Blue hour photography

Regiswindiskirche / Regiswindis church in the old town of Lauffen, December 2015

Wikipedia: "The blue hour is the period of twighlight each morning and evening when the sun is a significant distance below the horizon and the residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue hue. This effect is caused by the relative diffusibility of short blue wavelengths of light versus the longer red wavelengths. During the blue "hour" (typically the period is about 40 minutes in length), red light passes straight into space while blue light is scattered in the atmosphere and therefore reaches the earth's surface. Because of the quality of the light, this period is treasured by artists."

Although the wikipedia article is talking about a 40 minutes period of the "blue hour", in my opinion it's just a 10 minutes "tunnel" to hit the best ratio of background and foreground contrast.

In my second photo of the Regiswindis church the light was still much too bright - therefore the contrasts are much to "hard".

So: when is the perfect moment for the best blue hour shot???

You have to try out! Start early enough with your first photo (of course you MUST use a tripod!), later you'll realize that it's already much to dark to continue.  

Somewhen in the intervening time is the perfect moment for the best shot(s).

Lauffen town hall - parts of it used to be an old castle out of the 11th century - with illuminated Christmas tree in the evening hours.

 

 The old historic fountain in front of the Lauffen town hall - and the reflections of Christmas lights in the water surface of the well.

That's not longer a blue hour photograph...
...the sky is much too dark already.

A pleasant and peaceful 2nd Advent to all of you!