App Review: SunCalc and MoonCalc

Setting Full Moon - Maclearie Park
Belmar, New Jersey

I have referenced a few apps over the past few months and I promised to do some reviews. Today I am going to review two (2) apps that are essentially the same but different; SunCalc and MoonCalc. Their functionality and interface are the same, it is just the subject matter that is different. SunCalc shows information pertaining to the sun, while MoonCalc shows the same information but in relation to the moon.

SunCalc screen capture

A few years ago I wrote a review of Excate Golden Hour - App Review: Exsate Golden Hour. You could probably replace Golden Hour with SunCalc but I would recommend using both, as each has their strengths and weaknesses.

So. Why would you want either of these apps? If you are a landscape photographer it is helpful to know the times of sunrise and sunset but it is even more helpful to know where the sun will be at any given time. Using SunCalc, you can see exactly where the sun will be on the horizon when it rises - at any location on earth. If you have been wanting to get the sun rising (setting) over your favorite fishing pier but never seem to be able to time it right - this is the app for you!

I used MoonCalc to determine the date the full moon would be setting directly over "the tree" at Maclearie Park and was able to capture the lead image just before it dipped below the horizon. Using the app, I knew exactly when and where the moon was going to be, allowing me to set up in the dark with confidence.

SunCalc app menu

If you take a look at the screen capture on the right, you will see that the app is rather simple to use. You can either use your current location or any location you want to check out. You can even create a custom list of frequently visited locations using the "heart+" icon in the upper right corner. I wanted to take a look at Manasquan Reservoir (one of my custom locations) and got a snapshot of where the sun was at 10:40 AM this morning.

Date & Time input screen

The app shows "Azimuth", "Altitude" and "Shadow" for the time selected as-well-as the time of "Sunrise", "Sunset" and "High Noon", or when the sun is directly overhead. Using this information you can plan your outing. If you want to see where the sun will set, just remove the check in the "Live" box and slide the time to when you will be shooting. As you move the time slider, you will see the position of the sun move - when it changes from orange to gray, you have gone beyond sunset. You can also set the time and date by touching anywhere on the date above the slider which will bring you to another screen allowing you to set a precise date and time.

If you want to zoom in (or out) - you can do so by "pinching" the screen. If you want to move to a different location within the general area, just use your finger to move the map to where you want the center point to be. You can get to a specific location/address by touching the screen (in this instance to the left of the green "on" button) and enter the address in the search box. There are three lines in the upper-left corner of the app - pressing this icon will open the menu where you can directly access any of the functions discussed above.

Sunset - Maclearie Park

As you can see, the app is rather simple and easy to use but provides quite a bit of useful information. I won't go into MoonCalc because it is exactly the same except it relates to the moon instead of the sun. The really nice thing with these apps is that they both have web-based counter-parts so you can sit in the comfort of your home and pre-plan your landscape shoot. The websites are https://www.suncalc.org/ and https://www.mooncalc.org/. The websites contain quite a bit more information, the ability to print what is on the screen and links for downloading the apps. To be honest, I use the websites more than I do the app; the app is used primarily for when I go out on a spur-of-the-moment shoot.

You can change the type of map displayed by using the "Settings" menu option - the illustration used here is the basic map, there is also an option to show streets or a satellite image. I use the satellite image on the website to give me a better idea of compositions while I have the default or street maps on the phone app to give me a general idea of where the sun will be.

As a final example, the Maclearie Park sunset was planned using the SunCalc website. Knowing where the sun will be setting in the sky long before it actually approaches the horizon is a great advantage. I was able to find this composition and set up at my leisure.

The bottom-line is this - download and install both apps and keep them on your phone. They don't take up a lot of space and you never know when they will give you the information you need to grab the perfect shot! Oh, did I mention? They are 100% free!

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos, or purchase prints, you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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App Review: Exsate Golden Hour

What is the “golden hour?” Here is what Wikipedia has to say – In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour, especially in cinematography) is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer compared to when the Sun is higher in the sky.*

I have been using “Exsate Golden Hour” for Android for a couple years and love it. I was looking for something that would help me to know where the sun was going to be and when it was going to be there. A few years ago I found a website called SunCalc (www.suncalc.net) that will allow you to input a location and date, it will then show you where the sun will be throughout the day sunrise to sunset. I found it while doing a search to find the optimal time to shoot some sunrise photos at the Fishing Pier in Ocean Grove. It worked beautifully and I have been using it to plan shots ever since. The problem is that I may not always have an opportunity to scope out a place while sitting at home. I don’t like using websites on my phone and so I have been searching for “the” app – I have found it.

p/> The images shown here illustrate how much impact shooting during the “golden hour” can have on your final image. I used Exsate Golden Hour before going on a recent photo shoot at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. I have done a lot of shooting at the Sutfin House but wanted something a bit more dramatic than what I had been getting. By using the application I was able to see where the sun was setting in relation to the house and the best time to get the shot. The result is the first shot shown here. The second photo was taken during a mid-day walk.

The name of the app is a little misleading because it does quite a bit more than just tell you when “golden hour” will be but I will start with that. When you first open the app you will see three (3) tabs – “Summary”, “Diagram” and “Map”. Directly under the tabs you will find the location name along with current date/time. The location can be your current location or you can enter a specific location either by name or GPS coordinates. Selecting the “Summary” tab will give you the following information:

• Sun rise and set times
• The moon phase along with rise and set times.
• The date of New Moon and Full Moon
• Golden Hour – time and duration
• Blue Hour – time and duration
• Civil Twilight – time and duration
• Nautical Twilight – time and duration Astronomical Twilight – time and duration

As you scroll down there is more detailed information and an option to add your own “special” conditions.

Now let’s take a look at the “Diagram” tab. You can get to the tab either by touching “DIAGRAM” at the top of the app or by touching one of the descriptions on the “SUMMARY” tab. Once you open the diagram you will be presented with the name of the location you have set along with the date and time represented by the blue vertical line on the diagram. Directly under this you will see two sets of numbers; one color and one white. The colored numbers show the Altitude and Azimuth of the sun while the white numbers show the Altitude, Azimuth and % Full of the moon. Below that you will see the weather forecast. The diagram itself looks like a sine wave and is color coded. The colored line represents the sun, while the white line represents the moon. You can move the diagram through different days and times by touching the diagram and moving your finger left or right. You can also use the little calendar icon at the top of the screen to change the day.

The “MAP” is just that; an aerial view of the set location with a compass superimposed. The compass has a color-coded ring along the outside to indicate the “Golden hour”, “Blue hour”, etc…. and also shows the current position of the sun and moon.

The app is customizable beyond the aforementioned user-defined special conditions – you can set distance units (mile or kilometer), temperature (Fahrenheit or Celsius), GPS coordinates format and which weather service to use. These features, along with everything else make this application one that you must have. The application is only available on the Android platform and I see no indication that they are working on an iOS version. That’s okay with me, I don’t use my iPad when I am in the field but I always have my Android phone. For more information about the app, check out the website here.

The bottom line is this – if you are serious about your photography, get this app! It is not only the utilities that I have found it is also FREE!

* – you can read the entire Wikipedia article about golden hour here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(photography)

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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