Today in the city
Golden hour
National City faces west across the bay, which means the last hour of daylight is the best hour of the day. Here's when it lands and where to point the camera.
Golden hour runs roughly the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise. Blue hour — the deep, even light photographers love for neon and city shots — is about 20 to 30 minutes after sunset.
Sunrise & sunset by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:50 am | 5:00 pm |
| February | 6:35 am | 5:30 pm |
| March | 6:05 am | 5:55 pm |
| April | 6:20 am | 7:20 pm |
| May | 5:50 am | 7:40 pm |
| June | 5:40 am | 8:00 pm |
| July | 5:50 am | 8:00 pm |
| August | 6:10 am | 7:35 pm |
| September | 6:35 am | 7:00 pm |
| October | 6:55 am | 6:20 pm |
| November | 6:20 am | 4:50 pm |
| December | 6:45 am | 4:45 pm |
Mid-month approximations for 91950. Times shift a few minutes across each month.
Where to shoot
Pepper Park pier
Sun drops behind Point Loma and the port cranes turn into silhouettes.
Sweetwater Marina
Masts, still water and reflected color about 20 minutes before sunset.
Mile of Cars
Wait until just after sunset — the vintage neon reads best against a blue sky.
Kimball Park
Long shadows through the trees and whatever pickup game is happening.
Highland Avenue
Warm light down the storefronts, best in the last half hour of sun.
Got the shot?
Post it to the photo wall — approved photos earn entries in the monthly free gas drawing.
Post your photo