess experiments with the OM-5 Mark II\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/learning.omsystem.com\/OM-5MarkII\/zz_html_manual\/en\/taking_pictures_using_art_27.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">built-in ART filters<\/a>. \u201cMidday is a good time to explore the ART modes, especially when I\u2019m struggling with the light,\u201d he suggests. \u201c I use the various B&amp;W modes plus the Pin Hole &amp; Bleach Bypass modes too, and Pop Art can be fun at times too. Some photographers avoid them because the effect is applied to a JPEG. I record RAW and JPEG together, so the JPEG carries the filter while the RAW file keeps the original color information. If I get the exposure and white balance close, the JPEG is often ready to share. Most viewers would never know it came straight from the camera. When the midday light gives me very little, those modes can push me toward a different idea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> The Reverse Day <\/p>\n<p>After midday, the light progresses in reverse. Golden hour gives way to sunset and then blue hour, the opposite of the sequence Suess worked through before sunrise.<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-25-22_0148_Nik_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A calm lake at sunset with rocky shores in the foreground and mountains in the distance under a purple and orange sky.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1158\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874421\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO \u2022 8mm (16mm equivalent) \u2022 60sec \u2022 f\/10.0 \u2022 ISO 200 <\/p>\n<p>The sequence may reverse, but morning and evening blue hour do not create the same conditions. \u201cMorning blue hour is cooler, so mist, fog, and damp ground can give the landscape a softer, earthier mood,\u201d he observes. \u201cBy evening, the ground has been warming all day, so that moisture is often gone. The morning can feel moodier, while the evening often looks cleaner and clearer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-9-29-22_0982_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A winding river flows through a grassy meadow toward a forest and a jagged mountain range under a vibrant sunset sky.\" width=\"1341\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874423\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO \u2022 24mm (48mm equivalent) \u2022 1\/25sec \u2022 f\/4.0 \u2022 ISO 400 \u2022 High Res Shot Mode <\/p>\n<p>Evening light sometimes gives Suess something sunrise does not. \u201cI often see stronger color after sunset than I do at sunrise,\u201d he notes. \u201cThe difference may come from the warmed ground, the atmosphere, or dust in the air. In the right conditions, that color can intensify for half an hour after the sun goes down. Photographers who leave immediately will miss it. It doesn\u2019t happen every time, but sometimes staying longer gives me a little magic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Night Without Stars <\/p>\n<p>Full dark brings the challenge into its final stretch and Suess into his favorite part of the day. \u201cAstrophotography is one of my favorite ways to photograph nature, but the sky does not always cooperate,\u201d he says. \u201cA bright moon can overpower the Milky Way, while clouds and light pollution can hide the stars. I treat those limits as a different assignment rather than a lost night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoonlight creates highlights and shadows much like daylight, but with less intensity and a different color,\u201d Suess describes. \u201cThat can make a nighttime landscape look unfamiliar enough to earn a second look. Sometimes a viewer has to stop and figure out whether I made the photograph during the day or at night. I like that uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If stars remain the goal, Suess makes one exception to the day\u2019s one-lens kit. \u201cThe trade-off with the 12-100mm is its f\/4 aperture, which does not gather as much light as I want for astrophotography,\u201d he explains. \u201cFor stars, I\u2019d add the <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/m-zuiko-ed-7-14mm-f2-8-pro-black?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO<\/a>. Its f\/2.8 aperture lets in more light, and the 7mm end gives me a wider view for sunrise and sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-10-21-22_0526_DxO_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"Two large, red sandstone rock formations stand in a desert landscape under a night sky with circular star trails.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874427\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>Capitol Reef National Park<br \/>OM-5 \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO \u2022 11mm (22mm equivalent) \u2022 50sec \u2022 f\/3.2 \u2022 ISO 1600 <\/p>\n<p>Artificial light gives him another way to keep working after dark. \u201cAt an overlook in Zion National Park, I\u2019ve photographed cars winding through the canyon, their brake lights drawing a curved red trail,\u201d he recalls. \u201cCityscapes can also become more dynamic after sunset, especially during blue hour. That is my favorite time to photograph cityscapes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For many of these nighttime scenes, Suess relies on <a href=\"https:\/\/learnandsupport.getolympus.com\/learn-center\/photography-tips\/browse-tips-by-camera-feature\/live-composite-mode\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Live Composite<\/a>, a computational mode in the <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/om-5-mark-ii?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">OM-5 Mark II<\/a>. The camera records a base exposure, then adds only light that appears afterward, such as headlights, star trails, or lightning. The parts already exposed remain steady instead of becoming progressively brighter.<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess-7-25-25_OM-5-II_0007_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A long-exposure night sky photograph shows circular star trails rotating around the North Star above a dark mountain silhouette and a single illuminated tree.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874414\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F2.0 \u2022 12mm (24mm equivalent) \u2022 60sec \u2022 f\/2.0 \u2022 ISO 1600 \u2022 Live Composite<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen the available light is not working, I sometimes create my own with light painting,\u201d Suess shares. \u201cI bring colored lights and gels to illuminate buildings or cars. With an old barn, I can watch the exposure build on the back of the camera as I move the light across the structure. Once the illumination looks right, I stop, which makes the process much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess_5300015_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A weathered wooden grain elevator stands in a field under a night sky filled with circular star trails.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874406\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F2.0 \u2022 12mm (24mm equivalent) \u2022 60sec \u2022 f\/3.5 \u2022 ISO 1600 <\/p>\n<p>Suess also uses Live Composite during the transition from twilight to full darkness, which begins when the sun reaches 18 degrees below the horizon. \u201cFacing north can place the North Star in the frame, while angling slightly west may preserve some color near the horizon,\u201d he points out. \u201cDuring blue hour, the sky appears blue while the stars remain white. That combination looks very different from a photograph made after the sky is completely dark.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> What a Full Day Gives Back <\/p>\n<p>Once full darkness arrives, Suess measures the day by more than the photographs on his memory card.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe real return is experience,\u201d Suess emphasizes. \u201cI will not make a portfolio-worthy photograph every time, but I can learn something about the way I see and work. Spending a full day in one place expands the range of conditions I know how to photograph. If I understand the light a little better when I leave, I don\u2019t feel like the day was wasted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The real return is experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cComing home without a photograph that excites me still teaches me something,\u201d he acknowledges. \u201cI can look back at the day and ask why I never found a portfolio image. Was there nothing there, or did I fail to see it? Was I too closed off to what the place offered?\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Suess_5310063-copy_DxO_PetaPixel_OM-5_Mark_II.jpg\" alt=\"A long-exposure night shot shows star trails streaking across a dark blue sky above a mountain range and a forested lake.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" class=\"size-full wp-image-874407\"   loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" decoding=\"async\"\/>OM-5 Mark II \u2022 M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 II \u2022 17mm (34mm equivalent) \u2022 25sec \u2022 f\/1.8 \u2022 ISO 1600 \u2022 Live Composite <\/p>\n<p>Suess knows the day is over when fatigue keeps him from seeing clearly. \u201cI\u2019m there to study changing light and conditions, not test how long I can last,\u201d he cautions. \u201cThe challenge may build endurance over time, but if I become too tired to see, I pack up and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His advice to anyone tempted by the exercise is simple: \u201cChoose a day, stay in one place from dark to dark, and keep looking after the other photographers have gone home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What keeps him there until that point is not the promise of a portfolio image. It is time outdoors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy love of Mother Nature and the outdoors keeps me out there,\u201d Suess reflects. \u201cOn certain things I\u2019m very impatient. If I order a new camera, I want it at my house yesterday. But I can spend hours out in the field, just involved in nature, without even taking photos. Those are the times for me to slow down. I don\u2019t mind burning hours out in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More from Matt Suess can be found on his <a href=\"https:\/\/mattsuessphoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">website<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MattSuessPhoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@mattsuessphoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">YouTube<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mattsuessphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Image Credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/mattsuessphoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Matt Suess<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-disclosure\" role=\"note\">Full disclosureThis article was brought to you by <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.omsystem.com\/?olycmp=aff-main-online_magazine-Peta_Pixel-link_shop-dawn_to_dusk_matt_sept26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">OM SYSTEM.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>See the PetaPixel Films documentary on Matt Suess as he <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hMCrahmxYNs?si=xe_xQeM8-ZOLbibg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">explores Idaho\u2019s Sawtooth Wilderness<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p> Affiliate Disclosure PetaPixel articles may include affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you buy through one. <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shortly after sunset, the viewpoint parking lot at Grand Teton National Park begins to empty. The traffic moves&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":771582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[59,90,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-771581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-science","tag-gb","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=771581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/771581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/771582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=771581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=771581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=771581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}