SKILL: Golden Hour Mastery

Version: 1.0 | Hermes Agent Lighting System

DESCRIPTION

Mastery of the "magic hour" period when the sun sits between approximately −6° and +6° solar elevation above the horizon. Produces soft, warm, directional light with long shadows and natural rim lighting. The atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths, leaving warm gold-amber tones that flatter skin and sculpt texture.

TRIGGER KEYWORDS

golden hour, magic hour, sunset light, sunrise light, warm light, amber light, backlight portrait, rim light, sun flare, long shadows, warm golden, dusk light, hour of gold, natural rim, outdoor warm portrait

CORE RULES

• Color temperature 3500K–5000K — warm amber, never white or cold
• Light direction is low-angle: 5°–20° above horizon produces signature long shadows
• Natural rim lighting: backlit or side-lit subjects with luminous edge definition
• Sky gradient: warm near horizon transitioning to cooler blue at zenith
• Shadow fill is warm, not neutral: bounce or gold reflector maintains 3200K–4000K in shadows
• Lens flare or soft bloom is expected and desirable at this angle
• Magic hour is brief: specify whether sunrise (cool-to-warm) or sunset (warm-to-cool)