Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
This course shows you how to capture the magic of sunset in striking timelapse sequences and still photographs that convey the fleeting beauty of this natural phenomenon. From planning and setting up your equipment to the final edit, it guides you step by step so that you can express your creative vision and achieve professional results.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course?
This short course combines the science of light with the craft of timelapse. You will start with the physics of sunset and Rayleigh scattering, planning tools such as PhotoPills and The Photographer's Ephemeris, the golden and blue hours, the clouds that produce spectacular skies and the challenge of dynamic range. You will then choose lenses, tripods and ND and graduated filters, work in full manual mode and focus precisely, before moving on to timelapse technique, the demanding day-to-night transition and the assembly and export of the finished video.
What sets this course apart: clear rules for calculating intervals for fast clouds, slow clouds and the movement of the sun; the 180-degree shutter rule for smooth motion blur; battery and storage planning for long sequences; a dedicated module on the holy grail transition, with exposure compensation, flicker prevention, fixed white balance and bulb ramping; and a post-production workflow in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve that covers digital pan and zoom, sound design, aspect ratios from cinematic 4K to vertical social formats, and export codecs.
Program highlights
- The light of sunset: Rayleigh scattering, golden and blue hours, clouds and dynamic range.
- Planning tools: predicting the sun's exact position with dedicated apps.
- Equipment and settings: lenses, tripods, ND and GND filters, manual mode and precise focus.
- Timelapse technique: frame rates, intervalometers, interval calculation and the 180-degree rule.
- The holy grail transition: smooth day-to-night exposure, flicker control and bulb ramping.
- Editing and output: assembly, digital movement, sound design and export for each platform.
Syllabus of the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of light in the golden hour
- 1.1. The physics of sunset: Rayleigh scattering and why the colors of the sky change
- 1.2. Planning with digital tools: using apps such as PhotoPills and The Photographer's Ephemeris to predict the sun's exact position
- 1.3. The golden hour and the blue hour: differences in color temperature and contrast
- 1.4. Meteorology for photographers: identifying the cloud types that favor spectacular sunsets
- 1.5. Dynamic range: the challenge of capturing deep shadows and bright highlights in the same scene
Technical equipment and camera settings
- 2.1. Choosing lenses: from wide angles for expansive landscapes to telephotos that compress the solar disc
- 2.2. The tripod as a critical element: stability against the wind and leveling systems
- 2.3. Using filters: neutral density (ND) and graduated (GND) filters to balance the exposure of the sky
- 2.4. Working in manual mode: full control of ISO, aperture and shutter speed
- 2.5. Precise focus: focusing at infinity and using Live View for critical sharpness
Timelapse technique: capturing the passage of time
- 3.1. Introduction to timelapse: frame rate (FPS) and the perception of movement
- 3.2. The intervalometer: in-camera settings versus external devices
- 3.3. Calculating intervals: recommended times for fast clouds, slow clouds and the movement of the sun
- 3.4. The 180-degree shutter rule: achieving smooth movement through motion blur
- 3.5. Battery and storage management: calculating the number of shots for long sequences
The holy grail challenge: the day-to-night transition
- 4.1. Defining the holy grail: managing the dramatic change in light at dusk without exposure jumps
- 4.2. Exposure compensation techniques: gentle manual adjustments versus automation software
- 4.3. Flicker: causes and prevention strategies during capture
- 4.4. White balance: why to avoid auto mode to keep color consistent
- 4.5. Introduction to bulb ramping: hardware tools for automatic exposure transitions
Video assembly and final output
- 5.1. Assembling the sequence in editing software such as Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve
- 5.2. Resolution and aspect ratio: from cinematic 4K to vertical formats for social media
- 5.3. Applying digital movement: pan and zoom (Ken Burns) techniques in post-production
- 5.4. Sound design: choosing music and ambient effects to enhance the atmosphere of the sunset
- 5.5. Export codecs and compression: optimizing for different viewing platforms
Duration and format of the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
Career opportunities after the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
Questions about the Timelapse and Sunset Photography Course
The transition from warm, bright light to cooler, darker tones as the sun sinks below the horizon, together with the movement of clouds and the gradual shift in color across the sky.
Both are about capturing beauty and changes in light over time. Still photography freezes a single moment of the sunset, while timelapse condenses its whole evolution into a few seconds of video.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera that can shoot in manual mode, a sturdy tripod and suitable wide-angle or telephoto lenses. An intervalometer is strongly recommended for timelapse, and ND filters help in bright conditions.
It is a timelapse that runs from daylight into night without visible exposure jumps. A full module covers how to achieve it through gentle exposure compensation, fixed white balance, flicker prevention and bulb ramping tools.
Photo editors such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One for the stills, and video editors such as Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve to assemble, move, add sound to and export the timelapse sequences.
Yes. Everything taught applies to sunsets over the sea, and the course pays attention to tripod stability in the wind and to reading the clouds and weather before a session.
Fully online, with materials available 24/7 and practical exercises so you can study at your own pace and shoot your own sunsets between modules.
Through practical exercises in each module, such as planning a session, calculating intervals and producing and exporting a finished timelapse, which show that you can apply the techniques.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at photography enthusiasts, travelers, social media content creators, visual artists and designers, and nature and landscape lovers; basic photography knowledge (exposure, aperture and ISO) and familiarity with a DSLR or mirrorless camera are recommended, and basic image editing is helpful, together with patience and an eye for composition.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual mode, a sturdy tripod and suitable lenses, photo and video editing software, and ideally an intervalometer and ND filters.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.